The Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Zavidovići organised a Citizens’ Forum entitled “Why Does Zavidovići Need a Youth Office?”, with the aim of opening a dialogue on the position of young people and presenting an initiative to establish a functional Youth Office in the City of Zavidovići.

The forum brought together young people, representatives of civil society organisations and interested citizens who, through an open discussion, addressed the challenges young people face on a daily basis, as well as possible solutions that could contribute to their more active involvement in the social life of the local community.

During group work, participants identified key challenges facing young people, including a lack of institutional support, limited opportunities for non-formal education, volunteering and activism, insufficient information about development opportunities, and the lack of a space intended for young people’s work and gatherings.

Particular attention was paid to the role of the future Youth Office. Participants highlighted that the Office should serve as a central place for informing young people, organising educational activities, supporting youth initiatives and projects, developing volunteering, cooperating with schools and civil society organisations, as well as representing the interests of young people before local institutions.

At the end of the forum, participants unanimously supported the initiative to establish a Youth Office in Zavidovići, assessing that its establishment would represent an important step towards creating better conditions for young people’s lives, education and active participation in the development of the local community.

It was concluded that establishing a Youth Office is an important step towards systematically improving the position of young people, developing active citizenship, and strengthening cooperation between young people, civil society organisations and local government. Participants expressed their willingness to continue actively participating in the advocacy campaign and supporting all activities aimed at implementing this initiative.

The proposals and conclusions collected during the forum will be systematised and presented to the relevant institutions as a contribution to the advocacy initiative for the adoption of a Decision on the establishment of a Youth Office and the provision of budgetary funds for its work.

LDA Zavidovići thanks all participants for their active participation, constructive proposals and expressed support. The campaign will continue through a series of advocacy activities, meetings with institutional representatives, public events and a civic initiative, with the aim of ensuring that Zavidovići gets a functional Youth Office that responds to the needs of current and future generations of young people.