As a response to the growing need and requirements of the processes of promotion and development of volunteering in BiH, local youth NGO – Youth Communication Centre supported the development of volunteering infrastructure since 2005. This resulted in the development of local volunteer services in different cities, which formed a network called “Volontiram!” There are currently 14 local volunteer services under the network, established across the country, in Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Brcko, Bugojno, Derventa, Doboj, Mostar, Mrkonjic Grad, Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Trebinje, Tuzla and Zenica.

A Local Volunteer Service (LVS) represents a basic structure for the encouragement of the citizens to volunteer (in accordance with the main principles of organised work with volunteers) and for the creation of volunteering programmes in accordance with the needs of the community in which they live.

The vision of the „Volontiram!“ Network is a humane and equal democratic society which actively includes its citizens in society processes. „Volontiram!“ is an informal network of local voluntary services in BiH, which contributes to the development of social capacities through activities of promotion and development of volunteering, as a condition for the improvement of the quality of life and for the development of the society altogether.

Strategic objectives of the “Volontiram!” Network:

• Established and applied legal framework of volunteering in BiH;

• Volunteering recognised and accepted as a positive social value;

• Established unitary system of volunteering management in BiH;

• Strong “Volontiram!” network that consists of sustainable local voluntary services in BiH;

• “Volontiram!” Network, recognised as the centre for information, exchange of experiences and development of innovative methodologies in the area of volunteering at national and international level.

Information providers

There is still very little information in BiH on volunteering possibilities from local to national level. While there isn't a centralized national platform exclusively dedicated to youth volunteering, several online resources provide information about volunteering opportunities such as youth information centers managed by different NGOs, official websites of entity and cantonal ministries and BD departments and social media of youth NGOs and governmental bodies.

BiH lacks a unified, state-funded national volunteer center.

Through the development of the local volunteer services and of the network “Volontiram!” qualitative and quantitative information on volunteering opportunities has been increased at least in the communities where these structures operate. Through these structures, citizens interested to volunteer, can obtain information on where, how and when they can volunteer in their local communities. At this point, around 5,000 citizens are recorded in databases of local volunteer services as willing to volunteer. In their work, local volunteer services are continuously confronted with lack of volunteering possibilities, meaning that there are more volunteers than placements available.

At large number of communities that do not have local volunteer services, the awareness about volunteering opportunities is mainly raised by individual CSOs and youth NGOs in the framework of their recruitment campaigns. These campaigns are mostly promoted through Internet presentations. However, there are some positive examples of when these campaigns were widely promoted through various national and local media (written and electronic).

 Key initiatives

Regarding the promotion of volunteering and its coverage in the media, volunteering is not considered as an interesting topic to cover. From time to time, media follows up on some of the volunteering programmes. This is not done on a regular basis, and it is more sporadic and ad hoc. Furthermore, there is a general lack of information and knowledge resources available on the Internet in local language, especially in relation to volunteer management system, legislation, and research.

CSOs and NGOs are instrumental in raising awareness and facilitating youth volunteering such as Students Help Lives (Schüler Helfen Leben - SHL) and In Foundation.

International organizations contribute significantly to promoting youth volunteering in BiH with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and UN Volunteers and UNDP being most siginificant.

One of the biggest voluntary awareness campaign was: “Challenge:  Choose the Cause, Be the Effect” - a campaign that encourages people of BiH, especially its youth, to spread the culture of solidarity, caring and to engage in community service projects by donating their time/resources/knowledge to the benefit of their communities by doing special projects which range from environmental clean-up, helping vulnerable population, mentoring, reading, providing free cultural and artistic performances, or just giving a helping hand in making a community better.  Celebrating 20 years of peace in BiH, the US Embassy in BiH gathered 20,000 volunteers engaged in community service from January 19 to November 21, 2015.  The US Embassy acknowledged all groups and hold a midterm and a final party to acknowledge the distinguished volunteers, NGOs/informal group/schools and/or organizations.  Information about the challenge were posted on the wall of “Izazov” Facebook group.