The program to support young people on their way to independent life has been part of the Lotos strategic plan since 2015. The program aims to enable the achievement of several important goals:
The backbone of the youth program is the project “Strengthening the capacities for independent living of persons with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina” that IC “Lotos” is implementing with the Center for Independent Living STIL from Stockholm. In addition to this project, the organization is implementing a number of short-term projects that support young people and their informal groups. The program’s activities can be divided into several categories:
1. Activities to build the capacity of young people:
Education in the fields of foreign languages, computers, organizational development, communication skills, etc.;
2. Activities to support initiatives of young people and their informal groups:
IC “Lotos” supports various initiatives of several informal youth groups organized in local communities, covering the areas of advocacy for accessibility, sports, education, social life, etc.;
3. Activities to include youth in decision-making processes:
They include efforts to involve young people in their local communities: in organizations of people with disabilities, in youth associations, in various civil society organizations, sports associations, student unions, etc.;
The methods by which these activities are achieved include group work, individual work, technical support, mentoring, peer support and various other forms of good practices that the organization has established over the years.
