When Young People Are Treated as Partners, Safer Communities Become Possible
BY eatech
When Young People Are Treated as Partners, Safer Communities Become Possible
January 30, 2026
That question sits at the heart of the project “It’s Time for Youth, Peace and Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina implemented by the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in partnership with Youth for Peace and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton The project was created to strengthen the role of young people in peace and security processes, with a strong focus on meaningful participation, dialogue with institutions, and the creation of safer and more inclusive communities.
In a context where young people are often expected to adapt to systems they had no role in shaping, this project starts from a different belief: that youth should not be seen only as beneficiaries of change, but as active contributors to it. Peace, safety, trust and participation are not abstract ideas for young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are part of everyday life, and that is exactly why young people need to be included in the conversations and decisions that affect them. The project opened that space from the very beginning.
At the Opening Event in Sarajevo young people, civil society representatives, and institutional actors came together to reflect on what peace, security, and participation actually mean in their lives and communities. Through discussion and exchange, the event set the tone for the project: honest, youth-led, and focused on real experiences rather than empty slogans. The event gathered 62 participants, and helped launch a wider process of listening to youth perspectives on safety, inclusion, and public life.
This was followed by a Youth Organizations Meeting, which brought together young representatives of local and cantonal youth councils and organizations. The meeting created space for coordination, shared learning, and stronger advocacy, reminding everyone involved that youth participation becomes much stronger when young people are connected, informed, and able to act together.
Another important part of the project focused on something very concrete: the spaces where young people gather, create, speak, and grow. That is why we have created the Safe Spaces Initiative, in collaboration with our partner Youth for Peace, as well as the Youth Council of Republika Srpska and the Youth Council of Brčko District. Through the initiative, youth centres and youth spaces from across Bosnia and Herzegovina were invited to present their work and their approaches to building safe, inclusive, and youth-led environments. This process was designed not only to recognize good practice, but also to support the longer-term strengthening of youth spaces as places of belonging, participation, and community resilience.
The project also invested in young people who can carry these conversations forward in their own communities. Through the Training for Youth Dialogue Facilitators in Sarajevo, 26 young participants developed skills in facilitation, communication, and inclusive dialogue.
More importantly, they were supported in understanding how to build conversations that are respectful, constructive, and grounded in the realities young people face.
One of the strongest dimensions of the project has been its focus on inclusion. Women and girls played a strong and visible role throughout the activities, with participation consistently exceeding the project’s minimum target. The project also brought together young people from a wide range of communities, including smaller and less-resourced areas whose voices are often less visible in broader public processes. That diversity matters. It means the conversation on youth, peace and security is not limited to a few centres, but shaped by different local experiences and perspectives from across the region.
What makes this project especially valuable is that it does not stop at awareness. It connects learning with action. It strengthens the confidence of young people to speak, organize, facilitate, and engage with institutions. It also helps build trust and cooperation between youth actors and decision-makers, which is essential in any society that wants to become more inclusive, responsive, and resilient.
The spirit of the project is perhaps best reflected in the voices of those who took part in it. One participant, Muamer Lukomirak described the Training for Facilitators as “an inspiring and practical learning experience” that helped him better understand how to create safe and constructive dialogue between young people and decision-makers. He added that the knowledge and tools gained through the training would significantly improve his future work in youth engagement and advocacy.
Another participant, Nejra Omerović, reflected on the opening event by saying that speaking about the Youth, Peace and Security agenda meant seeing young people as key actors in building peace and security, rather than as a problem. That shift in perspective may be one of the most important outcomes of all.
Looking ahead, the project will continue to build on the foundations already created through dialogue, training, and collaboration. In the coming period, a special focus will be placed on mentoring selected youth spaces, supporting cantonal youth-institution dialogues, and further developing policy recommendations shaped by young people’s experiences and ideas. The upcoming Youth Nest conference will also bring together young people, institutions, civil society actors, and partners to reflect on lessons learned, share results, and strengthen the wider conversation on youth, peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What this project continues to show is simple, but powerful: young people do not need to be invited into the future at the last minute. They need to be involved in building it from the start. And that is exactly why it is time not only to speak about youth, peace and security but to shape it together.
Author: Hana Kunić - project coordinator - Youth council of Federation of B&H
Regional Youth Cooperation Office
RYCO is an intergovernmental organization that stewards and promotes regional and intercultural cooperation of young people within and among Western Balkans societies. RYCO’s programs focus on creating opportunities for young people to engage in activities that build mutual understanding and reconciliation in the civic, social, educational, cultural, and sports domains. RYCO initiates and participates in policymaking and advocates for reform. It supports the development of a political and social environment that empowers and facilitates youth exchange.RYCOgnizing YPS
RYCOgnizing YPS is a RYCO granting scheme dedicated to supporting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Western Balkans that work with youth to advance the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda. This initiative empowers CSOs to scale up ** youth-led initiatives** through actions focused on the five YPS pillars: Participation, Protection, Prevention, Partnerships, and Disengagement and Reintegration.The scheme places a strong emphasis on supporting youth-led and youth-responsive projects that bring tangible, localized impact at the municipal level, particularly by enhancing youth security and engagement in governance and policy-making processes.
