At Maršala Tita no. 109 street in Tuzla, the Agora Social Education Center – an unavoidable destination for socializing, education and professional development in the field of foreign languages, informatics, programming and other specific programs that can be attended by all interested regardless of age and previous education is located.
Emphasizing the importance of non-formal education and lifelong learning, the educational programs of the Agora Center in the past, almost 20 years, attended a large number of students of different ages. Over 600 people each year are included in education programs for adults.
With the support of young volunteers who are gaining their first work experience at the center, Executive Director Asmira Malkočević and Secretary of the Association, Vedrana Dautović through educational workshops, courses and other trainings, encouraged a large number of young people to take entrepreneurial steps, and by providing the opportunity to gain work experience within the center, young people are able to find work.
For the past year, the Agora Center has been using the resources of the USAID’s Local Works Program, which works to strengthen local organizations. With the support of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, Agora Center has raised business processes to a higher level through professional development of employees, development of strategic documents that have increased business transparency, but also improved the general foundations laid in 2003.
With the support of partners and donors, but also organizations acting in related activities, Agora has successfully positioned itself as a civil society organization that strengthens the capacity of individuals, especially young people who take responsibility for personal and community development.
Regular activities implemented within the work of the center due to the coronavirus pandemic at the beginning of last year were completely stopped, which was a great challenge for the organization. Due to epidemiological measures, it was not possible to organize educational courses and other activities. However, with rapid adaptation based on the emerging needs of the market, Agora managed to create a new business concept and continue to achieve successful results.
Within the preparations in 2019, a survey was conducted to define the needs of workers, and a year later an additional analysis was completed, which included changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic in the labor market. Based on the results, several areas have been defined within which there is a need for additional training of workers.
The new business model offered workers unions in the health, trade and education sectors of Tuzla Canton workshops in the form of courses and networking in order to improve the general skills and knowledge of workers who proved to be in short supply.
Within the cooperation with the Olof Palme International Center, information on the state of workers in trade unions from Serbia, Sweden and Macedonia was taken into account, on the basis of which activities were further adjusted in accordance with regional market needs.
Through work with workers employed in the industries that have experienced the greatest changes due to the pandemic, Agora continues to work on strengthening of individuals who will be the bearers of positive change in the areas in which they operate.
Additional information about the work of the center is available HERE.
