The results of the project “Volunteering for cross border development” have been presented in Banja Luka (BiH) by the LDA, Local Democracy Agency, of Sisak (HR) and YCC, Youth Communication Centre of Banja Luka, both partners of the project which is funded by European Union.
The project aims to help in improving accessibility of community-based services in border area through establishment of five voluntary services – two in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bihać and Derventa) and three in Croatia (Sisak, Kutina and Petrinja).
It also contributes to establishment of the cross-border networking between local authorities, civil society and social partners through creation of six local volunteering policies (in all 5 above mentioned towns and in Banja Luka). These policies will define measures from which the local communities will benefit in their economic and social development.
In addition, the project will help to enhance quality of life and social cohesion in border area by creating a cross-border voluntary network with volunteers from the six towns. Two volunteering camps, one in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one in Croatia will be organised within the project. The camps gathering 60 volunteers will discuss actual social issues in bordering towns and initiate actions for change. .
The project is implemented by YCC Banja Luka and LDA Sisak alongside 4 partners – Association Women from Una Bihać, BiosPLUS Derventa, Disabled Persons Association Kutina and IKS association from Petrinja.
The Project is funded with the Instrument for the Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) – Cross Border Cooperation Programme Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, and its duration will be 24 months (until February 2013).
In its first year the project was implemented with several activities, including:
- First project conference held in Banja Luka, 10 March 2011,
- Second project conference held in Sisak, 24 March 2011,
- Project public presentations in Derventa, Bihać and Sisak, 21-23 April 2011,
- Training “Volunteers’ management in local communities”, Banja Luka, 4-7 May 2011,
- Opening of Volunteers’ Center in Sisak, 9 June 2011
- Local volunteer services in Derventa, Sisak and Bihać opened – June 2011