www.bhxp.org

www.bhxp.org

dario@bhxp.org

Social Entrepreneurship in BiH & Youth Policy Issues

Dario Vins, M.Sc., MBA

www.bhxp.org

BHXP programs are focused on the fields of democracy strengthening, economic restructuring and poverty reduction.

Core objective:

Institutional capacity strengthening and human capital development to aid the countries that face complex reforms-related challenges as they pursue Euro-Atlantic integrations.

BH Experts Association is a non-governmental organization that provides training and institutional capacity-building services to various stakeholders in the Central and Eastern Europe.

www.bhxp.org

www.bhxp.org

• GTZ GmbH Youth Project in BiH is led by Ms. Rubeena Esmail-Arndt

• Overall Objective: – Establish functional governmental institutions for youth affairs– Develop a system of effective coordination between all governmental levels

to ensure implementation of youth support programs

• Mission (amongst others):– Train engaged youth in social entrepreneurship and – Assist them to set-up youth centres as small businesses that

• Offer services for youth participation and • Non-formal education

– Effectively contribute towards building up community youth work

www.bhxp.org

Dario Vinš, M.Sc., MBA

Professional Resume:• Chemonics International / USAID PARE, Team Leader / Senior FS Advisor• Lloyds Group / LPI-GD, Chief Financial Officer, 2007• SGI, Chief Financial Officer, 2006• Election Canada, Campaign Manager, 2005• National Institute of Health – McGill, ICT Manager, 2000• U.S. Treasury Department, Government Debt & Issuance A. Advisor, 1996• CCA, Assistant Vice President – Public Relations, 1994

Academic Background:• PhD candidate, Risk Based Banking Supervision Framework, UNSA, Sarajevo• Masters of Business Administration (MBA), University of Delaware• Masters of Business and Economics (MBE), UNSA, Sarajevo• Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) – Finance, John Molson School of Business, Concordia

University, Montreal• Professional Certificate in Management (PCM), Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill

University, Montreal

www.bhxp.org

Presentation Structure

• Youth Policy in BiH– Ongoing Policy Development Activities– Forward Looking Towards Youth Policy Regulatory Framework

• Social Entrepreneurship in BiH:– Youth Center in Vlasenica– Youth Center “Spajalica” in Sarajevo

– Sustainable Project Example & Case Study

www.bhxp.org

Youth Policy in BiH - Overall Objective

• To provide for infrastructure for implementation, coordination, and monitoring of BIH youth policy in critical areas of importance for young people in order to improve their living conditions;

• Encourage youth population in BiH to take a lead in protecting their rights, influencing decision makers and improving quality of life, while accepting democratic principles of civil society and human rights as their way of living.

www.bhxp.org

Youth Policy in BiH - Goals

• To strengthen systematic policy-based government support to needs and issues of young people in order to improve their living conditions

• To ensure efficient, cost-effective and timely response to needs of the youth sector

• To strengthen local governments’ capacity to provide support to youth population and help youth become responsible citizens building a prosperous community

www.bhxp.org

Youth Policy in BiH - Activities

Ongoing• Development of the Youth Policy in BIH (YP) in critical areas of importance

for young people

Forward Looking:• Development of Action Plans for implementation of the YP in selected critical

areas of importance

• Strengthening the capacity of the Commission for Coordination of Youth Issues in BiH (CCYI BiH) and civil servants to coordinate and monitor implementation of the YP

– Youth laws, youth dimension in other policies/policy making, frame for EU programs for youth - in selected areas.

• Implementation of YP on sub-national levels (entities, cantons, municipalities)

www.bhxp.org

Social Entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina

www.bhxp.org

Youth Center in Vlasenica

www.youthcamp-vlasenica.ba

www.bhxp.org

About the Center

• Established in 2005• Employs three persons• Organizes youth educational workshops• Sustainable with positive results

– Financed from services provided to all citizens

www.bhxp.org

Capacity

• Workshop and seminar areas• Computer center• Office and facilities• Summer terrace & plateau• Playground• Youth Hostel: 9 rooms with 36 beds

(still undergoing renovations)

www.bhxp.org

Financing

• Budget user of:- Vlasenica municipality (youth programs items)- Ministry for family, youth and sport- Ministry of trade and tourism- Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH- International donors (GTZ, CARE NWB)

• Own revenues from services to:- Vlasenice citizens- International organizations- Users of the Center & Hostel guests- Local and international associations

www.bhxp.org

Activities

• Youth activities and workshops• Youth ecological activities• Youth community strengthening project• Youth strategy development• Open-space for Youth• Info Center• Youth tourism development• Cultural, sport, humanitarian activities

www.bhxp.org

By the Numbers…

• Visitors: 150 young people/day• Monthly workshops for 20-25 ppl/workshop• Monthly revenues: ca1.500 KM• 30 volunteers from elementary & high schools• Hostel guests (2008):

– 2008 : 65 from Germany– 2009 : 70 from Lithuania, Germany, BiH

• Summer camp for 30 participants

www.bhxp.org

Results

• Recognized partner to local government• Sustainable youth center• Member

– Initiative for Youth Centers Association in RS

• Sole open-space for the youth in the city.• Youth hostel with environmental and alternative

energy sample programs

www.bhxp.org

www.bhxp.org

About the Center

• Educational-entertainment youth center• Established in 2006 by KULT Assocation in Sarajevo• Vision:

– Association to ensure that young people become satisfied and socially-responsible citizens by filling their free time with meaningful activities.

• Mission– To cooperate with stakeholders and participate in development and

implementation of decisions/programs re: improvements of youth status in the society;

– To implement affordable and innovative trainings and activities encouraging nonformal education and entertainment in line with the recognized needs.

www.bhxp.org

Capacity

• Seminar area• 3 workshop rooms• Computer center• Hostel (2 rooms, 14 beds)• ‘Living’ area and facilities• 3 Offices• Basement• Outdoor playing field with a parc

www.bhxp.org

Financing

• Budget user of:- Ilidza municipality (youth programs items)

- Canton Sarajevo (youth commission)

- Ministries of FBiH

- Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH

• Own revenues from services to:- Municipalities from BiH

- International organizations

- Users of the Center & Hostel guests

- Private companies

- Local and international associations

www.bhxp.org

Activities

• Youth advisory services• Training of young leaders• “Maslacak” - education on youth mental health• Courses (language, IT, acting, CV)• Volunteerism• Youth society strengthening projects • Youth strategy implementation activities• Youth center and “Ecological” Board

www.bhxp.org

By the Numbers…

• Visitors: 80 per day• 25 activities per month• 30+ active volunteers• Monthly workshops – 18 per month• Monthly revenues: ca 4000 KM• Website: 2400 hits/month

www.bhxp.org

Results

• Volunteers’ Gazzete™ (VG)• Network to promote VG™• UMiD – Training of young leaders• Volunteer youth services• Active participation in local government• Recognized place of youth activism• Educational service

www.bhxp.org

Issues & Challenges

• Youth centers and associations are not sufficiently recognized in the community/society.

• When applying for funding: – the youth centers that offer continual activities are

treated equally to the associations that implement one activity per year.

• Most of the youth center do not have funding to cover ops costs – they rely on projects alone.

• Youth centers are subject to all (corporate) taxes– Even though it offers non-profitable and social programs.

• Youth associations are not eligible to access loan/debt funding– Even when they satisfy the banks’ corporate-line criteria.– This is not the case in EU member countries.

www.bhxp.org

Sustainable Project – Example www.vd.mladi.org

• Volunteers’ Gazzete™ Promotional Network– (Ten organizations distribute the VG countrywide)

• Purpose– Skill Development & Work Experience– Work Experience Certificate /

Letter of Recommendation

• Sustainability & Revenue Sharing: – Ops Expenses of partner centers– VG Network, promotional materials, – Print & press, continuing education

www.bhxp.org

Case Study – Network of 20 Youth Centers• Overall Goal – Position

1. Empower youth population in youth centres in B&H to take a lead in protecting their rights, influencing decision makers and improving quality of life.

• Specific Goals – Interests1. Youth centres are recognized by local government and public as a

partner for implementation of youth work in BiH

2. Youth population recognizes the youth centres as a place for life-long learning to increase employability, social inclusion, and articulates grass-root youth needs

Note: Youth Centers are to be established at local level