Within the implementation of the Snaga lokalnog Program, which is implemented in BiH with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development – USAID, the Network for Building Peace, among other things, listens to problems and needs, as well as positive initiatives and changes in local communities throughout BiH, current problems and positive practices from local communities, which can motivate others to initiate similar initiatives and changes in their local communities.
The Network for Building Peace visited Mostar in March 2021, and held meetings with representatives of several local organizations. The Association Novi put Mostar offers free psychological and legal assistance. These services were in great demand, especially during a coronavirus pandemic. They are currently implementing several projects throughout BiH, and are successfully networking and cooperating with other organizations and institutions. Novi put Mostar is the winner of the prestigious international award for 2021, which is awarded for the fight against child trafficking and sexual exploitation of children by the Child10 Foundation from the Kingdom of Sweden, as well as the awards of Her Majesty, Queen Silvia of Sweden and her Child Care Foundation. “Novi put” from Mostar is one of only ten award-winning organizations, selected from over 90 nominations from 27 countries around the world. “Novi put” Mostar is the only organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina that has received this award and has been commended for “its efforts and contribution to eradicate all forms of exploitation of children and girls in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Inicijativa građanki i građana Mostara/The Mostar Citizens’ Initiative is a non-governmental organization founded in 2006 by women who are active in various political parties and non-governmental organizations. Since then, the Initiative has launched various initiatives important for improving the quality of life of citizens in Mostar. Aware that many children, especially those living in rural areas, cannot exercise their right to quality pre-school education and that there is exclusion of children with disabilities, both due to insensitive access and policies, and the lack of teaching assistants. In March 2021, an initiative was launched to introduce free preschool education for all children in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. The initiative was sent to the City of Mostar (for kindergartens) and the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (for preschool education). The price of kindergarten is very high for many parents, both for those who have one child, and especially for those who have two or more children of kindergarten age. Also, kindergartens are educational institutions that are important for the socialization of children and their further progress through the school system. In the following period, the initiative will continue advocacy activities on the occasion of the introduction of free preschool education for all children, but also on the occasion of all other problems and needs that they see in Mostar.
The Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Mostar is focused on creating active citizenship on the one hand, and transparent and accountable authorities on the other, with the aim of establishing a modern and democratic society. Through its activities, LDA Mostar strives to be a resource center for institutions of cantonal/county authorities, city administration and civil society with the aim of harmonizing standards with democratic standards of the European Union. There are many problems in Mostar, great challenges are the challenges and expectations before the new convocation of the City Council. LDA plans to implement activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of the City Council, a meeting with the new mayor has already been held on the occasion of the implementation of the ProFuture project in which the LDA is a working group member for Mostar. In the coming period, the LDA will work in 12 municipalities in BiH, where the focus will be on the principles of good governance. Given that each topic is a tool for democratic participation, the LDA works on many different activities and projects, which are creatively interactive, and through which it supports the democratization process in the City of Mostar by strengthening good governance and capacity building of local authorities and civil society and participation of citizens in public life.
The Network for Building Peace, “Novi put” Mostar, Inicijativa građanki i građana Mostara/Mostar Citizens’ Initiative, LDA Mostar plan to continue mutual cooperation and support, and use the networking resource, the online platform Snaga lokalnog www.snagalokalnog.ba and the Network for Building Peace www.mreza-mira.net.
We will publish more inspiring stories about activism in Mostar and the hard work of Mostar activists, so follow our website Snaga lokalnog and stay up to date.
