It’s official: Volunteering is cool! Yes it is, but it is much more than that. Marking International Volunteer Day 2011, UNV, local CSOs and volunteers across Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrated how volunteers and volunteering are contribute to enhancing the lives of individuals and futures of communities in BiH.

Around 20 young activists gathered on November 30th in the Center for Cultural and Media Decontamination in Sarajevo on the workshop about the usage of ICT tools with purpose of ending the violence against women. The main subject was the map for documenting violence against women that has been translated and adapted to our language by the Oneworld Platform for South East Europe Foundation.

The drive for gender equality and empowerment of women and girls must begin with young people. Throughout the world youth are key catalysts for change when it comes to prevent gender based violence. Information and communication technologies are increasingly important in connecting and mobilizing people around the world to end violence. 

Several years ago, Vesna Vukmirovic (28) from Doboj faced the same problem that young people throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to struggle with: the ever-increasing unemployment in the country, and shrinking of an already narrow job market for young people. However, volunteering with a local NGO helped Vesna to achieve two personal goals: to secure a job in the field of social protection and contribute towards positive change in her local community.