The organization “Zdravo da ste” from Banja Luka, together with partners from M.O.C.A.R.T. of Republika Srpska – the Network of Youth Centers for Animation, Development and Training, as well as the associations C.E.Z.A.R. (Srbac), Youth Center Prnjavor, and Association Most (Gradiška), has submitted an initiative to establish systemic, stable, and long-term support for youth centers in Republika Srpska.
The goal of the initiative is to ensure predictable funding and institutional mechanisms that enable continuity of work and the development of services that youth centers provide to local communities.
The initiative has been submitted to the following ministries:
• Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports of Republika Srpska and the Ministry of Finance of Republika Srpska
• Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government of Republika Srpska
• Ministry for European Integration and International Cooperation of Republika Srpska
The following measures are requested from these institutions:
Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports and Ministry of Finance
• Establishment of a dedicated budget line for youth centers starting in 2026, predictable and intended exclusively for youth centers, separate from other youth programs.
• Provision of long-term, multi-year funding through contracts lasting at least two years, enabling centers to plan strategically and maintain teams and programs.
• Institutional inclusion of youth centers in the creation and monitoring of youth policies.
• Support for strengthening the M.O.C.A.R.T. Republika Srpska network as a body for coordination, knowledge exchange, and quality assurance in youth centers.
• Solutions for standardizing minimum operational capacities of centers (infrastructure, number of employees, programs).
Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government and Local Self-Government Units
• Introduction of an obligation for local communities to financially support at least one youth center in their territory.
• Provision of adequate premises for the work of youth centers or co-financing of rental costs.
• Inclusion of youth centers in local youth strategies and action plans.
• Annual reporting on support to youth centers as part of regular reports on the state of affairs in local self-government units.
Ministry for European Integration and International Cooperation
• Establishment of a fund to co-finance youth center projects implemented within European Union programs (e.g. IPA, Erasmus+), enabling centers to apply for longer-term funding and strengthen their capacities.
The organization “Zdravo da ste” emphasizes that these measures are crucial for the stability and development of the youth center network, their ability to provide quality programs and jobs, and their contribution to local communities and the economy.
Tanja Boromisa, on behalf of the organization “Zdravo da ste,” highlighted the importance of the initiative and called on the relevant ministries to respond to the proposed measures as soon as possible. The initiative should represent the first step toward establishing sustainable youth centers in Republika Srpska, which are currently on the brink of survival.
The explanatory memorandum of the initiative points to long-standing challenges: unstable funding, short-term projects that prevent strategic planning, lack of adequate infrastructure, and an insufficient number of permanently employed professionals. These issues limit the scope and quality of programs provided by youth centers, reduce employment capacities, and hinder their long-term contribution to communities.
We also note that the organization “Zdravo da ste” conducted a cost-benefit analysis in August 2025. The analysis covered the work of four youth centers in the period 2020–2024 and showed that every 1 KM invested returns an average of up to 2.36 KM to the community. All analyzed centers meet the criteria for investment justification, confirming the need for a systemic approach that would ensure their long-term sustainability.
