Study visit and project development activity between Balkan and Baltic countries
Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12.-18.03.2013
REPORT
General information
Study visit and project development activity between Balkan and Baltic countries was organised by the SALTO South East Europe Resource Centre in cooperation with the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian National Agencies of the Youth in Action Programme .
Hereby as the cooperation between Baltic and Balkan regions under the A31 sub programme is relatively modest compared with other EU neighbouring countries, the Baltic National Agencies of the YiA programme decided in collaboration to boost the cooperation with South-East Europe. Present activity was focusing to the possibilities of Youth Exchanges (as there two possibilities under the A31 sub programme – youth exchanges and training and networking), as this could be the easiest step into to Youth in Action programme.
The aim of the activity was to establish sustainable partnerships between the South East European and Baltic regions in order to develop Youth in Action projects, in particular Youth Exchanges.
Objectives · To explore the youth work realities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and discover similarities and differences of youth work among the participating countries · To explore quality aspects in Youth Exchanges under the Youth in Action 3.1 sub- action: Cooperation with the Neighbouring Partner Countries of the European Union · To develop Youth Exchange project ideas and concrete action plans
Participants
Altogether 25 participants were selected to take part to this activity. Nevertheless, for different reasons, a considerable number of participants cancelled their participation in the last minute). Therefore, finally there were only 18 participants (5 from Estonia, 5 from Latvia, 4 from Lithuania, 2 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1 from Albania and 1 from Serbia). The group was consisted of 5 male and 15 female participants. The full descriptions of the participants’ organisations are in the Annex 1.
List of participants
First name Last name Country of Residence Organisation Blerta Tuci Albania Act for Society Bosnia and Youth Advisory Panel - YAP, UNFPA Ana Martinović Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Youth Information Agency Bosnia- Emina Kesten Herzegovina Herzogovina Iva Tašić Serbia Young Researchers of Serbia Maria Liiv Estonia Saue Youth Centre (Saue Noortekeskus) Kaisa Alliksaar Estonia Tartumaa Noortekogu Lisandra Roosioja Estonia Seiklejate Vennaskond Reeli Engelbrecht Estonia Tartu Vocational Educational Center Merili Elmi Estonia MTÜ Maidla Noored Jazeps Krukovskis Latvia biedriba "Esi labs" Olga Gogina Latvia PeROM; LatRusMol The Riga Graduate School of Law Student Eriks Selga Latvia Association Romāns Beskrovnijs Latvia LRCY Cesis department Linda Sterna Latvia "Avantis" Aurelija Baltikauskaitė Lithuania National Institute for Social integration Birute Steponaviciute Lithuania Youth Centre of Jonava Milda Brukštutė Lithuania Center for Anti-Corruption Žilvinas Speteliūnas Lithuania VŠĮ "uMunthu"
Team of organisers and trainers
The team present in the activity was composed of a representative from SALTO SEE RC – Maija Lehto, a representative from the Estonian NA – Kaja Ainsalu and two facilitators – Domagoj Kovacic and Ieva Grundsteine.
Venue
The venue of the activity was hotel „Saraj” in Sarajevo. The hotel was located close to the city centre. Despite it having all the necessary facilities (participants’ rooms, training room and a restaurant), at some point the room temperature was too cold and the staff members were not always helpful enough. The food was sufficiently good.
Programme of activities and outcomes
The programme of activities was organised around the three objectives for this activity. The main areas of activities were: a) study visits, b) sessions focusing on the quality of Youth Exchanges and c) project development.
Programme of activities
A. STUDY VISITS
During the activity altogether ten organisations were visited for the purpose of getting to know better the local reality of youth work in Bosnia and Herzegovina and comparing it with the participants’ youth work contexts.
The visited organizations in Sarajevo were:
• Youth Information Centre • Zasto ne/Why not • Aarhus Centre Sarajevo • Partnerships in Health and Y – Peer BiH • SOS Social Centre "Herman Gmeiner" • proMente • Sarajevo Open Centre • Kriterion
In Jablanica Youth Council Jablanica and Museum „The Battle for Wounded of Neretva“ were visited. In Mostar Youth Cultural Centre Abrašević was visited, after which local youth took the group for a guided tour in the town. The full description of the visited organisations is the Annex 2.
According to the participants’ reflection, the main outcomes of the study visits were:
- Getting to know the reality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially complex political system and consequences of the conflict in 1990s - Getting to know the situation of youth, especially lack of opportunities for youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina and discovering similarities and differences between the two regions - Learning more about specific topics the organisations were dealing with, such as environment, LGBT issues, health, social research, youth participation and the youth work and youth centres’ functioning in general - Getting to know how different organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina function in different ways (from highly professional to grass root volunteering) - Getting into a close contact with local young people and hearing about the life in Bosnia and Herzegovina from them. Especially the tour around the city and the international evening that were organised by group of local youth, were appreciated.
In annex 3. are the most interesting reflections participants shared after the study visits (and the activity in general).
B. QUALITY IN YOUTH EXCHANGES
Despite the limited time available for familiarising the participants with the „Youth in Action” Programme the programme consisted of an introduction with the basic information about the Youth in Action and the main quality aspects of Youth Exchanges. The following model was used to visualise the latter:
To further discuss the quality in youth exchanges, practical examples were shared during the presentation and during the time the participants had a chance to develop their project ideas in groups.
C. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Despite the big challenge -too big disproportion of participants from Baltics (14) and SEE region (4)- the outcome of the project development phase was satisfactory. Apart from concrete youth exchange project ideas, this activity also provided the participants with a feeling of mutual understanding and meaningful human relationships based on trust, which is crucial for any partnership and project.
Towards the end of the activity, the participants seemed to feel comfortable in the group and were showing high commitment to develop Youth Exchange projects. The atmosphere was inspiring and genuine, the participants got along very well with each other and nobody was excluded from the group dynamics. Even the Latvian delegation, which joined the rest of the group in the morning of the third day due to delayed flights, were later well included in the group.
Altogether nine Youth Exchange ideas were prepared during the activity. Some of them were developed more in detail, some still needed further elaboration. Some of the partnerships were not yet regionally balanced, so, more SEE or Programme country partners needed to be involved in the future. Most of project ideas were supposedly to be submitted for May 1, 2013 deadline (only one of them was planned for the October 2013 deadline). Four projects were planned to be submitted to the Latvian NA, 3 projects to the Lithuanian NA and 2 or 3 projects to the Estonian NA.
1.) Youth exchange „Arts for Social Change” - Main theme: how to use visual arts for transferring the message – social advertisements - Participating countries: Lithuania (Milda), Albania (Blerta), Latvia (Olga) and one more partner from SEE that would be involved in the project - Timing and location: October or November 2013 in Albania - Applicant: Center for Anti-Corruption (Milda) to Lithuanian NA on 1 May deadline
2.) Youth exchange „ Life is worth exploring” - Main theme: personal development through outdoor activities - Participating countries: Estonia (Merili, Maria, Reeli, Kaisa), Lithuania (Birute, Žilvinas), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Anna) and 3 more countries/partners to be involved in the project (1 Programme country and 1 SEE country) - Timing and location: August/September 2013 in Lithuania - Applicant: VŠĮ "uMunthu" (Žilvinas) to Lithuanian NA on 1 May deadline
3.) Youth exchange „Living under one roof” - Main theme: living in a multicultural and multi-ethnic society - Participating countries: Latvia (Olga), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Emina) and 2 more countries to be involved (1 Programme country and 1 SEE country) - Timing and location: September 2013 in Latvia - Applicant: PeROM; LatRusMol (Olga) to Latvian NA on 1 May deadline
4.) Youth exchange on promoting youth employment through social entrepreneurship and volunteering - Main theme: youth employability - Participating countries: Latvia (Jāzeps), Bulgaria (Jāzeps partners from previous projects), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Emina) and one more partner from SEE to be involved in the project - Timing and location: Autumn 2013 in Latvia - Applicant: biedriba "Esi labs" (Jāzeps) to Latvian NA on 1 May deadline
5.) Youth exchange „Baltic-Balkan band of brothers” - Main theme: performance, production, management of music for inclusion of youth from rural areas - Participating countries: Latvia (Ēriks, Lithuania (Aurelija), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Aldin, one of the members of a study visit organization – tbc) and Serbia (Iva) - Timing and location: September/October 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Applicant: National Institute for Social integration (Aurelija) to Lithuanian NA on 1 May deadline
6.) Youth exchange „You have it!” - Main theme: artistic expression as a tool for inclusion - Participating countries: Latvia (Linda), Lithuania and Estonia (partner organizations to be found by Linda at the later stage) - Timing and location: August 2014 in Latvia - Applicant: „Avantis” to Latvian NA on 1 October deadline
7.) Youth exchange „One man’s trash is another man’s cash” (it is planned that this project would take place actually 2 times – once in Estonia and once in Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Main theme: consumerism and creative recycling - Participating countries: Estonia (Lisandra) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (tbc – AISEC Mostar) - Timing and location: September/October 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina AND Estonia (tbc) - Applicant: Seiklejate Vennaskond or another organization from Estonia (Lisandra) on 1 May deadline
8.) Youth exchange on HIV (tbc!) - Main theme: HIV, peer education - Participating countries: Estonia (Kaisa) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Harris, a representative of one of the organizations that was visited during study visit) - Timing and location: to be agreed - Applicant: Tartumaa Noortekogu (Kaisa)
9.) Youth exchange on work with socially disadvantaged children - Main theme: personal development of youth through organizing activities for socially disadvantaged children - Participating countries: Latvia (Romāns) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Emina) - Timing and location: September 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Applicant: LRCY Cesis department (Romāns) to Latvian NA on 1 May deadline
Evaluation and recommendations for the next study visit and project- development activity (in Latvia and Estonia) in June 2013
The participants’ evaluation of the activity showed high level of satisfaction. Also the team agreed that the activity was of good quality. Many positive outcomes were achieved: building better understanding between Balkan and Baltic countries, comprehension on what means a quality in Youth Exchange projects, as well as the development of many concrete Youth Exchange project ideas. No major problems were encountered during the event, the atmosphere was inspiring and genuine, participants got along very well with each other and nobody was excluded from group dynamics.
However, there were few recommendations that could be taken into account when planning the next study visit and project development activity (in Latvia and Estonia in June 2013).
- More balanced group of participants among the regions. This time it was especially unfortunate with many SEE participants dropping out at the last minute. Consequently, the Baltic participants did not have enough partners from the group to develop projects with (and interact with). This lack of participants was partially compensated by other organisations visited and meetings with the local youth. Nevertheless, the quality of the activity would surely increase if there was a more balanced group.
- Although the majority of participants were really well selected and fit the target group set for the activity (they were motivated to work on concrete projects, had a good level of English proficiency, etc.), next time it would be good to make sure that all of the participants are able to commit themselves to the Baltic-Balkan projects. Lack of commitment appeared to be an issue with regards to some participants.
- During the selection phase it would be good also to take into account the profiles of organisations so that it would be easier to make partnerships later on (not to choose organisations from too diverse fields/backgrounds).
- In order to promote greater interest among the participants and increase the involvement in the study visits, it would be better to fit the profile of study visits better to the profile of the participants’ organisations. This time there was possibly a too high proportion of „high shelf” organisations which were not working with youth at a grass-roots level.
- To continue the good practice of involving local youth, by giving a chance for the participants to interact with them (through living library, city visits, etc.), because
hearing personal stories contributed a lot to gaining a better understanding of the local culture.
- To avoid losing time and visiting the offices of organisations, but alternatively to organize meetings with several organisations at the same time in one space.
- Whenever relevant and possible, to give the visited organisations also a chance to find out more about the participants’ organisations. - To introduce the quality aspects of youth exchanges at an earlier stage of the programme, so that participants who are not that familiar about the Youth Exchanges would have a chance to increase their understanding earlier. This could possibly facilitate the project development phase.
Annex 1 INFORMATION ABOUT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
ACT FOR SOCIETY CENTER TIRANA/ ALBANIA Contact Person : Blerta Tuci Adress : Str. ALI DEMI; Nd.83; H.17; Ap.17 email: [email protected] Njesia Bashkiake Nr.1; Postal Code 1004; [email protected] www.actforsociety.org
About us:
Act for Society ”, extend the activity in Albania is a non-governmental, non-political and independent organization created in December 2011. The aim of establishment and the functioning of the center “Act for Society ” is to give to the individuals and community the opportunity to be part of the social, economic, cultural life of the country, in order to build a healthy society. Helping them how to act for they own social problems through holding different workshops, conferences, campaigns and other forms of training and projects. Also our center’s program seeks to bring the foreign experience on the field of an active society closer with the local one; create and publishing an informative newsletter about the activities and projects of the center.
- To work in all types of educational problems. - Organize activities aimed at further development, conservation and cultural promotion. - Promote and disseminate European values in the context of Albanian Society and primarily within education community, to produce cultural exchange. - Disseminate social pluralism, tolerance in Albania. - To actively promote all the tasks at education and training for understanding environment and promoting global sustainability. - Establish contacts between European organizations in order to promote European Concepts in Albania. - To bring the youth all the training available to improve their skills, especially through community initiatives, international programs and European mobility programs. - Promote discussion and treatment of social, problems, unemployment, racism, environment, climate change and social exclusion.
Areas where Act For Society Works.
• Information Society, Raising the role of Civil Society in Albania. • Education and Training, Youth and Women. • Decentralization and Regional Cooperation • Development and Strong Communities. • Ethics in Government and Media
The work of UNFPA encompasses a wide range of issues (see menu bar). However, the three main areas of focus — reproductive health, women's empowerment, and population and development strategies — are inextricably linked. The ability to make free and informed childbearing decisions lies at their intersection.
About Youth Advisory Panel UNFPA BH: Youth Advisory Panel of the United Nations Population Fund ( YAP UNFPA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an advisory body of UNFPA. Objectives YAP BH: · Improve sexual and reproductive health of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina; · To provide a higher level of youth participation in the development of policies for sexual and reproductive health of young people.
Description: YAP BiH is an advisory body within the UNFPA, which deals with issues of health and health problems of young people from the area of sexual and reproductive health; YAP is present in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2006- the year. YAP members of BH are young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. UNFPA supports YAP BiH through providing guidance and mentoring, and participation and support of all YAP BH events and initiatives outside the organization. YAP is considered the most influential leader in the field of sex education and youth rights, and participates and supports activities that affect decision making in the field of youth rights. YAP is the result of what we require young. UNFPA supports BiH YAP members who generously give their feedback and advice from increased cultural conversation about sexual and reproductive health, to support diverse group of young people. Role of YAP BH: · Analysing the position of youth and research needs in the health of young people; · Raising awareness about sexual and reproductive health of young people; · Giving suggestions and participate in decision-making and advocacy at the state level in the field of sexual and reproductive health of young people and their rights; · Exchange of information between the UNFPA and youth.
Sara Calkic SRH Project Assistant United Nations Population Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo +387 33 293 580 [email protected]
Youth Information Agency Bosnia-Herzegovina (OIA) About OIA
Youth Information Agency Bosnia-Herzegovina (OIA) is a leading national non-governmental and non- partisan organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of youth policy development with aim to improve the position of young people and their participation in society.
Through its 3 sectors: Info Service , Policy Sector and Capacity Building Program , OIA cooperates with over 400 governmental bodies and institutions and more than 300 youth organizations and 210 schools all over the country, in the region of South-East Europe as well as with a number of international organizations, media and young people in general.
In 2012 OIA has opened the first Social Innovation Incubator “MUNJA” in Sarajevo as a space for youth empowerment through every day program of events, info service, courses, mentorship, start up support, internship program and networking.
OIA was created in 2001 as a spinoff of the Open Society Fund BiH (Joint Youth Program) founded on the basis of the Foundation's Strategy and UNDP Human Development Report in BiH – Youth 2000.
OIA is the national partner for BiH and member of the European Youth Information and Counselling Agency ( ERYICA ). OIA is a member of the South-East European Youth Network ( SEEYN ) and the European network UNITED . In 2004 OIA became Action Partner of the OXFAM International Youth Parliament from Sidney. From 2005 OIA is a National Coordinator for the European Governance Network (EGN ). It is one of founders of the European Movement in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2006 and the Association of Public Policy Analysts (AJP ) in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2007. In 2009 OIA becomes only NGO – member of the Steering Board of “Youth Employment Project 2009-2011” led by GOPA/SDC/ADA. In 2009 becomes member of BH NGO Council . In 2010 with 9 CSO’s in youth sector OIA officially signs Memorandum of Understanding with State Directorate for European Integrations (DEI) . Proposals and ideas for partnerships Support of Youth Employment (age 18-25) through exchange of models for development of employability and entrepreneurship skills; Using social media and internet for youth empowerment and for increasing their participation in society; Creative models for youth leadership development (target group 14-18 age)
Saue Youth Centre
http://www.sauenoortekeskus.ee/en/ Contact person: Maria Liiv [email protected] Aims and activities Saue Youth Centre is an informal education centre for the youth that follows the open youth work principles. Saue Youth Centre strives to attract the youth of Saue with its diversified recreational activities and versatile traditions while supporting their ideas and initiatives. Saue Youth Centre offers several possibilities for the youth: * taking part in different (local, national and international) projects, several camps, trips, excursions and youth events; participating in different hobby clubs; * various recreational means and equipment: table tennis, pool, rock-climbing wall, ceramics, air hockey, table football, computers (wifi), video game consoles, books, magazines, newspapers, board games, kitchen facilities and newly opened skate park; * Counselling and study support for the youth. * Saue Youth Centre has also been carrying out Mobile Youth Work since 2011. Community and target group Saue, a small town in Estonia, is located less than twenty kilometres south-west of the centre of our capital city - Tallinn. It has now developed into a small town with nearly 6000 inhabitants and well- developed infrastructure. The primary target group of Saue Youth Centre is the youth of Saue in the age range from 7 to 26. Although our main activities are directed to the youth, our general aim is to include and influence the entire community of Saue town. Ideas and proposals for partnerships The possible youth exchanges could include the following topics and activities: adventure education (camping, active lifestyle) and fine art (arts and crafts, music, photography, dance, film, theatre). The priorities of the possible youth exchanges might include cultural diversity, employability, minorities, creativity and entrepreneurship. We are open to all partnership proposals!
Name of organization: Tartumaa Noortekogu Name of organization (English): Tartu County Youth Council
Web page: http://noortekogu.tartumaa.ee/ Contact persons: Kaisa Alliksaar [email protected] +372 5666 3412, Valerija Strelovskaja [email protected]
Our organization goals:
• Promote youth participation
• Active youth council into every county
• Democratically chosen members/board
• Independence in decision making
• Recognition of the local authorities
Latest activities of our organization:
• Youth Seminar „Sa ei ole hüpiknukk, liiguta ise nuppe“
• Tartu County Youth Foundation „Noortelt noortele“
• Tartumaa Osaluskohvik – Tartu County Participation Cafe
• Terviselaager – Health Camp
• Tartu County Youth of Year selection
• Training courses and motivation going out for own members
We have around 40 members of organization. We stand up for the rights of all young people in Tartu County. Target group is all young people in Tartu County. Our partners are Tartu Maavalitsus (Tartu County Government), Tartumaa Arendusselts (County development Agency), Eesti Noorte Liit (Estonian Youth League) and Kodukant.
Our ideas to do cooperation with Balkan countries:
• Want to share experiences about youth policy and council work
• Do a different projects – for example Youth Exchange
• Get a new ideas and methods
Seiklejate Vennaskond
Contact person: Heleri Alles [email protected] http://www.seiklejad.org/
Aims and activities: Seiklejate Vennaskond is a group of young active and optimistic people who are interested in different areas of life. We have participated and organized different youth exchanges, seminars and training courses concerning equality, media impact, innovation, fight against racism & xenophobia, HIV prevention, environment protection and other issues. Our group gathers every month to take up new ideas and think how to put them into practice. We sincerely believe that the young people today can make a difference and we all work for this purpose.
Target group: Young people aged 16-35, youth from rural areas and fewer opportunities.
Ideas and proposals: Environmental project focusing on Zero Waste principles (introduction to the movement, implementation in everyday life), plastic pollution (reality, solutions) and sustainable lifestyle.
- Name and logo of organisation: Tartu Vocational Education Centre (Tartu Kutsehariduskeskus)
- Contact person, email and web site: www.khk.ee ; Andrus Mõttus – director, Reeli Engelbrecht- department of tourism [email protected]
- Short description of the aims and activities of your organisation Vision: Valuable experts from the school of good deeds
Mission: We offer the students best opportunities for personal development and success through lifelong learning
Values : Competence, Co-operation, Innovativeness, Flexibility, Appreciation
Tartu Vocational Education Centre is one of the biggest of VET institutions in Estonia with 3500 full-time students, 3000 adult students and 350 employees (about 200 teachers and trainers). Departments: Industrial technology, Construction and woodwork, ICT, Light industry, housekeeping and beauty services, Catering and hospitality, Car maintenance, Tourism and recreation, Foodstuff technology, Business and administration, Adult education and training. About 50 curriculums.
Other areas of activity: Vocational qualification, re-qualification and in-service training for adults (including for inmates of Tartu Prison); Vocational pre-training at schools, both on lower-secondary and upper-secondary levels; Vocational training in collaboration with general education schools. Investments during the last three years - €7.1 million. Excellent sports facilities. Active in extra-curricular activities.
- Short description of your community and target group you work with The main target group of cooperation are: students, parents, vocational training companies, general educational schools, Tartu City Government, the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research.
- Ideas and proposals for partnerships Find partners, the development of cooperation between the different areas, collaborative projects of vocational training between different companies and schools, teachers’ mobility, to exchange experiences. Visiting tourism businesses and schools. Entertainment centres and youth centres.
Association "Esi labs" Jazeps Krukovskis Latvia [email protected] +37129492166 www.esilabs.lv ttps://www.facebook.com/EsiLabs
"Esi labs!" is non-governmental and non-profit organization, dependent on voluntary work done by members and supporters. The organization has been created with an aim to support and promote active citizenship in society, enhance unselfishness, empathy and willingness to help, promote volunteering in Latvia and abroad. Main activities are targeted to young people, but there are activities accessible to persons of all age groups. We are open to work with different target groups in order to empower the development of individuals and organizations. One of our priorities is to initiate projects involving people with fewer opportunities in order to enhance their better inclusion in society. Main instrument in order to address the target group is our web www.esilabs.lv, where there is a database of volunteer projects, information about possibilities to participate in active social life in Latvia and charity activities, inspirational information about active participation and environmental issues. Nevertheless we also participate and organize seminars in order to achieve objectives of the organization.
International Russian Youth Network “PeROM “ was created in 2009 to develop and implement international cultural projects in preservation and development of Russian language and culture. The main fields of our activity are cultural cooperation and development of the modern society’s humanitarian constituent. Since its establishment the organization is leading projects in: 1. Non-formal leadership education; 2. Conference management; 3. Project management; 4. Development of website www.perom.eu , creating it as a meeting point and a platform for project development, cultural exchange and consulting among experts, youth activist and organizations belonging to Russian culture and language. Its target group is: people who are young in their spirit, open minded, ready for innovations and development, and also those, who belong to or respect (consider valuable) Russian culture and civilization. Chair of the organization: Margarita Dragile; Co-chair: Olga Gogina. Contact information: [email protected]; www.perom.eu ; Kr. Barona 130-305, Riga, LV-1012, Latvia; 00 371 22 31 83 36.
Association “Humanitarian Perspective ” was created in 2005 to develop and implement social projects of both local and international scale. It is a member of ''PeROM'' network. The main fields of our activity are cultural cooperation, social integration and development of the modern society’s humanitarian constituent. The Association main activity is related to such problematic field as the strengthening of civil society. Members of the Association are permanently upgrading their professional skills through participation in international educational projects and training courses. Members of the Association are the authors of publications in the field of law, civil society development, analysis of social processes, psychology, pedagogy, etc. Member: Olga Gogina. Contact information: [email protected] ; http://gp-riga.lv/contact/ ; Kuldīgas iela 16-33, Jūrmala, Latvija, LV-2010; 00 371 25 91 51 97, 00 371 29 43 71 96
Round table of Russian Youth Organizations of Latvia “LatRusMol “ was created in 2010 as an umbrella organization for 10 Latvian Russian Youth Organizations. Its main objectives are: 1. representation of interests and protection of rights of Russian youth in Latvia on political and social level; 2. accomplishment of projects and organization of conference for promotion of civil society in Latvia; 3. accomplishment of projects and organization of conference for promotion of intercultural dialogue and integration of Latvian society. Since its establishment the organization is leading projects in: 1. Non-formal leadership education; 2. Conference and project management; 3. Development and participation in projects, activities and events on protection of minority rights in Latvia; 4. Development, implementation and participation in projects to promote dialogue within Latvian society. Target group: young people from 18 to 35 years old Chair of the organization: Margarita Dragile; Member of board: Olga Gogina. Contact information: [email protected]; www. latrusmol.lv; Kr. Barona 130-305, Riga, LV-1012, Latvia; 00 371 22 31 83 36;
Ideas and proposals for partnerships
Our organization strongly believes that Latvia and its people, due to their language and cultural competences could serve as a joint or bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations. Being a part of EU, we understand and share Western values and approaches. Meanwhile, being close to Russia and having a large of Russian population, people of Latvia have a good command of Eastern values and way of thinking and acting. We could serve as mediators and re-translators of Western values to East, and Eastern values to West, thus narrowing the gap between the two completely different worlds.
The main ideas for cooperation are: 1. International youth leadership skills and project management education project; 2. Development of projects in the field of intercultural dialogue, minority issue and development of civil society.
The Riga Graduate School of law Student Association Contact person: Otto Tabuns Email: [email protected] Web site: http://sa.rgsl.lv/ Aims and Activities The Student Association of the Riga Graduate School of Law aims to ensure and promote success in all fields for the students of our respective school. We strive to engage our students in all the educational activities we can provide for them, as well as making sure that there is always a plethora of student-community building endeavours taking place in order to promote unity among our national and international students. Members of the Student Association themselves attempt to better themselves through constant training and hands-on experience in the areas of business and diplomacy. The main activities of the Student Association of the Riga Graduate School of Law consist of acting as ambassadors of the school to other organizations in order to promote cooperation, as well as to other potential students. Community and target group: The Student Association attempts to work with the students of its respective school as their most important target group. After that, it works with its potential stakeholders (different schools, sponsors, and governmental agencies). Last but not least, the association works with community-service based organizations. Ideas and proposals for partnerships • The creation of an expanded internet platform to make Salto-Youth projects more accessible. o Creating forums for specific sub-groups (Universities, regions, countries) for further partnerships. Discussions and project planning would take place in these forums. • Make University specific Salto-Youth initiatives to increase the exchange of ideas between various educational facilities.
Latvian Red Cross Youth Cesis department Romans Bezkrovnijs [email protected]; [email protected] 28656177
Contacts: Anete Darģe, [email protected] , www.lskj.lv Description: Latvian Red Cross Youth Cesis departments work is based on five programs that give every young person the opportunity to choose the most suitable and the most outstanding program in which they would like to participate in existing activities, as well as to realize their ideas: 1. First aid 2. Social integration 3. Health promotion 4. Discrimination and violence reduction 5. LRCY outreach 1. First aid Participation and organising of first aid competitions, demonstrations of first aid at schools, different events 2. Social integration Visiting lonely old people, summer camp for children from social risk families, events at Cesis minor prison, creative art workshops at Cesis hospital, event for disabled children 3. Health promotion Day without tobacco, rubber boots run, AIDS day, safe summer rubber 4. Discrimination and violence reduction Velotour, peace day 5. LRCY outreach Red Cross birth day, informal lections
The principles of our organisation : Humanism Objectivity Volunteering Neutrality Unity Independence Comprehensive
Target group: The main target group is youth, but we also organise events for little children, old people, disabled children and also for citizens of Cesis Ideas and proposals for partnership: We would like to exchange with experience, see how organisations at this region work, how they organise events, where and how they get money to organise them. If there are Red Cross departments there - how they work and how they involve youth
"Avantis" Linda Sterna Latvia [email protected] +371 26221227 http://www.avantis.lv/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Avantis/232171573492220?ref=ts&fref=ts
Youth organization Avantis since 2002 implemented various projects for young people promoting interesting and useful ways of spending free time, inviting young people to engage in creative and sports activities. Target group: young people from disadvantaged backgrounds young people with low self-esteem Avantis since its existence has implemented numerous projects in film, music, social and sports. We are looking forward to cooperate with young activists from other countries, to improve social environment and encourage youngsters to develop their skills and talents all over Europe and, who knows, maybe world!
Mission of the Organisation - integration of the socially vulnerable groups into the society.
The mission is implemented:
By supporting both society and socially vulnerable groups in providing opportunities for interaction and thus to destroy myths, stereotypes and develop mutual understanding (Journalists education, Human Library programmes); By promoting active participation, inclusion of the socially vulnerable groups within active economic and social activities (All different – all equal programme); By raising awareness and protecting Human Rights among young people and the whole society (Living Library and All different – all equal education programmes); By integrating socially responsible businesses as the solution for the local marginalized groups - Roma, people with various disabilities (Social taxi, Rehabilitation Centre in Antaliepte); By motivating and empowering people to become active and responsible European and World citizens (Global Education and Peer-to-peer education programmes).
Contact person: Aurelija Baltikauskaitė (project coordinator) - [email protected] More about our organisation: http://zmogui.lt/en
Center for Anti-Corruption (Antikorupcijos švietimo centras (LT)) Contact person: Milda Brukštutė E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.anti-corruption.lt
Public institution Center for Anti-Corruption – is a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO), established on 2 November 2009 in Lithuania which is focused on anti-corruption education and training. The goals of Center for Anti-Corruption: • Encouraging the public to contribute to the implementation of corruption prevention; • Stimulating the reduction of corruption at national as well as international level; • Strengthening citizenship and public awareness by shaping and disseminating ideas, values and principles of a democratic society and citizenship; • Initiating public discussions on corruption; • Assisting citizens actively to engage in public activities. Directions of activities: • Conferences, seminars, trainings on anti-corruption and related issues in Lithuania and abroad; • Research, survey, analysis and consultations in the field of corruption and corruption related issues; • Accumulation, systematization and dissemination of field related information. During quite short period of existence center for Anti-Corruption has carried out several activities: • Organized 3 international conferences on money laundering, fraud prevention, shadow economy and related issues. There participated almost 250 participants from 18 countries. • Organized an international training on corruption related issues for representatives (public and private sector) from Kazakhstan. • From 2012 Center for Anti-corruption have started to implement the project “Pupils voice” which is directed to integrity and active citizenship promotion. It consists of training, seminars and conference. • From 2013 we are planning to implement a project related with social ads and media use for combating different social problems.
Center for Anti-Corruption co-operates with Lithuanian and foreign (Europe, Asia, Africa) partners – public institutions, academies, others NGOs.
Target groups: • Youth. Pupils associations, active students, young entrepreneurs; • Other NGOs (exchanging experience and informational basis); • Public officials (two directions: first, we co-operate with them as experts and second, we organize trainings and other informational events); • Private sector who wants and implement social responsibility policies.
Ideas and proposals for partnerships: Center for Anti-Corruption is an opened NGO and interested in co-operation and partnership with other organizations from different sectors. Regarding to Center aims and activities, we are particularly interested in different forms of education, events, also researches, public awareness rising on corruption and related issues, such as but not limited to active participation, citizenship, good governance and democracy, social responsibility, freedom of information. For more information please visit web site www.anti-corruption.lt
Youth Path Olga Siracenko Lithuania [email protected] +37068420407 http://www.facebook.com/?sk=welcome#!/jaunimokelias [email protected]
The establishment of non-government organization “Youth Path” was initiated by a group of young people in order to work with young people, to promote their employment and social inclusion, to meet their own self-expression, communication and cultural needs. Target group: Youth, children
Members of the organization are working together on local and international projects, such as youth camps and youth exchange, volunteering, festive days’ celebrations, thematic youth meetings, etc. We were very happy to find invitation to apply for this initiative of cooperation between South East European and Baltic states, because just in a moment we are working on new project which is dealing with cooperation of Lithuania and Balkan states. Namely, we work on plan of this project and we need to find partners urgently. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country in which we need to find partner as soon as possible in order to make work on our project more effective. We have ideas to share with our Bosnian partners and other participants of meeting as well. As a part of our described project we intend to organize youth exchange and we would like to get more ideas with our colleagues on a point of its planning and organisation. It should be really great youth exchange as we suppose, with participation of youth from 12 Balkan countries and Lithuania! As a matter of fact, we plan to organize also concert of vocal groups from all these countries, thus visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina in close terms has really very big meaning for us.
Organization’s legal name uMunthu Country Lithuania Web site umunthu.lt (under construction) Contact person Family name Žilvinas First name Speteliūnas Email [email protected] Telephone +37061277868
„uMunthu“ is non-governmental and non-profit organization which is based in small town of Lithuania – Varėna and is working in all district of Alytus. Members of „uMunthu“ are helping other organizations to implement youth projects and our organization has sent more than a dozen people to projects abroad. Adding to this, we are also participating in local and abroad projects by ourselves to gain enough experience to work on our own projects. Our target group is young people who are from district of Alytus. It varies from schoolchildren to students or former students.
The main aims of our organization are:
• to enhance and to provide youth support in self-realization and becoming self-dependent in changing society of Lithuania
• to help fighting with big youth unemployment in the region and young people‘s migration from small towns to big cities or abroad
• to develop and encourage the solidarity between people with purpose of strengthening social cohesion.
• to strengthen values of democracy, peace, diversity and human rights
• to develop non-formal education, intercultural dialogue, international cooperation and active civil society
• to encourage exchange mobility and raise the awareness of the European Union and its educational programs;
The work that we do helps the youth to find their way in society trough volunteering activities and non-formal learning activities which provide valuable skills for them. So we are developing their skills through participation in various projects, programmes of supporting young people, activities reflecting migrational issues in order to fight youth unemployment and many others. We are trying to provide young people in the region the opportunity to unleash their potential.
We are really open-minded to hear all ideas of our potential partners and looking forward to cooperate in our or others projects. We are actively communicating not only with local schools, but also with such educational institutions like universities or colleges. The most important actions for us are training courses, youth exchanges and volunteering projects. We have really motivated and active members of our organization. Also, there is quite big shortage of youth projects in our region, but we have young people who are willing actively participate in non-formal education activities and Youth in Action is the best choice for that.
We are in the initial stage of a few projects related to intercultural dialogue and exchange mobility, motivation and self- development and other topics. For me, the most intriguing idea is self- development, motivational project which main tool will be various types of joga.
Be our Partner because Youth is Power!
IF YOU LIKE: dance, sing, play, take pictures, play board games, draw, shoot, play sports, you interested in movies, love to cook ... but you don’t have a place where to do it. Look inside us, alone or with friends! You may wish to relax, play, or make new friends. YOUTH CENTER IS OPEN TO ALL. JONAVA YOUTH CENTER WAITING FOR YOU! HERE YOU WILL FIND • a small kitchen where you can drink tea or coffee or maybe cook some food • Information about youth activities and employment opportunities • table and chairs for meetings, debates • colleague, friend, companion, and maybe someone with a good idea to implement • air hockey, tennis and football tables • free place of self-expression • tv, home theatre system, projector Contacts: Chemikų str. 136, Jonava Tel.: +370 349 47516 Email: [email protected]
http://www.facebook.com/JJCentras
MISSION:
The main goal of an association Youth Centre of Jonava is to mobilize and educate young people in order to ensure and promote activities which are meaningful and useful to society. In order to reach this goal, Youth Centre of Jonava is organizing various events, seminars and trainings which are held for youth.
TARGET GROUPS:
Unsubstantiated youth, social risk youth and etc. We are also working with youth leaders of different organizations, which help us to achieve the purpose of youth center.
MAIN ACTIVITIES:
Jonava Youth center works like "open work" youth center. It means, that young people, which haven't found themselves in their lives, can come here (at youth center) and spend time playing games, watching tv, communicating with each other. Youth Center staff organized youth activities such as table game tournaments, brain fights, seminars and training courses. The aim is to get a young person to develop, enable, and encourage to get involved in volunteering activities and take the initiative yourself. Youth Center staff as well as developing collaborative networks between youth organizations and provides additional competence needed to work with young people and other professionals.
WHY BOSNIA AND HERZOGOVINA? We would like to get in touch with youth group or organization and in the future search for the ability to introduce Lithuania for them and also introduce Bosnia and Herzegovina to Lithuania young people. And not only introduce, but share problems and solutions.
Annex 2 INFORMATION ABOUT THE VISITED ORGANISATIONS
SARAJEVO
Youth Information Agency
www.oiabih.info
Youth Information Agency (OIA) is a leading non-governmental and non-partisan organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of youth policy development with aim to improve the position of young people and their participation in society.
Through its 3 sectors: Info Service, Policy Sector and Capacity Building Program, OIA cooperates with over 400 governmental bodies and institutions and more than 300 youth organizations in BiH, in the region of South-East Europe as well as with a number of international organizations and young people in general.
Since its beginnings, OIA has been known all over BiH and the Western Balkans for its focus on promoting and developing public policies towards the youth. So far it has participated in nearly all important research projects regarding the condition of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as many international evaluations, interviews and focus groups. Though advocacy itself is not measurable, OIA has participated in more than 100 institutional changes in BiH regarding the youth.
Capacity Building is a separate sector of OIA which strengthens the capacity of certain actors in the youth sector. By now OIA has created and implemented several hundreds of different programmes of training, courses, seminars and workshops with over 32,000 participants: government youth officials, politicians, leaders of youth organizations, youth workers, pedagogues, educators, high school students, college students, and young people in general.
MUNJA! (Thunderbolt ) is OIA's latest project with the main idea to recruit and activate students in Bosnia and Herzegovina through a specific web portal and membership in an information centre and offer a unique youth activism programme. MUNJA! is social innovation incubator that organizes various courses, workshops and events for young people in Sarajevo. www.munja.ba
OIA is one of the first organizations in the Balkans with a unique information service developed according to European standards (ERYICA). This service is comprised of an array of related activities and tools for informing the youth. OIA's information service is designed to regularly inform young people of the opportunities available to them, their rights, as well as various ways of being active participants in society.
Web Portal for Youth - mladi.info Elections (2008) Youth Mobility Portal - hajmo.ba In the last elections 48% of young people have voted. They represent 21,5% of the voting body in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Youth Organizations Only 5% of young people in Bosnia OIA and Herzegovina are members of a Address: youth organization! Ferhadija 28, Sarajevo High Education (2007) According to the Higher Education Tel/Fax: +387 33 Reform, Bosnia and Herzegovina is 237 764 ranked second last in Europe!
E-mail: Education [email protected] One out of four people in Bosnia and Herzegovina have not completed their high school education.
Leaving (2008) 73% of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina would like to leave their country!
Job More than 58% of young people are unemployed and the rate is 2,5 times higher than for older generations!
Youth and Travel 33% of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina have never traveled abroad and 40% of them do not own
a passport!
UG Zašto ne/CA Why not is a civil society organization from BiH that works on the creation of a safe, secure, healthy, active, efficient and accountable BiH society through increasing civic participation, influencing on government accountability, use of new technology tools and promotion of socially engaged culture on the whole territory of BiH together with other interested groups, organizations, institutions and individuals.
www.zastone.ba
The organization works in BiH and has partners in most of the BiH local communities. We work with a staff of eight and have additional 15 external co- operators and over 200 volunteers that support our work. Through connected initiatives, there are several hundred people that have been included in our work in the past three years only. We work in 5 main program areas:
I Civic Activism and Participation – raising awareness and motivation of the citizens and interested civic society groups about the need for active engagement and involvement in the social and political processes
II Government Accountability – strengthening the role of civil society in raising the level of accountability and transparency and creating tools, monitoring reports and public campaigns for presenting the accountability of public officials, as well as creating campaigns on promoting accountability on individual basis
III Use of new technologies and social media by civil society, citizens and political parties – raising awareness and capacities and creating tools for the use of new technologies, internet and mobile phones in the first place, for strengthening the civil society, raising responsible participation of the citizens, as well as improving efficiency and accountability of government
IV Regional demilitarization and creation of peaceful and safe societies – creation of the social surrounding in the region for the demilitarization of the societies
V Support to socially engaged independent culture – giving support to socially engaged independent artists, organizing cultural events, merging activism with culture
Apart from this, in the past 10 years of existence we have implemented over 50 different projects and initiatives. Some of our current activities are:
• Regional POINT (Political Accountability and New Technologies) Conference in Sarajevo (2012) • Right to Know (pravodaznam.ba) - Portal for the assistance of Freedom of Information Requests (2011 – still) • Regional Network for the Use of IT in the Promotion of Accountability and Transparency (2011 – still)
• Istinomjer –portal for the promotion of accountability of government and public officials (2010 – still) • Razglasaj – civic campaign for general elections in 2010 and a portal for political life, parties and elections and Glasometar (vote meter) – online voter preference tester (2010 – still)
Contact:
U.G. Zašto ne
Envera Šehovića 10/2, 71000 Sarajevo, BiH tel/: +387 33 61 84 61 https://www.facebook.com/zastonesarajevo https://twitter.com/WhyNjet
www.aarhus.ba
Aarhus Centre in Sarajevo started to work in May 2012 and is the 38th centre which has been opened so far. Aarhus Centre promotes understanding and application of the Aarhus Convention and cooperation between authorities, civil society, the judiciary, the private sector, the media and the general public on environmental issues.
Aarhus Sarajevo Centre supports and promotes the application of the Aarhus Convention in the City of Sarajevo and indirectly in BiH.
Aarhus Sarajevo Centre fulfils its mission by:
• Helping authorities to fulfil the duties and obligations set forth in the Aarhus Convention, • Promote the introduction of regulations and methods aimed at facilitating access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental, • Represents a bridge between the state, civil society, industry and the public, • Encourages the application of the Convention by developing awareness and capacity of stakeholders • Serve the wider community by providing services in their field of action.
Our activities are:
• providing free access to the literature on environmental protection, information received from the institutions responsible for the protection of the environment and from other sources to non-governmental organizations dealing with the protection of the environment and interested citizens; • distributing information on issues of importance to the environment and making this information available to the public; • organizing public debate on issues of importance to the environment, promoting the participation of citizens in decision-making;
• providing space for specially designed workshops and educational activities on the subject of the Aarhus Convention; • developing awareness on access to information, participation of citizens in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters , usually known as the Aarhus Convention , was signed on June 25, 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus. It entered into force on 30 October 2001. As of July 2009, it had been signed by 40 (primarily European and Central Asian) countries and the European Union and ratified by 41 countries.
The Aarhus Convention grants the public rights regarding access to information, public participation and access to justice, in governmental decision-making processes on matters concerning the local, national and cross border environment. It focuses on interactions between the public and public authorities.
Aarhus Centar Sarajevo
Kemala Kapetanovića 17/1
71000 Sarajevo
Tel/Faks +38733660588 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/aarhuscentar.sarajevo?fref=ts
Partnership in Health and Y – Peer Bosnia and Herzegovina
Partnerships in Health (Partnerstvo za zdravlje) is a Bosnian non-government organization dealing with health education and training activities and marginalized populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. PH is closely working with governments, institutes of public health, professional associations and civil society in building the capacity of health personnel, strengthening the civil society and health care delivery for people affected with diseases. Also, PH provides support to the civil society in general and vulnerable populations and individuals in need in particular. Currently, we are very active in the domain of the fight against HIV and AIDS, implementing the Phase I of the “Scaling up Universal Access for Most at Risk Populations” (HIV/AIDS Round 9), the program dealing with sexual and reproductive health and several others.
Partnerships in Health (PH) organize continuous trainings for medical and non-medical staff on HIV / AIDS on the territory of the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina. The primary goal of our trainings is to enhance the professional capabilities and strengthen and expand the knowledge of medical and non- medical professionals in order to better address the needs of PLHIV and reduce stigma and discrimination.
Y-Peer Network Bosnia and Herzegovina exists since year 2002 and BiH is one of the first countries which accepted and initiated peer education and organized youth NGOs in Y-peer Network. Y-Peer BiH has 3 permanent NGO members and 3 associate members with over 150 active members and 15 trainers of peer educators who are managing/running the network. In constant cooperation with the UNFPA, Y-Peer BiH has educated and informed very large number of young people (70 000 over past 10 years and counting) through peer education and youth friendly activities and services.
Members of Y-Peer include young people, active peer educators, trainers and youth advocates for adolescent sexual and reproductive health. They contribute to and benefit from the resource materials, tools, training programs and campaigns provided by the Y-Peer website. http://www.partnershipsinhealth.ba/en-us/presscorner.aspx www.partnershipsinhealth.ba www.y-peer.ba
Contacts:
Partnerships in Health office is located at:
Ulica Dr. Mustafe Pintola 1 (Dom Zdravlja Ilidža)
71000 Sarajevo
Phone: (+387) 33 622 482; 627 652
Fax: (+387) 33 627 656
Y - Peer BiH koordinator
Haris Karabegović [email protected]
SOS Social Centre "Herman Gmeiner"
www.sos-ds.ba
SOS Social Centre "Hermann Gmeiner" Sarajevo is a part of SOS Children's Villages Bosnia and Herzegovina. Organisation SOS Children's Villages is active in 133 countries and territories. It was founded in 1949 in Austria, by Hermann Gmeiner, physician who wished to protect children who lost their parents during the World War II, and provide them with home and security. SOS Children's Villages aims to help improve the situation of vulnerable children in many ways and by working with partners at different levels.
The organization focuses on long-term family care of children without parental care and on the program supporting families in need and children at risk of being deprived of parental care. SOS Children’s Villages International is in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1994 when the first SOS Clubs began to work.
In SOS Social Centre "Hermann Gmeiner" we care for children and youth of all categories, although our target groups are children/youth without parental care and children/youth that belong to socially deprived families, age 3-30. They spend their free time on an organized way through different activities, projects, non-formal and informal education. Our mission is: SOS-Social Centre "Hermann Gmeiner" (HGSC) is a modern and respectable house that is applying contemporary pedagogical and social methods on children and youth in order to insure quality and organized use of free time what contributes establishment of healthy personalities.
Our aim is to help children and youth in their social, emotional and personal growth by conducting organized and non-structured use of free time for children and youth through various activities, such as: educational ( foreign languages, computer course, tuition), creative activities (modern dance, break- dance, photography, guitar section), Day care activities: counselling , interactive discussions, community-based programs on psycho-social support.
SOS-Social Centre is situated in Sarajevo's Canton- Municipality Novi Grad, area Alipasino Polje. It is believed that Sarajevo’s population to date has actually increased rather than decreased due to many migrants moving from rural villages destroyed during the Bosnian war.. The war displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of who have not returned. As of 2010 the Sarajevo Canton government estimated the city's population at 436.572 people. Locations around HGSC (Novi Grad and Novo Sarajevo) are selected because of the needs, which are registered through regular investigations done by HGSC at primary and secondary schools.
Number of children, based on newest Federal Office of Statistics report, in these two municipalities is 20.208 in Novi Grad Sarajevo and 10.140 in Novo Sarajevo. Community is offering just a few places for educational and recreational activities, not enough for such a high number of children and young people living in this area (highest density of population in Canton Sarajevo). Among the beneficiaries of the Centre, according to our official database, 38% of children/youth belong to families with bad social/economic status.
Contact:
Humanitarna Organizacija SOS-Kinderdorf International Predstavništvo u Sarajevu Semira Frašte bb, Sarajevo Telefon/fax + 387 33 465 218 email: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/sosdjecijeselo.bih
proMENTE
www.promente.org proMENTE provides social research solutions to both businesses and non-profits. proMENTE operates internationally and is based in Sarajevo. The organisation was registered as an association with the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina in October 2002 by three social scientists. Our mission is to assist individuals and organisations to achieve their full potential – by providing research and evaluation services as well as evidence-based advice and training.
We have conducted over 100 research projects since 2002, including 60 project evaluations, which makes us one of the leading evaluation agencies in the region. Everything we do - training, project evaluation, field research - is based on the social sciences.
We know about civil society in the Balkans from the inside as well as from the outside. proMENTE offers expertise in a wide range of social issues: poverty and employment, volunteering, child protection, social inclusion, and in the field of education, evaluation and training.
Plus, we are involved in action as well as research, having implemented our own projects in the area of educational policy, active measures against unemployment, and careers advice. Our experience on these topics is drawn together into the following Centres of Expertise:
• The Education Policy Centre • Centre for Sustainable Development • Centre for Evaluation Methods • Centre for Voluntarism and Civil Society • Centre for Lifelong Career Mana
Our Centres are hubs of expertise which we draw on when we implement projects or conduct research or training for others. proMENTE has experience with a wide range of research and evaluation approaches, combing qualitative and quantitative methods. Our researchers spend a lot of time on the road and know how to talk to street children as well as to Ministers. Often our task is to build bridges between world views, for example between the worlds of donors and their potential beneficiaries.
We are proud to employ innovative approaches in our work. As far as we know, we are the first organisation in the Balkans to implement Outcome Mapping and Most Significant Changes methodology. For many of our projects we develop websites to improve interaction with stakeholders and have long experience in employing web-based questionnaires. Most of our statistical analyses our conducted in R ( www.r-project.org ), the software of choice for most modern statisticians. proMENTE is unusual in being equally strong in both quantitative and qualitative evaluation approaches. We believe that the best evaluations come from the synergy of these two traditions.
Contact
Kranjčevičeva 35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina Tel./Fax: +387 33 55 68 65 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/promentesocijalnaistrazivanja https://twitter.com/promente
www.soc.ba
Mission: Sarajevo Open Centre is an independent, non-political and non-profit organization promoting active citizenship through political education and advocating for human rights of women and LGBT persons through equality policies.
Vision: Bosnia and Herzegovina is a society of equal rights and opportunities for everybody built upon active and political engaged citizenship and an accountable state.
Sarajevo Open Centre has been founded in 2007. Since then, the Centre has been constantly developing its capacities and human resources as well as its professionalism and the scope of work. In the last five years (2007-2012) we have implemented dozens of projects in the field of education, culture and social sciences in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For the period 2012-2014 our working focus will be:
• political participation (promoting active citizenship; political education of young professionals; political research) and • human rights (women rights; fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity) From the beginning on, Sarajevo Open Centre has had an intensive publishing work. Since 2011 we are publishing the Questioning Edition, a book edition that covers books, reports and other publications connected to the following issues: gender, sex, sexuality, patriarchy and hetero normativity. Under “Human Rights” and “BH politics” we are publishing different online papers, reports and publications.
LGBT-PRAVA.BA is a web portal on the rights of LGBT people in BiH, which is primarily intended to empower LGBT people, through legal counsel, an online reporting of discrimination and hate crimes, but also a place in which to post information about activities and events related for LGBT people and their rights and culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. http://lgbt-prava.ba/
Since May 2012, Sarajevo Open Centre is coordinating Coalition 143. Coalition 143, established by 15 associations from across BH, is a network of associations, groups and individuals who will jointly endeavour to create the preconditions for more effective and transparent government in BH through public advocacy for a more contemporary political approach in terms of strengthening the local level of government, redefining jurisdictions and removing parallelisms in the functioning of the public sector, and strengthening control mechanisms for elected representatives of government through a redefinition of representative government. http://www.koalicija143.ba/?lang=en
Contact:
Sarajevski otvoreni centar / Sarajevo Open Centre
Čobanija 12, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel/Fax 00387 33 200073 www.soc.ba [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/SarajevoOpenCent re https://twitter.com/soc_sarajevo
http://kriterion.ba
Kriterion is a non-profit foundation for the development of culture and civil society. Kriterion was founded in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006, initiated by the Young Urban Achievers Foundation. In 2010, Kriterion Sarajevo Foundation established Kriterion Industry Ltd., regarding the need of keeping Kriterion Art Cinema, which opened in June 2011.
Kriterion tends to development of civil society through capacity building for young people, directing their talents and needs towards specific activities in the field of cultural industries.
Kriterion aims to awake a sense of teamwork and encourage self-esteem in young people, giving them the opportunity to become financially independent. Art Cinema Kriterion sees democracy in action student staff, where everyone-from the programmer to the popcorn-sellers have their turn to clean the toilet. They make the management and are responsible for the daily operation of the program.
Kriterion works on the principle of the rotating system, and only provides temporary employment to students on a part-time basis until the completion of studies. Due to the continuous recruitment of new people, Kriterion will be a place with fresh ideas, new and re-enriched program that will attract audiences.
Kriterion is an art theatre that wants to improve Cinematography and Film Arts in BiH, exhibition space for the classical and modern exhibition, cafe and conference space. Displaying art house films encourages discussion and motivates young people to their contribution to social progress. Kriterion is standing there to recruit students who need first professional experience, to offer platform and stage where young people have the opportunity to present their work, a place for cooperation with partners. And finally, it is a place for concerts, parties and cultural events.
Fondacija Kriterion/ Kriterion Industry d.o.o email: [email protected] tel/fax +387 (0) 33 203 113
Obala Kulina Bana 2, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://www.facebook.com/KriterionSarajevo
JABLANICA
Youth Council Jablanica
http://vmjablanica.com.ba/
Jablanica Municipality Youth Council was formed as an organization whose task is to organize youth Jablanica, give them a place in which to express their creativity, protect them from addiction to alcohol and drugs, and to develop a dialogue, culture and tolerance among young people. Through cooperation with other organizations in the area of Jablanica and beyond, we will try to do as much as possible to solve these problems.
Some of the first activities of the Council, while it was still an informal group of young people, have been organizing numerous cultural events that have helped to promote the Youth Council and served as a call to young people to be more active in its work by creating a better future for them. The first of these events was the "Rock Marathon", an event that brought together young demo bands from many cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We organized a similar event "Ex - Yu Rocks!" but at a higher level, which has brought together many famous rock bands from the Balkan scene.
Youth Council has also organized seminars for children in schools on the theme "Volunteerism in schools". This project was implemented in Jablanica, Konjic and Prozor – Rama and included more than 60 activities in these three cities.
Youth Council greatly contributes to the development of youth policy and long-term action plan for the youth in the area of Jablanica. The council members directly influenced to adopt a "Plan of Action for Youth" by Municipality of Jablanica and have strengthened cooperation with the municipality. Youth Council has 40 active members and through our actions over 600 youth from Jablanica and over 4000 young people from all over Bosnia took part in our great cultural events, either as members or as active participants in them.
Contact:
Bitka za ranjenike bb, 88 420 Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/vmjablanica
+387 36 752 621
Youth Club „Pod istim Suncem“ („Under The Same Sun“) is a nongovernmental organization established 7.10.1997.godine and operates in Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. We support children, youth and adults to spend their leisure time in a useful way, through education, sports and leisure activities.
In previous work, the club has implemented activities such as courses in English, French and German for all ages computer classes, Journalism section, children's workshops, a program of children's rights, typewriting courses, schools, karate, basketball, table tennis, aerobics for girls and women, tae-bo, a large number of seminars and training for young people, a large number of trips, events and exhibitions at the museum Battle of the Neretva River in Jablanica, we built "Ethno house" as a permanent setting in museum, we built the "Fountain of Youth", organized elections for the Youth Council of Jablanica, four international youth summer camp in Jablanica lake, swimming lessons for children, schools canoes on Lake Jablanica ... www.okpis.org https://www.facebook.com/okpis
Trg oslobođenja bb Jablanica 88420 BiH
+38736753475
Museum „ The Battle for Wounded of Neretva“
Nearby the broken bridge which is the symbol of this battle and most important exhibit, there is a Museum „ The Battle for Wounded of Neretva“ which was opened in November the 12th 1978 in occasion of marking the 35th anniversary of battle on Neretva. www.muzej-jablanica.com
Contact: Ul. Bitka za ranjenike bb 88420 Jablanica Telefon/Fax: 00 387 36 75 27 05
MOSTAR http://www.ldamostar.org/publikacije/mostar-brosura.pdf (Find out more information about Mostar, in English from page 41).
Youth Cultural Centre Abrašević
http://www.okcabrasevic.org https://www.facebook.com/pages/OKC-Abrašević
The Youth Cultural Centre Abrašević was founded out of necessity to start and ensure a space that will offer all the citizens, especially the young ones, with a possibility for work and creative expression, cultural education, broad social discussion and a critique of the current Bosnia and Herzegovina society and globalised society, in general.
The YCC Abrašević is a place to go out to, a place to have discussions at, and a place open for all sorts of artistic expressions. The popular Abrašević also called Abraš is placed in the reconstructed premises of the former Cultural-Artistic Association Kosta Abrašević and it disposes with club premises, concert hall, film projector, web radio, internet portal and a widely spread net of friends across the Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the region and abroad.
Every month YCC Abrašević offers Mostar audience with various cultural-artistic events, in the aim of spreading liberal-minded ideas, social justice, pluralism and improving human rights through alternative democratic solutions.
Our duty is extremely important as it is direct involvement in and support of actions that are associated with the alternative - democratic solutions, actions that change the current unsustainable state of mind and fundamentally oppose ghettoization, nationalism, reactionary conservative and radical ideas of the fascist, racist and similar political conceptions.
Abras MEDIA
In our public information actions, we do not limit ourselves to just one category or idea that should fulfil a central role in social change - our task is to show as many conflicting ideas and actions that destroy humanity and to support the ideas, collectives and individuals that invest their creativity and work in promoting different emancipatory ideas. http://www.abrasmedia.info https://www.facebook.com/pages/AbrašMEDIA-Radio
Contact:
OKC Abrašević ul. Alekse Šantića 25 88000 - Mostar Bosna i Hercegovina tel: +387 36 56 11 07 fax: +387 36 56 11 07 e-mail: [email protected]
Annex 3 PARTICIPANTS’ REFLECTIONS ON THE STUDY VISITS Reflections after study visit to Youth Information Agency (presentation about youth position and later 4 guided tours with young people from Sarajevo)
• What did u do and how was it in general? • Most special experience • Important conclusions/facts for BB cooperation
GROUP 1 - Traditional restaurants, everything is awesome, people are awesome, tried cevapi - All together like 1 family, friendly and kindly to each other - Everyone friendly and kindly, in nargila bar tried to translate joke to Baltic people which of course they did not understand, different sense of humor - At the pub talking about war and women situation – surprised how they know all history and other facts Conclusion: youth situation the same – young people want to go away. Balkan people are kind and friendly, think about smoking if you want to have participants from Balkan
GROUP 2 - Walked around old part, had cevapi in Zeljo - Local pubs, football evening, pubs were full during the game - Good experience to speak with people who experienced the war - There was girl who lost both parents, people that were children during war… that was maybe the most special personal moment - Baltic people are not cold - Like being in different age in time, so many history, like fairytale - Numbers in presentations were crazy, our task is to try to fix it
GROUP 3 - 2 problems that are common BB: youth unemployment, education (bad quality of formal education) - Complicated political system - Common understanding, common problems - Understanding of same terms can be different, different legislation - Surprised about hospitality - Finding the person who knows person that inspired me through book - From older people great reaction when heard that participants is from Belgrade
- Shocked about political system, it was very special to hear GROUP 4 - Magic tea - Guy who lived in USA but from here, interesting perception - Saw sites, bridge Franz Ferdinand, beautiful hills in the evening - The way that city looks during the night - Lot of story about Sarajevo film festival - The way this country function is amazing - How much money is spent for administration - Surprised: students cannot find work Conclusion: we can learn the ways to rest and not to stress, Baltic work too much; problems are the same, level is maybe different, everyone has one/FB…we could provide with IT tools, anti corruption strategy? Nature – mountains which we do not have…
SECOND ROUND OF VISITS – impressions after visits to organizations in Sarajevo
Aarhus centre – pretty new organization, working mostly on law implementation; we really liked presentation of the current situation in environment, like situation with ministries, waste and water management is shocking, exchanged contacts. Could be possibility for cooperation in youth exchange proMente - organization that does social research on very different topics and evaluation of organization, working all around Balkans, more than 10 years. Great in methodology and IT approaches. They could have be opportunity for exchange between young researches. They have own projects for young people after schools, integration into labor market and project where they educate youth to write CVs, how labor market looks like – it could be topic for exchanges. They also have great publications and reports available on line.
SOC – involved in LGBT; we enjoyed the visit, we could learn a lot of things, they are making big research in the topic and not behaving like LGBT that just organize prides and are doing thing in chaotic way; they are trying to make changes step by step. Surprised that women are so passive here and do not fight for the rights. The other opinion – there were many women involved in organization. There was another focus – research on general politics, covering situation in BiH, detailed reports, political dimension.
Partnership in health – Y – peer older organization, they work in training youngsters to become peer educators, focus sexual education, and making youth peer educators in schools. Very good training course for people that wants to be peer educators: 7 days + 3 months test + follow up course + support system. They also make handbooks for educations. PiH – very professional, lot of publications, brochures for police/doctors related to HIV. They do free tests and consulting, free treatment. In some schools they are not
welcomed to talk about sexual reproduction. Influence of the religion on sexual and health education in Balkan. In some schools they were welcomed and invited to come. They were quite interested in cooperation with Baltic.
SOC Social Centre - NGO, SOS villages, also operates in Baltic countries. They have 3 sections – village (orphanage), another building which is open centre, youth, kindergarten and family strengthening program. They have social workers to council parents and children, EVS coordinator, Super bus – social workers visit remote areas around Sarajevo, (in Lithuania similar example). They work not only with children but also with parents and prevention. They also have EVS and comprehensive approach to it and could be relevant partners for other actions than EVS.
Kiterion - Surprised how successful it is. They have cinema, bar, exhibition space, they constantly rotate workers to give students opportunity. Surprise how well it is going and how it is organize. Student project that success and is growing now. They are looking to spread to Belgrade and other places. They give room for free for youth events, organizations…Very well structured system of employing and supporting students.
Why not… - we got very intensive overview of political system and problems. They try to criticize and monitor all political system. They are researching promises of political parties, also attract people to think about ethical composition of constitution, working hard, but not yet so noticed by society. In May they have conference POINT political responsibility and increase of IT influence on society and it is open to join.
REFLECTION AFTER JABLANICA AND MOSTAR Jablanica - they have a lot of great things going on there, they don’t have many opportunities but they are still doing it with own resources, sense of community is strong. Youth are very active what is surprising and good example. Less is more – few opportunities but working hard. In both Balkan and Baltik such examples in small communities are rare. Amazing that no one is employed. Similar problem like in Estonia, we could exchange experience through youth exchange, see what the other are doing. The visit was inspiring and we could do something like that back home.
Mostar - we enjoyed personal conversations with young people. The general problem is in the mind of the people. We still cannot see whole situation in general, I am not sure to understand all situation correctly. Hear opinion from young people what are their opportunities. We did not meet organizations in Mostar. A bit disappointed, some parts of the town destroyed, like that war ended recently. Still conflict in Mostar people mind. Divided city.
LAST DAY ROUND General impressions/some things I will bring home/suggestion for next study visit • Brainstorming sessions with lot new ideas and choose few of them – we stepped a lot forward and we have really good framework for projects and ideas and we will have really good projects • Dark when I came, but now Sun is coming up, up and up, new ideas, contacts. I m bringing home project we wrote and also new partner. When visited organizations maybe is better that they come with us and make workshops and opportunity to visit all. • I said to my boss I m going to Bosnia, she said don’t go because of war. I learn something about youth connection; I am getting knowledge of Bosnians that they are kind and friendly and like to cooperate. • I feel that in my country there are many problems; here I have opportunity to learn how to keep fire on. Involve more Balkan organization. • Like cat catching fish – trying to understand system of Bosnia but not giving up. I am bringing project. • We all came to some mixture of ides and experience mixing them together and we came with project idea and great partner we can take home. Think where Bosnians can smoke… • I know my goal and I climb slowly but I hope to rich it. I am running out of time to submit my project. Visit rural areas more. • I thought complete ride, we missed because o airport, we got really close, I learn a lot I made a lot of new friends, meet all organization and then have a chance to spend more time with the ones I m interested in • Balkans are different like different fingers. Not all explored many more to discover. • I think that most important thing B&H society, there are different faces, there is tragedy, comedy, romantic… I would like to have some projects with Bosnia, I want to discover more and show this country to youngsters from my organization. Glad to be here and know Estonians, Latvians…very nice people. • I am small ship in big sea of youth exchange. I wanted to know more, projects, meeting, I know little bit about it and I really hope that all the new things that I learnt here are experiences that I can use in my projects and youth centre.