Youth mobility: More than emigration
Our society often associates youth mobility with the emigration of young people outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, although it also includes other forms of movement motivated by a diverse range of reasons. Youth mobility, in a different perspective from the one our society has, is the movement of young people through mobility programs for the purpose of networking, learning, integration, gaining autonomy, new values, and personal growth and development. When properly understood and supported, mobility becomes the key to empowering young people and their active inclusion in social flows.
Mobility support through programs and institutions
The European Union most often invests in such programs, but various institutions, both domestic and international, also have the space to launch and finance mobility programs. So now, young people across Europe, in addition to those offered by domestic institutions, also have programs such as Erasmus Plus, the European Solidarity Corps, SALTO Youth, AIESEC, CEEPUS and others at their disposal, through which they can volunteer, study, work, attend training and similar courses abroad with scholarships or paid travel expenses, accommodation and pocket money. Local authorities are also obliged to provide young people with opportunities for mobility, encourage them to participate in international mobility opportunities, but also provide financial support. In addition to international exchanges, Bosnia and Herzegovina must also work on networking young people within the country, given that the basic conditions for youth mobility within the country are hampered by the fact that cities and municipalities are not well connected by intercity transport, especially when it comes to rail transport.
Although BiH youth have been traveling more in recent decades, the percentage of those who have participated in excursions within and outside BiH, student exchanges, summer schools and camps is not at an enviable level. Most often, youth mobility in BiH is carried out through non-governmental organizations, schools and universities that enable young people to travel through their international projects.
Encouraging cultural exchange and the development of tourism, both at the national and international levels, provides young people with the opportunity to gain new experiences and broaden their horizons. Exchanging ideas, getting to know different cultures and participating in international projects strengthen their intercultural competences and social awareness. Through these activities, young people develop creativity, self-confidence and adaptability, which makes them more competitive in the labor market. At the same time, such programs contribute to their professional networking and open up opportunities for future cooperation, which directly affects the quality of their personal and professional development.
Informing young people as the key to success
For young people in a country with few opportunities, the possibility of spending their time in a foreign country with paid expenses to meet, network and learn may seem unrealistic. The key reason is the insufficient promotion of mobility programmes, which results in poor awareness of these opportunities among young people. Data shows that young people remain poorly informed despite the fact that municipalities and regions have undertaken to actively promote and support the development of information and advisory centres with the aim of providing information on numerous aspects of life, including advice on leisure activities, sports, cultural programmes, temporary employment opportunities, vocational training and apprenticeships, as well as information on housing solutions and the work of youth organisations.
In order to improve the position of young people and meet their needs, it is necessary to systematically support the opening of information centers with professional staff, who will provide relevant information and counseling. Public media, such as radio and television, should be provided with space to promote topics important to young people, as well as to present their activities. At the same time, it is crucial to provide financial and logistical support to youth media projects, including web portals, magazines, and television and radio shows, which would enable young people to have a voice in the public space and develop their creative potential.
Youth mobility and information are not luxuries, but rather a necessity for the development of a society that recognizes the potential of its youth. By investing in mobility infrastructure, information centers, and the promotion of youth programs, BiH can secure a youth-friendly future.
On this occasion, we invite you to register your local government units for the Public Call for Applications for the Assessment of Local Government Units and the Acquisition of Youth-Friendly Community Certificate, so that we can work together on youth mobility and information.
Source: mladi.org
