In the last two days, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has supported the organization of a regional Companies Doing Good forum for civil society organizations, business sector and institutions in the Western Balkans.
The Companies Doing Good Forum is an event that catalyzes the understanding that public institutions have a key role in setting trends and supporting vulnerable groups of citizens. The forum is an event which promotes good practices in the processes of employment and work in the business sector. A place where you can hear about new business trends and solutions in response to new challenges in employing vulnerable groups. This year, the Forum provided more information on socially responsible initiatives related to jobs and the inclusive labor market. Through the Forum, we paid special attention to social mentoring in the employment of vulnerable groups.
In addition to the Institute, the partners of the Institute, the MOZAIK Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages of BiH also participated as panelists. The Forum was preceded by a consultative meeting with BiH actors and regional training of the first generation of social mentors in order to strengthen skills to support young people belonging to vulnerable groups in BiH as well. Two trained social mentors in BiH are actively involved in the work of SOS Children’s Villages in BiH in the Tuzla Canton and within the initiatives led by the Institute for Youth Development KULT.
Companies Doing Good Forum was organized by the Association for Research, Communication and Development PUBLIC from Skopje. PUBLIC cooperates with partner organizations in Albania, Kosovo*, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Institute for Youth Development KULT is a partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Representatives of IKEA and DECATHLON also spoke about their experience and ideas at the Forum.
In addition to officials from all countries, some of the forum speakers were:
- Charlie Felgate, Innovation leader, Decathlon, France
- Mrs. Ann-Sofie Gunnarsson, IKEA Social entrepreneurs’ initiative, Sweden
- Mrs. Annette Scopetta, Head of the Labor and Social Welfare Sector, Deputy Director of the European Center for Social Welfare, Austria
- Karel Vanderpoorten, Policy Officer, European Commission
- Wim Van Ammel, I-DIVERSO, Belgium
The forum was organized within the project that is regionally supported by GIZ in the countries of the Western Balkans.
