The message from Mostar: We live activism!

Today we want to amplify the voices of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who make our future more certain and positive every day. Over the past year, various voices across the country have been heard with the same message: we do not want to remain in the past, we want and can do better! Citizen participation in political and public life is crucial for the advancement of human rights and the building of an inclusive society.

The PRAGG project, through open dialogue with citizens, civil society organizations, and local authorities, has shown that civic activism is possible and powerful. The PRAGG Festival "We Live Activism 2024" highlighted the successes of citizens from Gračanica, Gradačac, Bijeljina, Trebinje, and Tešanj. For many of them, these projects were not just initiatives that needed approval and financial support, but a major life victory and motivation for further active participation in deciding the quality of their lives.

In collaboration with the Women's Association for Persons with Disabilities Impuls in Bijeljina, the first step towards an inclusive society was made by supporting the realization of the right to personal assistance for persons with disabilities. Local authorities recognized the importance of addressing this issue and unanimously adopted a decision on expanded rights in the field of social protection. Additionally, support was provided for another campaign initiated by a group of organizations gathered around the LARA Foundation, aimed at improving the rights of women victims of violence.

In a significant step towards improving opportunities for young people, local young activists in Gradačac, led by the KULT Gradačac Association, fought for the adoption of a decision to develop a Youth Strategy for the period 2024-2027 and to increase the budgetary funds for youth for the year 2024.

An outstanding achievement of the Babići Youth Association "Sijedi krš" is that they managed to secure funds from the City of Gračanica and the Ministry of Education and Science of TK for the construction of a playground in front of the local school in MZ Babići, with completion planned by 2024.

The campaign "Equal Opportunities, Equal Dreams", implemented by, among others, the Forte Youth Association, resulted in significant progress when the municipality of Tešanj accepted the initiative to address the issues of persons with disabilities as an essential part of budget planning for the next year. This decision demonstrated their commitment to continue creating an inclusive environment for all their citizens.

The latest success of the PRAGG project was recorded in Trebinje, where by the end of the summer, the Varina Gruda neighborhood will have a new, safe playground for children. This was made possible thanks to the activism of parents and cooperation with local authorities, who did not want their children to be deprived of the basic right to play and a safe space.
As part of supporting all processes where there was a lack of experience, knowledge, and formal legal steps to bring initiatives to the adoption stage, PRAGG has continuously worked on strengthening the capacities of citizens and civil society organizations, involving more than 120 individuals. Particularly interesting were the workshops on using formal consultation mechanisms in local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

PRAGG highlighted numerous successful stories through interviews with Bosnian activists who achieved positive changes in society through their personal activism.

Festival participants provided additional perspectives on the development of civil society by sharing experiences that will be useful and important for future work, not only through the PRAGG project but for all other organizations, informal citizen groups, and society as a whole. In the past period, it has been collectively realized that changes rest at the local level and that we shape the better future and changes we wish to see.
Change is possible with activism and activists, who may tire but must not give up!
PRAGG is funded by the Government of Switzerland and implemented by a consortium consisting of HELVETAS and NIRAS in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with local partners Centers for Civic Initiatives (CCI) and the Institute for Youth Development KULT.