The NGO Youth Power in cooperation with CARE International Balkans organized a regional online conference “Future4YouTH”, which took place on November 17, 2020. You can watch the conference here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWSBsgF4hmg
The aim of the conference was to gather all interested parties and present them the latest results of the “Inicijativa mladića” project, as well as to announce the establishment of the “Future4YouTH” movement. Future4Youth aims to bring diverse voices of civil society, informal citizens groups, parents, teachers and other stakeholders around the same goal – to address and advocate for violence prevention, gender equality, life skills and health education in schools across Balkans.
At the very beginning of the conference, Sumka Bučan, Regional Director of CARE International, had an introductory speech, where she said something more about CARE and the YMI project itself. She believes that Program Y should be part of the school curriculum in the Balkan and she invites all interested parties to join the “Future4YouTH” movement.
„ Before you decide anything about this movement, I invite you to look to the future. In the years to come, youngsters and old ones who share our values and work for positive changes in society, we will proudly say that we have done it. I can already see the changes we have achieved by watching and listening to our talented and creative members of the „Budi Muško Klub“ and the young leaders who are part of this club. I invite you to join the “Future4YouTH “movement so that we have the opportunity to revive it and so that we have the opportunity to work to advocate for the gender equality, life skills, health education and prevention of violence in schools across the Balkans.” – Bučan said.
Program manager of the NGO Youth Power Nedim Mičijević said that adolescence is an important moment in the process of socialization and he pointed out the importance of schools as an institution for the implementation of this program.
“The focus of the curriculum itself is based on the understanding that adolescence is an important moment in the process of socialization, a moment in which attitudes towards violence and gender norms are being formulated. The focus of the curriculum itself recognizes the importance of schools as institutions in which young people build and strengthen their gender norms.”- said Mičijević.
Youth Power, CARE and the partners involved in this project also received the prestigious Innovation Award for Program Y from the Global Education Network – Europe (GENE), whose members are the Ministers of Education from the European Union.
It is interesting to mention that a research was conducted by CARE and their partners in May and June 2019, on a sample of 2,500 respondents in BiH, Serbia and Kosovo on the quality of life skills education. The average grade is 3 (where 5 is the highest grade). 88% of respondents in BiH, 95% in Serbia and 97% in Kosovo believe that life skills education is necessary for young people. 94% of respondents in BiH, 84% in Serbia and 96% in Kosovo * believe that life skills education should be a compulsory part of education.
This conference was a great opportunity for everyone interested to learn more about this movement and join, because we think now is the right time for it!
It is interesting to mention that a survey was conducted by CARE and their partners in May and June 2019, on a sample of 2,500 respondents in BiH, Serbia and Kosovo on the quality of life skills education. The average rating is 3 (where 5 is the highest rating). 88% of respondents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 95% in Serbia and 97% in Kosovo believe that life skills education is necessary for young people. 94% of respondents in BiH, 84% in Serbia and 96% in Kosovo* believe that life skills education should be a mandatory part of education.
The online conference is an integral part of the regular activities of the YMI – Young Men Initiative project: “Promoting healthier lifestyles among young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina by challenging gender stereotypes II”, and the project “Men and boys as partners in promoting gender equality and prevention of extremism and violence among young people in the Balkans” which is supported by the Government of Switzerland, the Oak Foundation, the Austrian Development Agency and CARE International Balkans.
