Special Olympics Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with EduLand, is launching the initiative “Volunteer Hub: Create Impact – Young Inclusive Leaders and Volunteers” through the first inclusive digital podcast, “Online Talks with SOBiH.” The initiative is implemented within the project “Connecting the Dots 2.0 – Advancing Child Participation in Decision Making for Enhanced Child Rights and Democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina” implemneted by World Vision BH Foundation and the Naša djeca Sarajevo, with financial support from the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This initiative aims to create a platform for open dialogue, the exchange of experiences, and the strengthening of participation among young people, athletes, parents, professionals, and institutions in processes of inclusion and community development. Through monthly online discussions in podcast and panel formats, the initiative will address topics such as sports, the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities, mental health, volunteering, youth leadership, and the development of inclusive policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A special focus is placed on the involvement of 10 young participants between the ages of 12 and 25, including 7 individuals with disabilities, ensuring that those whose voices are often underrepresented in the public sphere have the opportunity to express their views, needs, and proposed solutions.
Through a carefully designed and supported process, the young participants will develop and present their messages with professional and technical support. These messages will be translated into concrete recommendations for decision-makers, thereby directly contributing to the efforts of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina to empower children and young people—particularly those from vulnerable groups—to actively participate in social processes and in the development of inclusive policies and practices.
The “Online Talks with SOBiH” podcast will focus on enhancing dialogue, visibility, and participation among all key stakeholders of the inclusive sports movement. The first episode will be broadcast in mid-June, followed by nine additional monthly episodes over the next nine months.
Through these podcasts, a structured exchange of knowledge and experiences will be facilitated among athletes, parents, coaches, representatives of institutions, international partners, and young leaders working in the fields of inclusion and the rights of children and young people.
By empowering young volunteers and fostering a new generation of inclusive leaders, we will use digital tools, communication, and public engagement to contribute to the creation of a society of equal opportunities. Through this initiative, the partners aim to send a clear message that inclusion is not only a social value but also an active process in which the voices of persons with intellectual disabilities, their families, and young people must be visible, present, and treated as equals.
Inclusion is a right, and through this initiative we will demonstrate that children and young people—including those with disabilities—must have a genuine opportunity to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
