From July 16th to 23th, Sarajevo became the center of a vibrant youth exchange, gathering participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Greece, and Spain. The project
“Youth4Values,” organized by BRAVO BiH with the support of international partners, aimed to explore the values that connect us as European citizens.
The exchange kicked off with engaging ice-breaker activities. Participants played games to learn each other’s names, created gestures, and shared personal stories, setting a tone of trust and openness.
The second day focused on active citizenship. Participants learned how they can contribute to their communities through different forms of engagement. Guest speaker Alma Fejzić from CROA shared her experience in managing projects for youth, parents, and teachers. Later in the day, participants designed creative projects that could improve their local communities.
On the third day, the theme was freedom of speech and democratic dialogue.
Through a group simulation, participants experienced the complexity of decision-making including polarization, the rise of leadership, and passive roles. The day ended with reflection on the role of each individual in societal change.
The fourth day was dedicated to exploring Sarajevo. The city tour offered a deeper understanding of identity, collective memory, and the importance of peace. Sarajevo proved once again to be a city full of lessons relevant to the world.
The fifth day featured presentations from each national group. Topics included youth participation, the role of NGOs, and civic engagement. Sharing insights helped build a broader understanding of the unique challenges and strengths of each country.
The sixth day marked an emotional end to the exchange. Although the program officially concluded, the friendships, lessons, and inspiration remain. Participants returned home motivated to keep contributing actively to society.
MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT
Project Youth4Values will support active citizenship and political participation of youth in partner countries, coming from 3 different European regions. As well as, the project will foster the development of social and intercultural competencies, critical thinking, and soft and transversal skills. The focus will be on raising awareness of and understanding the European Union context, European identity, and the importance of active participation in decision-making processes at the local level, especially among youngsters.
To strengthen the connection between democracy and active citizenship and active participation in the decision-making process at the local level, and recognizing that each is mutually dependent on the other, is the most important result of this project. We will achieve it through the enhancement of democratic governance and the rule of law by fostering a culture of active citizenship, promoting civic education, and empowering individuals with knowledge about their rights and responsibilities as citizens. We hope this project will help improve the quality and accessibility of NFE in partner countries by collaborating with youth organizations, educational institutions, and decision-making bodies, and help bridge the gap in the existing system.