The Youth Work Week started in Zavidovići with music and film, continued in Bugojno through creative workshops and discussions on key social issues, and has now reached Stanari, where young people decided to roll up their sleeves and show what it means to have a sense of responsibility toward their community and nature.
As part of Youth Work Week, the Stanari Youth Centre, in cooperation with Desanka Maksimović Primary School, organized a large-scale clean-up of the Ostružnja River, which flows through the town centre.
More than 60 participants, including 40 ninth-grade students and around 20 young members of the Youth Centre, came together and collected over 20 bags of waste, including bulky items and car tires. Divided into teams, they cleaned about one kilometre of the riverbed, restoring its natural look and reminding everyone that caring for the environment is a shared responsibility.
“It was great. We collected a lot of trash, and I hope we’ll have more activities like this. I learned to always use the provided bins and not litter,” said ninth-grader Nikola Gojković.
“Children learn more effectively outside the classroom, and feel more motivated. Activities like this encourage them to think about their community and how they can contribute,” said school principal Zorica Glišić-Samac, highlighting the value of learning through practice.
Municipal Mayor Aleksandar Ristić added that such activities are not only about ecology but also about solidarity and teamwork. That this was not just a clean-up, but a lesson in responsibility and community spirit.
The activity was supported by the Institute for Youth Development KULT, the Municipality of Stanari, Elektrane Stanari d.o.o., and the Fire and Rescue Unit Stanari.
After the clean-up, participants met in the school yard for a friendly get-together. Smiles, pride, and a sense of accomplishment were the best rewards after three hours of hard work.
This activity in Stanari once again proved that youth work is about more than learning and dialogue – it’s about taking action. Real change begins when young people take the initiative and show how much they can do for their community.
Youth Work Week is an initiative of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, created to celebrate the dedication and creativity of young people and those who work with them. Activities across BiH remind us that young people deserve space to be seen, and youth work should be recognized as a force that changes society.
WHY DO WE CELEBRATE YOUTH WORK WEEK?
Because youth work transforms lives by creating opportunities where few existed, empowering young people to believe in themselves and take action, and fostering trust, skills, solidarity, and hope. Youth Work Week is our first step toward creating a tradition that celebrates achievements while also opening space for discussion about the challenges and needs of young people in BiH. Youth Work Week builds on the Second Convention on Working with Youth in BiH and the Fourth European Convention on Youth Work, representing a joint step forward in strengthening the youth sector in our country.
