Youth Network Kakanj

This network of youth NGOs promotes voluntary work and youth activism in the Kakanj municipality, in order to normalise peace and inter-ethnic tolerance. It also conducts training in project management and non-violent communication.

Overview

Youth Network Kakanj is dedicated to the promotion of peace, tolerance and better living, with a special focus on the youth of our region. Our organisation consists of 7 different youth NGOs which joined together in 2005 with the aim of improving our work and influence in the areas of youth policy, child rights protection, promotion of voluntary work, and youth engagement in creating and shaping our everyday life. We also work on peace and capacity building across our region.

Our aims are socialisation of youth, promotion of voluntary work, improvement of youth work and youth activism in our municipality, and also promotion of peace and inter-ethnic tolerance.

It is important to say that before our network was established in 2005 our member organisations had been active for several years as promoters of peace and tolerance. We have managed to bring positive changes into our community and region. For example through our activities and the activities of our members, we have created and rebuilt the ideas of working together and multi-ethnic communities, which were greatly damaged by the conflicts. We have learned how bad politicians and their failed projects can destroy the life of an entire generation, e.g the division of former FR of Yugoslavia.

Our advice to other youth organisations and youth activists is to work together with their peers in order to help each other. Our organisations and activities have been led and organised by young people - some of them still teenagers.

What Services Are Provided?

Training in project management and non-violent communication. We also offer web design and internet provider services.

Geographical Area of Operation

The Kakanj Municipality

Funding Resources

The majority of our activities have been funded by our own resources: we are legitimate internet providers in this area, and we also provide web and internet design services. Some of our project activities are also funded by the municipality and canton government, and some are funded by USAID.

What Further Information Would You Like?

• Sources of funding for the project based here in Bosnia Herzegovina; and
• Information about organisations which are willing to include themselves in cross-border projects.

What New Contacts Would You Like To Make?

• Greenpeace activists; and
• Youth Associations from Great Britain

Associated Organisations

Our partners are:

• Youth Association EcoNOVA from Zenica; and
• Youth Network of Bosnia Herzegovina

We also work with NGOs and citizen associations from the Zenica – Doboj region.