Empowering Youth to Build a Better Future in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Many young women and men see emigration to high-income European countries as a means of escaping unemployment. While brain drain causes immense socio-economic, cultural and demographic damage to the country, inward migration benefitting urban centers causes similar damage to rural areas.

The "Moja Budućnost" project ( “My Future” in English) seeks to address both of these challenges: youth unemployment and the neglected development of rural areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By focusing on reviving the existing and establishing novel economic networks between rural areas and urban centers, the project strives to create economic and educational opportunities for youth.

For the first time, the Opportunity Group Methodology is introduced to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This innovative approach ensures that young people are not passive beneficiaries, but active agents of the project by encouraging them to come together in peer groups to share, learn and apply newly acquired technical, entrepreneurial and life skills.

Our vision is that empowered and economically independent young adults contribute to their neighborhoods economically and socially through active participation in everyday life and decision making.

The first project phase is implemented in the region of Herzegovina (southern part of the country): municipalities of Čitluk and Konjic, and cities of Široki Brijeg and Trebinje. However, an important focus of the project is creating synergies with other municipalities and regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The objectives of the “Moja Budućnost” project are:

• Economic opportunity: To foster private sector investments and job creation for 220 youth and young adults, with at least 180 full-time job equivalents.
• Skills development and job orientation: To empower 1,440 young women and men with improved skills and knowledge through training and coaching, with 720 participants in “Opportunity groups”.
• Local governance: To improve the satisfaction of youth with employment-related services offered by the municipalities.

Visit the project website for more information and updates.