Children and young people are often excluded when decisions are made that directly affect their lives. The lack of opportunities for inclusion leads to feelings of marginalization and passivity, while their needs remain unrecognized. This is precisely why the Citizens’ Association “Srce na dlanu” Banja Luka launched the initiative “The Future Is in Our Hands” within the project “Connecting the Dots 2.0 – Advancing Child Participation in Decision Making for Enhanced Child Rights and Democracy in BiH,” with the aim of empowering children and youth and encouraging their active participation in community life.
Why is this important?
Active participation of children and young people contributes to their personal development, strengthens self-confidence, and develops skills that are essential for the future—from communication and leadership to critical thinking. At the same time, engaged youth contribute to the healthy and sustainable development of the community, reducing apathy and promoting volunteerism.
What are we planning?
The project will be implemented through a series of activities, including:
- Three educational workshops on project management, public advocacy, and leadership, bringing together at least 20 children and young people from Banja Luka and the surrounding area. During the workshops, we will collect their ideas for potential important initiatives and present them to the authorities.
- Support for children and youth in designing and implementing local initiatives that address their real needs.
- Promotion of volunteerism and activism through an info day, a social media campaign, and a public event with media coverage.
- Networking young people with local authorities, organizations, and activists to create partnerships and open new opportunities for cooperation.
Our goal is to create an environment where children and young people are recognized as equal and active members of society, with the opportunity and support to contribute to community development. To become active actors in decision-making, to increase the number of children and youth involved in volunteer and activist activities, and to strengthen the community through their ideas and energy.
The initiative “The Future Is in Our Hands” 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,” carried out by the World Vision BH Foundation and the Association “Nasa djeca” Sarajevo, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with financial support from the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
