Youth - CEP

Enter Change participants on a visit to the Slovenian Embassy in BiH

15. 5. 2025 | BiH - Young Politicians, PR, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

On Wednesday, 14 May 2025, as part of the Enter Change project—led by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the Embassy of the United States of America in Slovenia—project participants visited the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Through an open dialogue, the participants learned about the functioning of the Slovenian Embassy in Sarajevo, diplomatic processes, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the relations between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The young participants highlighted the importance of direct dialogue with diplomats, which provided valuable insight into the workings of institutions that shape international relations and contribute to regional stability.

A sincere thank you to H.E. Ambassador Damjan Sedar and his team for their exceptional hospitality, time, and willingness to engage with the participants’ many questions. The Enter Change project continues with activities that promote inclusive leadership, interethnic dialogue, and regional cooperation.

BiH’s Visionary Voices Forum: Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders

16. 12. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

The first forum of the “Enter: Change” project, BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change, came to an end on Friday. Held in Portorož from 9 to 13 December, it brought together 12 young politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina for a program focused on leadership, governance, and social change.

Over five days, participants discussed important topics such as challenges in the Western Balkans, the rule of law, democracy, and fighting corruption. They learned about strategic communication, tackling misinformation, and using media to bring people together. Sessions also focused on gender equality, the role of women in leadership, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in decision-making. Workshops helped participants build skills in leadership, teamwork, communication, and strategic planning while encouraging youth involvement in politics and democracy. The forum combined discussions, workshops, and interactive activities to help participants gain practical skills and share ideas. They worked on how to take what they learned and use it in their communities to make a positive impact.

The event featured contributions from key figures, including representatives from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, Ms Melania Arreaga, and former Slovenian President Mr Borut Pahor. Their insights inspired participants and added great value to the forum. This forum is the first step in the Enter: Change project, and we look forward to continuing this work and helping young leaders create meaningful change.

The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs within the #SlovenianAid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.

The BiH’s Visionary Voices Forum Wraps Up

13. 12. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

We’ve closed BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change forum with an inspiring session highlighting recent achievements and future aspirations for young BiH politicians.

The concluding ceremony opened with a keynote by H.E. Mr. Borut Pahor, Founder and Director of the Institute Friends of the Western Balkans and former President of Slovenia (2012–2022). His talk, Charting Bosnia’s Future: Leadership Lessons for and by Youth, offered participants interesting insights and encouragement.

The concluding session featured participants presenting key takeaways, sharing lessons learned, and reflecting on how these insights will shape their future efforts. These presentations underscored their dedication to applying new ideas in practical and impactful ways.

The successfully concluded forum highlighted the need for further cooperation, promoting meaningful discussions, skill-building, and networking. We will continue our work within the Enter: Change project and we look forward to hosting another forum next year.

The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve RS / Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs within the #SlovenianAid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy Ljubljana.

Midway through BiH’s Visionary Voices

12. 12. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

Portorož, 12 December 2024 – We are halfway through ‘BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change’ forum, offering an enriching experience for our participants.

Participants have delved into some crucial topics, including:

The challenges and opportunities of the Western Balkans and pathways to progress
The principles of rule of law and democracy
Shaping impactful messages for the media through effective communication
Using strategic communication to build democratic resilience and social cohesion
The role of media in fostering social change, with a focus on youth and citizenship

Two workshops further encouraged participants to explore leadership in depth—examining its core competencies, reflecting on their own leadership experiences, and considering how they can create meaningful change in their communities.

In the remaining two days, participants will focus on two very important topics: gender equality and diversity and the role of women in the political context.

The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve RS / Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs within the #SlovenianAid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy Ljubljana.

The “Enter: Change” Forum Has Officially Begun

9. 12. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, PR, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

Portorož, 9 December 2024 – The first forum of the “Enter: Change” project, BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change, has begun today in Portorož, Slovenia. Held from 9 to 13 December, it brings together 12 young politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina for a program focused on leadership, governance, and social change.

The Forum was opened with opening addresses by H.E. Mr Dario Novalić, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Slovenia and H.E. Ms Melania Arreaga, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia, with a welcoming speech by Ms Nina Čepon, Executive Director of CEP.

Programme of the first day will also feature an opening lecture on the challenges and opportunities for the Western Balkans by Mr Peter Grk, Secretary General of the Bled Strategic Forum and National Coordinator for the Western Balkans at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, teambuilding session on leadership and a night owl session on the rule of law and democracy with Assistant Profesor Dr Faris Kočan from the Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Ljubljana).

The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia within the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.

Upcoming forum for young BiH politicians in Portorož

29. 11. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

30 November, Mengeš – We are delighted to announce the first forum of the “Enter: Change” project, which will take place from 8 to 13 December in Portorož, Slovenia. The event is titled ‘BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change’, and is dedicated to fostering young leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The forum will bring together 14 young leaders for a dynamic five-day program.

The activities will focus on discussions of challenges in the Western Balkans, the rule of law and democracy, strategic communication and combating misinformation, diversity and inclusion, and a workshop on youth political engagement. The forum aims to provide a platform for skill development, networking, dialogue, and empowering young leaders from BiH to drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond.

The forum will among others, include representatives from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, Ms Melania Arreaga, and former Slovenian President, Mr Borut Pahor.