Sponsor Bosnian-Herzegovinian youth to build peace

During the past three months, the Center for Peacebuilding has successfully implemented a wide range of educational, intercultural, and personal development activities aimed at empowering young people and encouraging their active participation in society.

In February, a group of young people participated in an international training course in Spain through the RISE project. The training focused on climate change, environmental awareness, and youth engagement in sustainability initiatives. Participants gained valuable knowledge, exchanged experiences with peers from different countries, and strengthened their capacity to contribute to environmental action within their local communities.

One of the highlights of this period was a study visit to Banja Luka, organized by the OSCE. During the visit, young participants had the opportunity to visit different religious institutions, including a synagogue, a mosque, and churches. They met with representatives of each community, learned about their traditions, values, and roles within society, and engaged in meaningful discussions that promoted mutual understanding, respect, and interfaith dialogue.

Center for Peacebuilding also organized a study visit to Mostar, where participants explored the cultural and historical heritage of this unique region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The visit provided young people with an opportunity to learn more about the country's diversity, history, and natural beauty while strengthening social connections among participants.

At our Center, we developed and launched a summer program designed to offer meaningful activities and learning opportunities throughout the season. As part of this program, we initiated a series of workshops on Nonviolent Communication. These workshops aim to help young people develop effective communication skills, strengthen empathy, improve conflict resolution abilities, and build healthier relationships.

In addition, young people continue to have the opportunity to attend weekly guitar lessons, providing them with a creative outlet and an opportunity to develop new artistic skills.

To further promote we encourage greater youth participation, our team visited local schools where we conducted presentations and interactive workshops. These visits enabled us to introduce students to the CIM's activities, engage them in discussions, and invite them to become active members of our programs.

We were also pleased to host students from the United World College (UWC) Mostar. This visit allowed young people from our Center for Peacebuilding to meet and interact with students from diverse backgrounds, exchange experiences, and learn more about educational opportunities and intercultural cooperation.

Furthermore, representatives of the organizations Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) and Oštra Nula visited us and facilitated several workshops focusing on genocide awareness, human rights, and dealing with the past. These sessions encouraged critical thinking, dialogue, and a deeper understanding of the importance of peacebuilding and reconciliation.

We were also visited by representatives of EUFOR, who expressed their interest in establishing future cooperation with our organization. This visit provided an opportunity to present our work, discuss potential joint activities, and explore ways of supporting youth engagement and community development.

Another valuable contribution to our program came through the visit of the French Institute and the organization Education Builds Democracy. Together, they organized a series of workshops for young people focusing on democracy, civic participation, and art as a tool for expression and social change. These interactive sessions encouraged creativity, critical thinking, and active citizenship among participants.

Through all these activities, Center for Peacebuilding continues to provide a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment where young people can learn, connect, develop new skills, and actively contribute to building a more tolerant, democratic, and peaceful society. The diversity of activities implemented during this period reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting youth development, intercultural dialogue, human rights education, and active citizenship.