Social inclusion as a term is not mentioned in any relevant document concerning the topic of volunteering, nor do youth organizations mention social inclusion as one of the goals when it comes to volunteering organized by these organizations. 

Support to young volunteers

At the national and entity levels, support measures to reduce financial barriers for young volunteers, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, are primarily implemented through project-based funding:

• Reimbursement of indirect expenses (e.g. transport, meals, accommodation) is available through civil society programs and international donors.

• Direct financial support or stipends are not systematically provided by state institutions but can be part of EU-funded or NGO-led programs.

• Some volunteering initiatives offer in-kind support, such as meal vouchers, accommodation during events, and training materials.

• Reimbursement of indirect expenses (e.g. transport, meals, accommodation) is available through civil society programs and international donors.

• Direct financial support or stipends are not systematically provided by state institutions but can be part of EU-funded or NGO-led programs.

• Some volunteering initiatives offer in-kind support, such as meal vouchers, accommodation during events, and training materials.

Strategic documents and implemented programs particularly target young people at risk of social exclusion, youth with disabilities, young unemployed persons, youth from rural and underdeveloped areas.

While still in development, there are growing efforts to promote digital volunteering:

• Youth organizations like Students Help Life (Schüler Helfen Leben-SHL) and IN Fondacija offer remote volunteering opportunities, especially for youth who cannot travel or have limited mobility.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, several organizations adapted volunteering activities into virtual formats, including digital campaigning, online mentorship, and remote peer support.

Organizations working with marginalized youth can access grants and institutional support through public calls and international donors such as EU, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID that often prioritize inclusive volunteering in their funding criteria. These funds are used to improve accessibility, cover volunteer coordination, and develop inclusive content and outreach strategies.

Community building

There are not any national policy measures or initiatives aiming at developing and strengthening social cohesion and inclusion in the communities where volunteering projects take place.

Tackling societal changes

One of the organizations that emphasize social inclusion in its goals is IN Fondacija (Foundation for the Advancement of Social Inclusion of Children and Youth in BiH) from Banja Luka. One of its significant initiatives is the program titled “Zero Tolerance for Violence in the Lives of Children and Youth in BiH”. Launched in 2012, this program addresses the escalating societal issue of violence affecting children and young people across the country.​

The program's primary objective is to reduce violence against and among children and youth by:​

• Providing financial and professional support to civil society organizations that work on social inclusion of children and youth.

• Developing partnerships and cooperation with other civil society organizations, relevant institutions, business entities, and the media.

• Promoting and encouraging innovative models of social inclusion.

• Collecting funds to support these initiatives.