The Future 4 Youth program recently marked a major milestone with its conference in Sarajevo, titled “From Evidence to Systems – Programs that Build Healthy and Non-Violent Relationships Among Youth.” Organized by our partner, the Institute for Population and Development, with support from CARE Balkans and Marie Eberth Stiftung, the event focused on turning years of successful practice into lasting institutional solutions.
In her welcome speech, Mrs. Bucan, Director of CARE Balkans, emphasized that projects should be seen as tools for building evidence, not as ends in themselves. She noted that for a program to succeed, schools must fully integrate these practices into their daily work. According to Mrs. Bucan, it is the difference between formal implementation and a lived reality in schools that creates long-term change for youth.
A central theme of her address was the role of young people in modern society. Mrs. Bucan highlighted that youth are more than beneficiaries, they are active partners in preventing violence and promoting healthy lifestyles. By empowering them to lead, prevention becomes a sustainable part of the community, rather than a temporary intervention.
Looking to the future, Mrs. Bucan called on political and institutional leaders to recognize the success of these proven models and work toward making them permanent educational standards within the system.
The Future 4 Youth program demonstrates that long-term investment in life skills and healthy relationships is the only way to build a safer society. CARE Balkans remains committed to supporting partners like IPD as we transition from project-based results to lasting regional systems, ensuring that every young person has the right to a healthy and non-violent development.
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