In addition to members of the Peacebuilding Network, non-member organizations also attended the meeting, with potential future membership. Representatives from the following organizations attended the meeting: Perpetuum mobile, Genesis Banja Luka, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Banja Luka, U.G. Srce na dlanu, Capital portal, United Women Banja Luka, UDAS, IMPULS portal, ONAX agency, U.G. Consumer Protection Prijedor, LEGIT agency, Give us a chance Stars, Center for the Environment, and a representative from the startup QUO room.

The discussion included practical advice on writing project proposals, identifying suitable donors, and project management. Additionally, ways to strengthen mutual cooperation and support among organizations were discussed to enhance the efficiency and impact of the civil sector.

At this meeting, the Peacebuilding Network took the opportunity to present its future plans and goals, focusing on themes such as digitizing project activities, expanding socially responsible actions throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, and connecting the NGO sector to elevate its activities to a higher level.

This meeting represents an important step towards strengthening the network of NGOs and improving their coordination in Bosnia and Herzegovina, aiming to enhance their work and achieve common goals.

The post Working meeting of the Peace Building Network with civil society organizations appeared first on Genesis Project.

According to them, young people in Goražde often face problems that slow down their personal progress and hence their contribution to the local community. These problems include a lack of educational opportunities and space for education and dialogue among young people. Their solution was to organize a series of workshops to transfer their skills to their peers.

“Young people in Goražde are a key demographic group that will play a significant role in shaping the future of Goražde. Every local community needs active and engaged young people. The future lies with the young people; however, young people in Goražde often
encounter problems that delay their contribution to the city. These problems include a lack of educational opportunities and premises for education and dialogue among young people. We believe that the young people of our city have potential, but they are ‘asleep’, which is why a group of enthusiasts was needed to ‘awaken’ their peers. Our project aims to promote mutual learning among high school students and create a platform for exchanging ideas and organizing activities together,” said Roni Baker, a member of the Gaming Club 1233 team.

They implemented their idea by organizing a series of workshops for their peers. They conducted two programming workshops titled “My First Website”, a video editing workshop, a comics drawing workshop, and a very interesting workshop on 3D modeling and 3D printing.

After the workshops were held, all participants visited the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo.

They concluded their project with a Kahoot quiz on general knowledge and information gained from the workshops. The best quiz participants were rewarded with sweets, t-shirts, and certificates.

The UPSHIFT program originated in the UNICEF Office of Innovation and is implemented in 38 countries worldwide. UPSHIFT in Bosnia and Herzegovina is implemented by the Humanitarian Organization Genesis Project in collaboration with the Office UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The post Workshops on Programming, 3D Modeling, and Comics Drawing in Goražde appeared first on Genesis Project.

Golden Team highlighted a problem in their local community: How can we influence the improvement of the quality of life for seniors in Teočak? In the municipality of Teočak, there is no adequate institution dedicated to caring for the elderly and frail, and there is a lack of trained personnel to provide palliative care services, as well as a volunteer center that could support elderly and frail individuals. However, our UPSHIFTers, with their brilliant idea and series of activities for seniors, showed that things can be different.

Following the UPSHIFT workshop held in Šabac, our UPSHIFTers started working and forming a volunteer data base. They gathered over 40 of their peers, mostly students from the MSS Teočak and Elementary School “Teočak”, and trained them with a series of educational workshops before starting all planned activities.

A roundtable discussion and presentation of the project “Intergenerational Solidarity” were held. During the presentation, the UPSHIFT team detailed their achievements and shared their vision for upcoming project activities aimed at promoting intergenerational solidarity. In addition to the school principal, pedagogue, and volunteers, representatives from the Women’s Association, Pensioners’; Association, Red Cross, Social Welfare Center, Health Center, and the municipality of Teočak attended the roundtable.

“Memorandums of cooperation were signed with all our partners, reinforcing a joint approach to strengthening social cohesion between different age groups in the community. This agreement signifies collective commitment to creating a more inclusive and supportive interaction between the young and the elderly”, said Enna Mehić, a member of the Golden Team.

During May and June, over 60 retirees participated in very interesting workshops, the first of which was “Healthy and Active Aging”, where doctors from the Teočak Health Center held lectures and conducted sugar and blood pressure measurements for all elderly citizens present. This was followed by workshops such as ‘Let’s Learn Knitting / Small Technology School’, ‘Intergenerational Creativit’ where volunteers and senior citizens painted glass using decoupage technique, and a workshop called ‘Playing Social Games’.

Another wonderful activity was a daytrip to the Ethno Village Stanišić. A total of 50 young and elderly people spent pleasant time together in the beautiful ambiance of Ethno Village Stanišić.

“I am very happy that our young people recognize the need to strengthen the bond between young people and seniors. I am glad to have participated in the activities that were carried out, it was beautiful, and I look forward to the next gathering,” said one of the participants.

In front of the Municipality building, a Charity Sale of cakes and handicrafts made during workshops with elderly citizens was organized. Golden Team and women from the Sniježnica mosque jointly sold handicrafts, and all proceeds, which amounted to over 6,000 KM in this
case, were donated for the humanitarian purpose of treating fifteen-year-old Muhamed Čeliković from Sniježnica.

The UPSHIFT program originated in UNICEF’s Office of Innovation and is implemented in 38 countries worldwide. UPSHIFT in Bosnia and Herzegovina is implemented by the Genesis Project humanitarian organization in collaboration with UNICEF’s Office in Bosnia and
Herzegovina.”

The post Intergenerational solidarity in Teočak appeared first on Genesis Project.

“We heard about UPSHIFT through our teacher and psychologist Alma, who recommended that we apply. We’ve been thinking about something similar for a long time, but we didn’t have the time nor the resources to implement it, so UpShift came at just the right time,” said Nadia.

With the support of their vocational theory teacher Almedin Žunić, who was a great support during the project, the girls had many discussions about domestic violence and femicide.

“In practical classes, they have the opportunity to express all their problems, and I try not to be just a strict teacher but also a friend who listens to them. We talked a lot about violence, and I shared an experience of domestic violence by students of my wife, who worked at this school. I think that story motivated them to actively engage and try to solve the problem. They first focused on this topic, and later decided to address femicide, prompted by a shocking case in Gradačac that was shared on social media” said professor Almedin.

Regarding the femicide case in Gradačac, the girls expressed concern not only about the crime being broadcast on social media but also about the continued sharing of the video via private messages. They are particularly worried about the increasing “normalization of violence” in the media and public.

“We want to educate the public that violence is not normal and reduce the normalization of violence. We believe the problem is growing daily and that people almost consider it normal for someone to beat their child or hit their wife, as if they are their property. But this is not how it should be, and we must change it together” the girls from Cazin assert.

Their goal is to mobilize the public, decision-makers, and the media to take active steps.

“As volunteers, five of us, we can’t contribute that much alone, but if we inspire others to act and receive support, we can achieve more. We want everyone to start thinking about this issue and then get involved, support us, and help reduce violence together with us. We want our peers to understand that they need to change their attitudes towards women, recognize violence, both against women and in
general.”

As a result of their work at the UPSHIFT workshop and dedication to this socially significant topic, they produced the film “A Woman becomes a Victim Only When She is Dead”. You can watch the entire film at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/zPDEAzCsPDZRGYtB/?mibextid=qi2Omg

In their film, they convey the direct impressions of victims of violence. In addition to the victims, representatives from the Center for Social Work, Amra Hadžić and Alma Habilović, and the police, Adnan Beganović, share their experiences working with such cases.

The girls from the GLAS ŽENE team held a film screening at the Center for Culture and Tourism in Cazin.

The UPSHIFT program originated from UNICEF’s Office of Innovation and is conducted in 38 countries worldwide. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, UPSHIFT is implemented by the Humanitarian Organization Genesis Project in collaboration with the UNICEF Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with financial support from DP World.

The post GLAS ŽENE /Voice of a Woman/ – A WOMAN BECOMES A VICTIM ONLY WHEN SHE IS DEAD appeared first on Genesis Project.

They heard about UPSHIFT from the school principal, and Srđana Tanasković, the president of the Student Council, gathered the BEES who wished to renovate their school yard. Through a series of activities and work actions, together with the school staff, other students, and with the help of the “Vučevica” Forest Management, they achieved everything they planned at the UPSHIFT workshop.

School breaks, as well as the time before and after school, will be much more enjoyable now for all students because there are new benches, flowers have been planted, the stairs that were in very poor condition have been repaired, and the school fence has been reconstructed and painted.

The appearance of the school yard was significantly enhanced by a large mural dedicated to Petar II Petrović Njegoš, after whom the school in Čajniče is named.

“I believe that Petar II Petrović Njegoš is a great inspiration to everyone and that it is necessary to honor such a personality at least in this way”, said Srđana Tanasković from the BEES team.

The BEES showed that they thought of everything by installing an information board in their school yard, which is significant for the entire town and its tourist offer. One side of the information board features the cultural and historical landmarks of Čajniče that all passers-by can see, while the other side will serve as the school’s bulletin board.

Srđana Tanasković shared her impressions of the eUPSHIFT workshop: “The entire workshop left a big impression on me and it was a great experience for me and my team colleagues. We acquired a lot of new knowledge and met very good people, especially our mentor Milica Jovičić and the project coordinators. I can’t wait to apply for UPSHIFT again and collaborate with the whole UPSHIFT team, but I hope next time I will participate in a live workshop, which would be another great experience.”

The post “Pčelice” from Čajniče remodeled the school yard of the “Petar Petrović Njegoš” Secondary School Center appeared first on Genesis Project.

The team CREATIVE REVOLUTION was one of the winners of the Second Joint UPSHIFT Workshop of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia, held in April this year in Šabac. Over one hundred young people aged 16 to 24 participated in the workshop, and Milica, Anja, Ana, Lana, and Ema successfully competed against strong competition to win a grant of 3,000 KM.

“Our project is related to body shaming, that is, judging based on our outward appearance, how we dress, whether we are thin, whether we are fat, and similar things. With this project, we want to show that there is no ideal type of people and perfect body, that models on the internet use Photoshop and don’t look like that in real life, and we want to raise awareness about this issue,” said Ema Pelengetić.

Soon, the girls got to work and held workshops on the topic “Body Shame – Shut Up and Endure” for their peers at the School of Technology to draw attention to this problem and announce a performance. Additionally, in collaboration with the Foundation for the Development of Creative Industries “HAUBA” from Banja Luka, young artists expressed their views on this issue through drawings that were exhibited in the square during the performance.

“With our project, we want to achieve that there is no more judgment and that people have no problem talking about it publicly, that the ideal 90-60-90 look no longer exists. We want there to be as little mockery based on appearance as possible and for people not to feel bad when they see that people on the internet look better than them because most of it on the internet is fake, and everyone should be satisfied with their own body”, said Lana Savić, a member of the Creative Revolution team.

Our amazing UPSHIFTers put a lot of effort into planning and rehearsing the performance that was held at Krajina Square, with significant help from Boris Šavija, an actor from the National Theatre of the Republic of Srpska.

Finally, the awaited June 2 nd arrived, when the girls took to Krajina Square and showcased their performance, which garnered great interest from passersby who, after the performance, talked with our UPSHIFTers and shared their experiences on this issue. Visitors also had the opportunity to view the drawings created in the Hauba foundation, inspired by the theme “Body Shame – Shut Up and Endure.”

The UPSHIFT program originated in the UNICEF Office of Innovation and is implemented in 38 countries
worldwide. UPSHIFT in Bosnia and Herzegovina is implemented by the Humanitarian Organization
Genesis Project in collaboration with the Office UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina

The post With a performance on Trg Krajina, the students of Banja Luka Technological School drew attention to the problem: Body Shame – Shut up and suffer! appeared first on Genesis Project.

With a tradition spanning over a decade, Impact Days in Vienna has become one of the most influential events in Austria’s social entrepreneurship and impact investing ecosystem. Since its inception, Impact Days has served as a platform for achieving tangible impact in communities, fostering collaboration, and addressing urgent social issues.

Impact Days has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs and challenges of our time. It brings together investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and thought leaders to tackle societal issues. Through collective efforts, Impact Days have influenced policies, inspired investments, and empowered ideas and communities to thrive.

This year’s Impact Days, held from June 5 to 7 at Hofburg Palace in Vienna, aimed to build on past achievements and set goals for the future. With a dynamic lineup of speakers, workshops, and interactive sessions, Impact Days 2024 provided participants with a platform to explore innovative solutions, share best practices, and collaboratively create strategies for positive change. Impact Days 2024 covered a wide range of topics, from impact investing to sustainable entrepreneurship, climate action to social justice, focused on addressing the most pressing issues of our time.

“First and foremost, I must highlight that Impact Hub Vienna excellently organized this event. We had the opportunity to discuss key topics of sustainable development and social impact. It was inspiring to listen to experts and participate in workshops that addressed the latest trends and strategies for a better future. The speakers provided us with practical insights and applicable strategies that we can use in our work. I thank all the speakers and participants for their incredible energy and inspiration. I look forward to applying this knowledge and connecting with everyone who shares our vision for a better world,” said Dijana Pejić.

The post IMPACT DAYS 2024 appeared first on Genesis Project.

Participants of the 9 th eUPSHIFT workshop, Marija Gašić, Tijana Blagić, and Irina Kljačin, have been engaged in volunteer work with the NGO "C.E.Z.A.R" Srbac for many years. To showcase the beauty of volunteerism, they decided to apply to eUPSHIFT under the name Cezarov trio fantastiko and, as one of the workshop winners, successfully implemented the project “SAS – Srbac Active High School Students”

The project “SAS – Srbački Active High School Students” aimed to increase the number of high school students involved in volunteer work, primarily through education but also through practical work. Through a series of activities, they engaged over 70 of their peers, igniting their interest in youth activism and volunteerism.

It all began with a large volunteer action to clean up the schoolyard of the Public High School Center “Petar Kočić” Srbac. Trash bins were also purchased and placed in the most needed locations around Srbac. These lovely photos showcase the satisfaction on their faces and how essential such activities are for young people, and the schoolyard is now sparkling clean!

In addition to sprucing up the schoolyard, Cezarov trio fantastiko organized a sports day at their school, where students played volleyball, football, and dodgeball. Part of the grant was used to purchase sports equipment that was necessary for their high school center.

As the culmination of the project, a final event was held in the form of a panel discussion on volunteerism. Short lectures were given by Ljubiša Popović, an English language and literature teacher  Tanja Šnjegota, executive director of the NGO “C.E.Z.A.R” and Sara Žujić, an active volunteer and psychology student.

“Through volunteerism, young people gain new knowledge and experience, expand their network of friendships, and get opportunities for personal development and free travel. I recommend all young people to get involved in organizations dedicated to volunteerism, such as the Citizens’ Association “C.E.Z.A.R” in Srbac, whose doors are always open to new volunteers. Additionally, another excellent opportunity for volunteerism and activism is the UPSHIFT program, which introduces young people to the world of activism and positively influences their personal development," said Tanja Šnjegota, executive director of the NGO “C.E.Z.A.R.”

UPSHIFT coordinator Draško Stojčević gave a brief lecture on the UPSHIFT program, and we hope to receive many more applications from Srbac for the UPSHIFT workshop.

To add even more value to the entire project, first-year high school students of the Hospitality School, along with their teacher Maja Mojević, prepared a snack that exceeded all expectations.

“My personal impression of the UPSHIFT workshops is fantastic, and I would love to gather a team next time and participate in the in-person UPSHIFT workshops. I truly believe this is a great story and an excellent opportunity for young people to identify some problems in their local community and learn how to solve them”, said Irina Kljačin, one of the members of the Cezarov trio fantastiko team.

The UPSHIFT program was developed by UNICEF's Innovation Office and is implemented in 38 countries worldwide. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, UPSHIFT is implemented by the humanitarian organization “Genesis Project” in cooperation with the UNICEF Office in BiH, with financial support from DP World.

The post Successfully Completed Project “SAS – Srbac Active High School Students” appeared first on Genesis Project.

On May 22, 2024, through a public presentation and discussion, Genesis Project from Banja Luka launched the “Co-managed High Schools” project, an initiative aimed at transforming the decision-making process in high schools across the Western Balkans. The project aims to empower students and improve the quality of education by introducing a co-management model that involves students in key decision-making processes.

Traditional decision-making practices in high schools in the Western Balkans are mostly unilateral, dominated by school authorities, and often exclude students from significant participation. The “Co-managed High Schools” project seeks to change this by introducing a participatory co-management model that gives students a voice in decision-making processes.

“The ‘Co-managed High Schools’ project is a unique and innovative approach to education,” said Saša Šarić, project coordinator of Genesis Project. “By involving students in decision-making processes, we not only empower them to take responsibility for their education but also create a more inclusive and democratic school environment.”

The co-management model will be developed in collaboration with students, teachers, and the management of 10 high schools in North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. The model will be piloted in these schools over the next two years with the aim of creating a more participatory and student-centered approach to education.

“We believe that the co-management model has the potential to transform education in the Western Balkans,” said Lejla Pehilj, representative of the Secondary Polytechnic School from Mostar. “By involving students in decision-making processes, they will be able to ‘practice’ democracy from an early age and contribute to the running of schools.”

The “Co-managed High Schools” project is implemented by the LEAD Association (MKD) in partnership with Genesis Project (BiH), the Youth Council of Kosovo (KS), the Youth Network of Montenegro (MNE), and the organization Connecting (SRB). The project is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program.

The post Genesis Project Launched the “Co-managed High Schools” Project appeared first on Genesis Project.

The global vaccination campaigns of the second half of the 20 th century are one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Immunization campaigns have allowed us to eradicate smallpox, nearly eliminate polio, and ensure that more children survive and thrive than ever before.

This year World Immunization Week will celebrate 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) – recognizing our collective efforts to save and improve countless lives from vaccine- preventable diseases and calling on countries to ramp up investments in immunization programmes to protect the next generations.

In just 5 decades we went from a world where the death of a child was something many parents feared, to a world where every child –– if vaccinated –– has a chance to survive and thrive. At its inception in 1974, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) focused on protecting all children against 6 childhood illnesses, but today, this number has grown to 13 universally recommended vaccines across the lifecourse, and 17 additional vaccines with context dependent recommendations.

With the expansion of vaccination programme across the life course we now call it the Essential Programme on Immunization.  In the last few years during the pandemic, progress on immunization slipped. While more than 4 million more children were vaccinated globally in 2022 compared to 2021, there were still 20 million children who missed out on one or more of their vaccines. Growing conflicts, economic downturns, and a rise in vaccine hesitancy are some of the threats to efforts to reach these children. As a result, the world is seeing sudden outbreaks of diphtheria and measles diseases that, until now, we’d had nearly in hand. While global vaccine coverage is good, there is still a need for affirmation of immunization. It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure the benefits of immunization reach every child and thus save lives and prevent the consequences of infectious diseases.

Let’s make this possible by:
 Ensuring vaccines are high on the priority list for governments in all countries;
 Advocating for vaccines to be an integral part of the planning and investment of health care
across the life course;
 Making sure vaccination programmes are adequately financed and resourced in all countries;
 Accelerating research and innovation that advances access to, and support for, vaccines;
 Speaking out on the impact of vaccinations locally, nationally and globally.

The post The vaccination lasts a lifetime: 50 years of the Basic Immunization Program. appeared first on Genesis Project.