Future for You(th): Young People as Leaders of Life Skills Education in the Balkans

June 1, 2021 Projects

The Young Men Initiative (YMI) began in 2006 as a gender-transformative program aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing interpersonal violence among youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) by challenging gender stereotypes. Supported by the Government of Switzerland, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), Austrian Development Cooperation, CARE Deutschland, and Oak Foundation, the initiative has significantly contributed to positive and peaceful societies in the Western Balkans region.

This project builds on the successes of the YMI, with a strong focus on the systematic integration of life skills education into elementary and high school curriculums, accreditation of programs, and capacity building for teachers and peer educators. Additionally, it seeks to expand its reach by piloting programs in correctional institutions, strengthening collaboration with universities, and leveraging digital tools for program sustainability.

Project Objectives:

The long-term objective is to contribute to creating positive and peaceful societies for young people in Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina that embrace and promote gender equality and non-violence. Future for You(th) represents a unified effort to institutionalize and sustain life skills education, ensuring that young people in the Balkans develop into healthy, responsible, and non-violent adults. By engaging key stakeholders, advocating for policy change, and building strong educational frameworks, this initiative left a lasting impact on future generations.

Key Results:

• Education Sector Strengthening: 66 elementary and high schools, as well as 10 universities, equipped to lead life skills education efforts through Program Y and Program E. Direct program implementation included 30,137 elementary and high school students,1,000 university students and 1200 teachers and school staff.
• Youth at Risk Support: 5 juvenile correctional institutions capacitated to implement tailor-made life skills programs to prevent radicalization and facilitate reintegration. In total Program Y+ was directly implemented with 273 youth and 201 social welfare staff.
• Future4Youth Movement: Local stakeholders took an active role in advocating for educational reforms and addressing the issues of violence prevention, gender equality, life skills and health education in schools across the Balkans. 200 representatives from governmental and educational institutions, over 70,000 community members gathered around Future 4 Youth Movement which reached over 200,000 people indirectly.
• Policy Development: Governmental bodies will be empowered to institutionalize life skills education through multi-stakeholder consultation processes. Government Working Groups around Life Skills Education were formed and delivered action plans and strategies on incorporation of life skills into official education curricula.

Project Implementation & Partnerships

The project was implemented by CARE in collaboration with local partners, including:

• Perpetuum Mobile – Institute for Youth and Community Development, Banja Luka
• E8 – Center for Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles, Belgrade
• YMCA, Pristina
• SIT – Centre for Counseling, Social Services and Research, Pristina
• Act for Society Centre, Tirana
• SMART Kolektiv, Belgrade
• Status M, Zagreb
• Youth Educational Club – Synergy, Kosovska Mitrovica
• Institute for Population and Development, Sarajevo
• Youth Power, Mostar

Supported By:

The project is supported by the Government of Switzerland, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), Austrian Development Cooperation, CARE Deutschland, and Oak Foundation.

Project Duration: 2021 – 2024

For additional information, contact us.