At a time when there is increasing talk about youth passivity and their decreasing involvement in social processes, one positive initiative from Tuzla shows that solutions do exist — they just need to be given space. As part of the project “Connecting the Dots 2.0,” students of the Secondary Medical School Tuzla launched the initiative “Creativity Zone,” aimed at transforming the school cafeteria into a multifunctional space for children and youth.
The new “Creativity Zone” is envisioned as a place that will provide students with a safe and inspiring environment for socializing, free expression, teamwork, and the development of youth activism. The cafeteria, which until now was a rarely used space, will be transformed into the center of school life — a place where young people can design and implement projects, learn from each other, and create ideas that benefit the community.
The motivation for this initiative came directly from the daily experiences of the students, who recognized that the lack of a space for gathering and expression is one of the main reasons for their demotivation and insufficient engagement.
“The Creativity Zone is something we really need. Here, we will finally have a space where we can gather, exchange ideas, and plan actions. Without such a place, it’s hard to start anything bigger — everything stays just words,” emphasizes one student involved in the initiative.
Besides contributing to more active participation of children and youth in school life, this initiative encourages the development of critical thinking, social skills, and a sense of responsibility for the community. Students are actively involved in every step of the process — from idea and planning to implementation — further strengthening their role as drivers of positive change.
The “Creativity Zone” initiative is implemented within the “Connecting the Dots 2.0” project, which aims to strengthen the capacities of children and youth and connect them through well-designed activities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project is carried out through a partnership between World Vision BH Foundation and the organization Naša djeca Sarajevo, funded by the European Union.
This is yet another example of how children and youth, with the support of schools and NGOs, can create spaces that change not only the physical environment but also the community mindset — a space where learning, growth, and action happen together.
