At a time when students from BiH are generating headlines for the wrong reasons, it is also important to note that young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina can also generate positive stories that show the power of cooperation and the talent and innovative ideas that young people in the country are full of.
As part of the EU’s Generation Change project, 40 students from 10 faculties among Bosnia and Herzegovina’s eight public universities took part in a Media Boot Camp in May. Split into 5 teams, these teams worked together on video ideas and scripts that have now been turned into five videos by professionals.
Each of the five videos tells a story about Bosnia and Herzegovina. Each presents a distinct topic, highlighting the creative solutions and fresh perspectives that young Bosnians hope to contribute to the European Union. One team chose to highlight Bosnia and Herzegovina’s attractiveness as a destination for digital nomads. Another chose to highlight the entrepreneurship of the country’s young people. Culture, and this country’s young artists was the theme of one of the videos, while Bosnia and Herzegovina’s unique cultural traditions was another. The power of youth activism was the theme of the final video.
Members of the public will have the chance to vote for these videos online on the channels of the EU Office in BiH. The team behind the most video with the most engagement will win a trip to the capital of the European Union, Brussels.
The students behind the videos were selected following a series of engaging discussions for university students in Zenica, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Mostar, Bihac and Banja Luka from February to April this year involving the Head of the EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in BiH Ambassador Johann Sattler, Ambassadors from EU member states, experts, and youth activists.
By pooling their collective ideas, the teams have created a campaign that captures the innovative ideas and remarkable potential that the country and its youth possess. Their innovative ideas, when combined with country’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, form are a genuine asset for Bosnia and Herzegovina.