The association „Nova generacija“is a non-political, non-governmental, non-profit, and humanitarian organization, founded in 2004 by social workers and professionals with the aim of employment and continuous professional development in the field of social and child protection. Today, it is an accredited provider of social protection services, supporting over 150 families and more than 150 children daily through three key services:
- A Day Center for at-risk children,,
- „Plavi telefon“ – a free counseling hotline,
- Counseling Center for children and youth
The team consists of more than 10 full-time professionals, along with frequent external collaborators. They have implemented over 100 projects and delivered more than 200 trainings focused on developing social competencies, reaching over 5,000 children across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their mission is to promote and protect human rights, especially children’s rights, through information sharing, education, and the active involvement of all segments of society.
As part of the project„Connecting the Dots 2.0 – Advancing Child Participation in Decision Making for Enhanced Child Rights and Democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina“ funded by the European Union, the “Nova generacija” association launched the initiative “Open Day at the Day Center”. The goal of this initiative was to reduce prejudice and social distance between Day Center users and the local community, and to empower children through education about their rights and advocacy skill development, enabling them to directly address institutions to demand the improvement of their rights.
The Day Center for at-risk children, operating under “Nova generacija”, provides a safe and supportive environment for children exposed to various risks such as poverty, violence, neglect, or lack of parental care. At the Center, children receive a warm meal, psychosocial support, help with schoolwork, workshops on life and social skills development, and a safe space for play, socializing, and rest. Additionally, the Center works on strengthening children’s self-confidence and resilience, as well as involving their families and the local community in support and protection processes.
Through a series of educational and interactive workshops, children attending the Day Center had the opportunity to better understand their rights, identify areas that need improvement through dialogue and experience sharing, and were empowered to advocate for the advancement of their rights.
In preparation for the advocacy component of the initiative, the children focused particularly on topics such as access to recreational spaces, increasing spatial and staffing capacities, and expanding available time slots at the Counseling Center. Using their personal experiences and examples, they developed a clear plan to present these needs to the Center for Social Work, one of the organization’s key partners.
One of the Day Center users, S.M., expressed gratitude to the representatives of the Center for Social Work:
“Thank you for coming today. It really means a lot to us when someone genuinely listens to what we’re saying and comes to see how much it means to us to be here. I’ve been coming here for almost a decade now, and I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t found the Day Center. So really, thank you for coming, for supporting us, and for wanting to help us now.”
The children prepared for this meeting with great dedication, supported by the Day Center staff. The result was a renewed belief in their power to create change. Their maturity, clarity, and courage left a strong impression on the representatives of the Center for Social Work, who gave them their full support:
“Bravo! Everything you identified as a need is absolutely valid, and we agree with you. First of all, we’re proud of how you presented this to us, and we’re here to help you make it happen. It makes a huge difference to hear this directly from you, the children, which is why we believe this meeting is so important.”
As a concrete result of the meeting, the Center for Social Work announced that children attending the Day Center would be granted free memberships in sports clubs and access to sports facilities, supporting their rights to leisure, recreation, and healthy development.
In addition, they expressed willingness to remain partners in further implementing and improving all identified rights, including the idea of extending Day Center hours, opening another center at a new location, and expanding Counseling Center services.
As the final activity of the initiative, an Open Day at the Day Center was held, inviting friends, partners, and collaborators of the association, as well as children from various schools. The aim of this event was to reduce prejudice and social distance between Day Center users and their peers from the local community. Through joint activities, workshops, and socializing, the children had the chance to meet, connect, and create space for mutual understanding, acceptance, and support.
On this occasion, the children also presented the significance of the Day Center in their lives, emphasizing how vital the right to safety is and how its fulfillment can change the course of childhood and provide better opportunities for the future.
In one place, children and adults together demonstrated what it means to give a child a voice – and to truly listen.
