Jahorina is hosting the Srpska Youth Assembly, with a series of panels organized by the citizens’ association Srpska Youth and Talents Platform – Smart Srpska.

This first gathering of its kind brought together 250 young people who will convey the conclusions reached to representatives of the authorities in the Republic of Srpska in order to improve the living standard of all citizens and youth in particular.

The first panel discussed the topic of relationship between the institutions and youth.

The topic of the second panel was success does not fall from the sky – a quality education system as foundation of youth development path.

On the third panel, the topic was entrepreneurship support – from idea to realization, with the assistance of institutions.

The final panel saw participation of the President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska, Radovan Višković.

More and more young people acquiring knowledge in Europe and the world are deciding to return to the Republic of Srpska. Among them is Marija Davidović from Banja Luka, a recipient of scholarship of the Russian President at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

– As time passes and it gets closer, I would rather stay here, i.e. return here and expand my experience and the knowledge I gained with people. I would like to work in an international organization – says Davidović.

A quality education system is the key to the progress of the Republic of Srpska.

– There are many young people who studied in Russia, the USA and European countries who, after studying and spending a part of their working life, have returned and applied their knowledge in the Republic of Srpska – said Denis Šulić, the Minister of Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Srpska.

Preservation of national identity is the basis of development, and after schooling, young people should stay and work in the Republic of Srpska.

Only by being united and safeguarding our country can we meet all the challenges ahead. These are some of the messages of the President of the Republic, Milorad Dodik, and the Prime Minister, Radovan Višković.

The President of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, also expressed his opinion about how to stimulate the youth to love the state and stay in Srpska and what the authorities should do to develop an environment in which young people would see their future, noting that the mind of the youth was under attack from several sides, mostly by modern communication mechanisms.

According to him, as the president of Srpska, he was interested the most in the panel on how youth saw states and their feelings for the state.

– We have a number of ways in which we can improve relations with young people, including startup projects to be implemented by the Government of Srpska, and making room for scholarship expenditures in the new budget rebalancing – says Dodik.

However, he notes a problem in scholarships, citing the example of the Dr Milan Jelić Fund, where, according to him, Srpska offers scholarships to young experts who eventually decide to live and work abroad.

The president pointed out that there were no better living conditions for young people than in Srpska, but that Srpska as a society needed to rearrange its priorities.

– Protect your homeland, your house, do not lose your identity, language, alphabet. If they force you to lose the Republic of Srpska, you will lose yourself – Dodik told the youth.

The prime minister of Srpska said that it was necessary to establish a body to monitor and analyze the needs of young people, focused on the conclusions of this panel.

– The Government of Srpska will support and help youth projects – said Višković.

Speaking about the amount of scholarships, Višković stated that ‘We might plan larger amounts in the budget for the next year’.

By its special measure through the line ministry, the government offers BAM 40,000 to graduate technologists, agricultural engineers and agronomists having their own property to start a business, and for those who do not have their own land to have it on lease.

Višković also reminded that the Republic of Srpska was building a technology park, and expressed the hope that Dr Milan Jelić Fund scholarship recipients would be part of that park with their knowledge.

As one of the problems facing the institutions of the Republic of Srpska, Višković stated that Srpska had educated young people who then left and broke contact with the Republic and its institutions.

‘I do not advocate the option that all these people should return to the Republic of Srpska a priori, but they must remain in contact with the institutions. I expect us to establish connection, that these people help Srpska, our institutions and the youth here with their knowledge’, Višković said.

Višković noted that many problems, happenings and political instability in BiH were reflecting on the youth leaving the country.

Višković said that Startup Srpska had given good results, and that now it only needed to upgrade by employing more youth.

He pointed out numerous measures already being implemented in the Republic of Srpska – support in purchasing the first housing unit by co-financing interest rates, free education, free student dormitories, and textbooks for the first grades of elementary schools.

Through a mutual discussion on education, entrepreneurship and relationship between the institutions and youth, the participants of the first Srpska youth assembly reached a series of conclusions that should be implemented in the coming period in cooperation with the institutions of Srpska, in order to improve their status. The most important is the system of improving institutions-youth relations, which, according to them, is defined in three points.

– These are the knowledge that the youth should offer to the institutions of the Republic of Srpska, the cooperation that the institutions should offer to the youth and the final evaluation system that is mutual and held both by the youth for the institutions and by the institutions for the youth – believes Dejan Srdić, Faculty of Law in Banja Luka.

They will send their creative initiatives supported by the participants’ critical thinking to the address of the institutions of Srpska for consideration and, if possible, legal implementation. This will increase youth involvement in making important decisions at the Republic level.

Source: Republic of Srpska Government – RTRS

Photo: Republic of Srpska Government