BiH - CEP

Enter: Change Forum II – Youth Shaping Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Future

25. 8. 2025 | Enter: Change, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

This week, the second Enter: Change Forum titled “Shaping BiH’s Tomorrow: Youth Leading the Way” will unite 16 young leaders from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, representing diverse ethnic and political backgrounds.

The Forum, starting on 28 August, will include participation in the Young BSF on 31 August and the Bled Strategic Forum on 1 and 2 September. It will provide a platform to address some of the most pressing challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, including European integration, the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and interethnic dialogue through inclusive leadership. Participants will engage in lectures, panel discussions, training sessions, mentorship, and public dialogue. Under the guidance of Mr Adnan Ćerimagić, analyst at the European Stability Initiative, the young leaders will prepare a vision statement on the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path towards the European Union.

The Forum will also unite young leaders with participants of the Young Bled Strategic Forum, with both then joining the Bled Strategic Forum, working to amplify the voices of youth and highlight their role in shaping inclusive political processes and promoting European values.

The activities of the Enter: Change project are supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the Embassy of the United States of America in Ljubljana.

Journey of BiH’s Visionary Voices in 2024

13. 1. 2025 | Enter: Change, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

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From December 8 to 13, 2024, the first forum titled “BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change” was held in Portorož as part of the development project Enter Change. The forum brought together future young leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Through lectures, workshops, and discussions, the forum addressed key topics such as:
✔️ Leadership competencies and effective communication
✔️ Challenges and opportunities for the Western Balkans on the path to EU integration
✔️ Strategic communication and combating disinformation
✔️ Diversity in the business world, gender equality, and the role of women in politics
✔️ Youth engagement in driving social change

The event’s highlights included contributions from esteemed speakers such as Alexander Kasanof, Peter Grk, Dr. Danica Purg, and Borut Pahor and interactive workshops that enabled participants to develop concrete solutions for future challenges.

The forum was a significant step in empowering young future political leaders from BiH and fostering positive change in the region. It was organized 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 U.S. Embassy in Slovenia. In 2025, we will continue our work with future leaders and look forward to the second forum in Slovenia, scheduled for late August. This forum will be aligned with the framework of the Bled Strategic Forum.

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

16. 12. 2024 | Enter: Change, 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 | Enter: Change, 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 | Enter: Change, 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.