4.7 Youth work to foster social inclusion
(i) policy framework for youth work
There are three youth laws in BiH:
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FBiH Youth Law (Official Gazette of FBiH, 36/10);
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RS Law on Youth Organization (Official Gazette of RS, 98/04, 119/08, 1/12);
Defined key goals and measures of the BD Youth Policy 2022 - 2026
The Youth Policy is a document with a programmatic approach to action towards young people, which includes defined issues and needs of young people, policy directions of action, policy goals and measures for the realization of policy goals. It is based on research on the needs and issues of young people. According to the BD Youth Law, the Youth Policy is prepared by the BD Government Department for Professional and Administrative Affairs in cooperation with the BD Youth Council, and submitted to the BD Government for consideration and approval. The BD Government approves the proposed youth policy and submits it to the BD Assembly for consideration and adoption.
In 2023, the RS Government adopted the RS Youth Policy 2023 - 2027. The RS Youth Policy 2023 - 2027 defined four strategic goals with a total of 15 priorities and 44 measures, and three strategic projects. Funds in the total amount of 266,389,000 KM have been planned for the implementation of Policy.
Based on the proposals of the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports, the FBiH Government, at a session held on October 30, 2023, adopted a Decision to initiate the process of drafting the FBiH Youth Policy 2024-2027.
(ii) main inclusive Youth Work programmes
The PRONI Academy of Youth Work (PAOR) is a unique program of the PRONI Center for Youth Development that provides young people with knowledge in the field of youth work. The goal of this program is to empower activists and youth workers to improve their skills for conducting youth work activities. The PRONI Academy of Youth Work is implemented in three levels and each lasts six months:
PAOR A level - Basics of youth work consists of the following modules:
The Fundamentals of Youth Work course aims to provide young people with basic knowledge in the field of youth work in order to contribute to the personal and social development of young people in BiH. The course is intended for young people aged 18 to 30 who have a desire to influence various socio-political processes in their communities through youth work, and thus contribute to the development of their local communities, but also the state of BiH.
One-year training program for youth leaders for active involvement in the community and the business world.
The Institute for Youth Development KULT conducts certified training of youth leaders "Learn, think and act!", which, among other things, offers participants the opportunity to gain self-confidence, see their abilities and potentials and develop a sense of responsibility in society and teamwork and leadership skills.
The Learn, Think and Act! training is an officially recognized form of non-formal education that provides young people with the opportunity to acquire various competencies that will make them competitive in the labour market. The program consists of seminars, practical exercises and volunteer work. The training is intended for young people up to 30 years of age. It enables young people to become active leaders in their local community and help solve youth problems, meet new friends, learn new skills, socialize and improve themselves. All trainees become citizens who voluntarily take steps to change the society in which they live, express their opinions and actively participate in the decision-making of their community.
Institute for Youth and Community Development Perpetuum mobile - Academy for Political Leaders in BiH
The Academy for Political Leaders in BiH is a one-year training program that the Institute has been successfully implementing since 2007. So far, 199 young politicians from 30 different political parties from 46 cities and municipalities in BiH have completed the ten-generation training program. The Academy's program aims to train young members of political parties (aged 18 to 27) during a one-year period and thus support a new generation of politicians who will work together to improve their communities and society in general.
The Service for Foreigner’s Affairs of the BiH Ministry of Security, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), organized the Workshop on providing assistance to migrants outside the reception centres in BiH.
The workshop defined procedures for dealing with migrants from referral to accommodation, medical assistance and asylum to assistance to victims of gender-based violence, potential victims of trafficking and unaccompanied minors. The aim of the workshop is to establish a migration management system, where partner organizations will have access to all locations where migrants are located, while adhering to the procedures defined by the state. In this way, the BiH Ministry of Security primarily wants to improve security conditions on the ground, but also the humanitarian care of migrants, especially vulnerable category in BiH. In order to improve the functioning and implementation of a unified system for the entire territory of BiH, a coordinator for activities related to migrants who are outside the temporary reception centres has been appointed.
(iii) youth work providers
The PRONI Centre for Youth Development is a non-governmental, non-profit, and non-political organization established in August 1998 to organize and implement education in the field of youth work. Its goal is to develop and promote peace and activism among active citizens. PRONI operates at the national level and is also active at the European level through partnerships and networking with other youth NGOs and youth networks. PRONI is the founder of the largest network of youth clubs in BiH – 42 youth clubs. PRONI is also the initiator and co-founder of the reconstruction of one of the largest youth centres in BiH – the BD Youth Centre.
Perpetuum mobile - Institute for Youth and Community Development in Banja Luka is a civil society organization that develops healthy life values of young people through educational, advocacy and research programs and encourages civic and political participation with the aim of creating a more responsible and just society.
The Institute for Youth Development KULT was established at the state level in 2002. It was known under the name KULT Association until May 2011. In addition to the Central Office in Sarajevo, there are offices in Gradacac and Subotica, which have continued to operate under the old name. The KULT’s cooperation with the authorities is extremely effective and based on partnerships. The Institute strives to carry out the activities needed by the target group on the spot in all places where it has its office. Planned workshops are held every year in order to determine the focus of its work. It strives for good cooperation with municipal authorities and various domestic and international organizations to prevent duplication or overlap of projects.
KULT has experience in drafting legislation and has been involved in drafting numerous laws at all levels of government. In addition, the Institute initiated the adoption of the youth laws in FBiH and BD, the FBiH Law on Volunteering, etc. For example, KULT drafted the FBiH youth and volunteering laws in cooperation with other organizations, which were sent to parliamentary procedure in cooperation with the Commission for Youth Affairs of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliamentary Assembly. The laws were ultimately passed.
The RS Youth Council is the umbrella youth organization in RS, whose position and role are defined by the Law on Youth Organization adopted by the RS People’s Assembly in 2004. As an umbrella youth organization, it brings together local and RS youth organizations with the aim of representing their interests before the RS institutions, in international cooperation, etc.
The FBiH Youth Council is an open platform where young people can articulate their problems and needs more clearly and loudly to those who need to create an environment for healthy youth growth and development. It is an umbrella representative structure of young people recognized by the FBiH Youth Law, which brings together over 100 youth associations. It gathers a large number of youth organizations in FBiH in its structure and ensures that young people fully decide on important issues.
The BD Youth Council is defined under the BD Youth Law as the umbrella organization of youth associations in BD in creating youth policies and programs in cooperation with legislative bodies. The BD Youth Council was formally established at the end of November 2018, and currently incorporates 13 youth associations registered in the Youth Organization Register of the Department for Professional and Administrative Affairs of the BD Government, with a tendency to expand.
CEREBRA is a civil society organisation from Banja Luka that mainly works with young people, although the elderly are also one of the target groups. It organizes educational events (workshops, trainings, seminars, conferences, etc.) to provide opportunities for young people to learn the skills needed in the labour market and travel around the region and elsewhere in Europe.
Youth Power is a youth organisation with the mission to create a society with positive values, where young people contribute to tolerance and dialogue, the promotion of healthy lifestyles, gender equality, violence prevention and are actively involved in social life.
(iv) training and professional development for youth workers
The PRONI Academy of Youth Work (PAOR) is a unique program of the PRONI Center for Youth Development that provides young people with knowledge in the field of youth work. The goal of this program is to empower activists and youth workers to improve their skills for conducting youth work activities. The PRONI Academy of Youth Work is implemented in three levels and each lasts six months:
PAOR A level - Basics of youth work consists of the following modules:
The Fundamentals of Youth Work course aims to provide young people with basic knowledge in the field of youth work in order to contribute to the personal and social development of young people in BiH. The course is intended for young people aged 18 to 30 who have a desire to influence various socio-political processes in their communities through youth work, and thus contribute to the development of their local communities, but also the state of BiH.
One-year training program for youth leaders for active involvement in the community and the business world.
The Institute for Youth Development KULT conducts certified training of youth leaders Learn, think and act!, which, among other things, offers participants the opportunity to gain self-confidence, see their abilities and potentials and develop a sense of responsibility in society and teamwork and leadership skills.
The Learn, Think and Act! training is an officially recognized form of non-formal education that provides young people with the opportunity to acquire various competencies that will make them competitive in the labour market. The program consists of seminars, practical exercises and volunteer work. The training is intended for young people up to 30 years of age. It enables young people to become active leaders in their local community and help solve youth problems, meet new friends, learn new skills, socialize and improve themselves. All trainees become citizens who voluntarily take steps to change the society in which they live, express their opinions and actively participate in the decision-making of their community.
(v) financial support
The BD Department for Professional and Administrative Affairs publishes the Public Call aimed at financing and co-financing programs or projects of public interest in the field of social protection, protection of persons with disabilities, social care for children and youth, assistance to the elderly, protection and promotion of human rights, volunteering, combating discrimination, domestic violence and juvenile violence, the fight against addiction, animal welfare, consumer protection, the fight against corruption, the promotion of European integration as well as humanitarian and similar work.
In 2023, the Department for Professional and Administrative Affairs allocated 420,000 KM for financing non-governmental sector projects. Which is more than a 50% increase based on 2022.
Results of co-financing youth programs and projects of youth organisations published
The Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports in the RS Government has announced the results of the competition for co-financing programs and projects of youth organizations up to 5,000.00 BAM. A total of 78 projects were approved, which were co-financed in the total amount of 300,000.00 BAM. A total of 23 youth organizations from Banja Luka received funds for the implementation of their projects.
The BiH Council of Ministers annually adopts a decision on allocating funds for co-financing projects that contribute to the development of science and innovation in BiH, as well as to the implementation of policies and international obligations in the field of science in BiH through the following grants:
a) Support for the preparation of projects for open ongoing calls within the HORIZON 2020 program and the implementation of approved projects within the HORIZON 2020 program;
b) Support for participation in actions within the COST program;
c) Support for the preparation and implementation of projects within the EUREKA program;
d) Support to projects that contribute to a higher level of success of Bosnia and Herzegovina's participation in the HORIZON 2020 program;
(vi) quality assurance
In 2018, PRONI Center for Youth Development launched a new project OKORUZ (Quality Assurance of Youth Work in the Community) intended for the Network of Youth Clubs that operates in 26 local communities. The Network of Youth Clubs in BD BiH is one of the positive examples of work with young people in BiH, where cooperation between the Government and NGO sectors is realized in the best possible way on common issues of importance for the youth in BD BiH.
The BiH Council of Ministers, at its 24th session, held on January 28, 2021, decided on the adoption of the document Improving the Quality and Relevance of Vocational Education and Training in BiH - Based on Conclusions from Riga (2021-2030).
The BD Inspectorate also has inspectors for NGOs, CCOs and foundations
The Inspector for NGOs, CSOs and foundations in BD has practically the possibility to legally control all activities of the non-governmental sector in finances and all other activities in the implementation of its program projects.