Newsroom
OSCE invests in Bosnia and Herzegovina's future
SARAJEVO 18 April 2003
SARAJEVO, 18 April 2003 - A group of 45 young people have today concluded a one-year OSCE programme geared at training them for future leadership in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The training programme, entitled "Successor Generation Initiative" (SGI), was launched by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 2002 to equip the country's youth with the knowledge and skills that will improve their leadership capabilities and benefit them in their professional life.
"I firmly believe that it is up to the young people of this country to set the example to their elders by looking to the future instead of dwelling on the past. That is why OSCE is investing in the future," said Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft, Head of OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The OSCE Mission selected the SGI participants for their outstanding records in political activism or involvement in non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Aged between 21 and 32, they represent all of the country's major ethnic groups. Each month they attended training sessions throughout the country designed to prepare them for leadership.
These sessions included topics such as conflict management, negotiation and mediation skills, economic development, media and democracy, elections and election monitoring, youth policy development, advocacy, and project management.
"I think that every future leader should have knowledge about the subjects we are learning about in the SGI project", said Borjana Simic, a 23-year-old law student from Zvornik. "The workshops we've been through definitely help to build the personality of a future leader. Everything is geared for practical use, so we can apply what we learn."
The final task of the training programme was to develop three policy proposals on youth issues, which were then presented to governmental officials, parliamentarians, NGOs and the international community. The three projects focus on creating governmental structures responsible for youth at all levels of government, legitimizing student participation in university governing bodies, and improving the legislative framework for internships that will stimulate youth employment.
With the conclusion of this first SGI programme, the OSCE Mission has already started preparations for the next group, with the aim to begin with the next programme in June.
"With this project, we hope to encourage critical but also constructive thinking among those that will promote reforms in the future, in order to provide for a lasting impact on Bosnia and Herzegovina's political and civic landscape", Ambassador Beecroft said.
The training programme, entitled "Successor Generation Initiative" (SGI), was launched by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 2002 to equip the country's youth with the knowledge and skills that will improve their leadership capabilities and benefit them in their professional life.
"I firmly believe that it is up to the young people of this country to set the example to their elders by looking to the future instead of dwelling on the past. That is why OSCE is investing in the future," said Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft, Head of OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The OSCE Mission selected the SGI participants for their outstanding records in political activism or involvement in non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Aged between 21 and 32, they represent all of the country's major ethnic groups. Each month they attended training sessions throughout the country designed to prepare them for leadership.
These sessions included topics such as conflict management, negotiation and mediation skills, economic development, media and democracy, elections and election monitoring, youth policy development, advocacy, and project management.
"I think that every future leader should have knowledge about the subjects we are learning about in the SGI project", said Borjana Simic, a 23-year-old law student from Zvornik. "The workshops we've been through definitely help to build the personality of a future leader. Everything is geared for practical use, so we can apply what we learn."
The final task of the training programme was to develop three policy proposals on youth issues, which were then presented to governmental officials, parliamentarians, NGOs and the international community. The three projects focus on creating governmental structures responsible for youth at all levels of government, legitimizing student participation in university governing bodies, and improving the legislative framework for internships that will stimulate youth employment.
With the conclusion of this first SGI programme, the OSCE Mission has already started preparations for the next group, with the aim to begin with the next programme in June.
"With this project, we hope to encourage critical but also constructive thinking among those that will promote reforms in the future, in order to provide for a lasting impact on Bosnia and Herzegovina's political and civic landscape", Ambassador Beecroft said.