From 19 to 23 January 2026, the Bosnian Representative Association for Valuable Opportunities (BRAVO) took part in the international Learning, Teaching and Training Activity III titled “Civil Society Initiatives Strengthened with Information and Data Security”, held at the Youth Cultural Center in Skopje, North Macedonia.
This five-day training was organized within the Erasmus+ KA220-YOU project (Project No. 2023-1-TR01-KA220-YOU-000161230) and coordinated by the SETA Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research. The activity gathered representatives of civil society organizations from Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Norway, and other partner countries, with the aim of strengthening digital capacities, data security practices, and innovative communication strategies in the non-governmental sector.
Strengthening Digital Capacities of Civil Society
The training programme focused on enhancing the ability of civil society organizations to operate effectively and securely in increasingly digital environments.
Over the course of the week, participants engaged in a comprehensive learning agenda covering:
- Digital transformation frameworks for NGOs
- Impact-oriented digital communication
- Digital hygiene, security, and crisis management
- Social media algorithms and audience segmentation
- Artificial intelligence fundamentals and prompt engineering
- Generative media and visual content creation
- Data visualization and evidence-based storytelling
Through a combination of expert lectures, hands-on workshops, and collaborative sessions, participants developed practical skills for managing digital tools, protecting sensitive information, and designing effective digital strategies for their organizations.
BRAVO’s Role and Contribution
As one of the official partner organizations, BRAVO actively contributed to the learning process by sharing its experience in youth work, digital education, and project implementation across the Western Balkans and Europe.
BRAVO’s mission of empowering individuals and communities through education, skill development, and capacity building aligns closely with the objectives of this training. The organization’s work in youth empowerment, environmental awareness, entrepreneurship, and digital skills development provided valuable input during discussions on sustainable digital transformation in civil society.
Participation in this activity further strengthened BRAVO’s institutional capacity to:
- Integrate advanced digital tools into project management and communication
- Improve data protection and digital security standards
- Apply artificial intelligence ethically and effectively in youth work
- Enhance the quality and impact of its educational and dissemination activities
International Partnership and Expertise
The training brought together a strong consortium of partner organizations, including:
- SETA Foundation (Coordinator)
- ANKA Gelecek ve Yenilik Derneği (Turkey)
- Macedonian Human Resources Association – MHRA
- Technology for Tomorrow’s Betterment – TTB (Norway)
- Turkey Youth Foundation – TÜGVA
- BRAVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
The programme was led by experienced trainer Ali Selim Kara, a communication specialist with over a decade of experience in digital communication, non-formal education, and international project coordination. His expertise in digital strategy, visual design, and AI-based tools provided participants with high-level professional input and practical methodologies.
Towards a More Secure and Innovative Civil Society
The Skopje training represented an important step towards building a more resilient, innovative, and digitally competent civil society sector. By strengthening knowledge in digital cooperation, data security, and emerging technologies, the activity directly contributes to improving the quality, transparency, and sustainability of NGO work across Europe.
For BRAVO, this training marks another milestone in its continuous commitment to professional development, international cooperation, and the delivery of high-quality educational and capacity-building initiatives for young people and civil society organizations.