Institute for Youth Development KULT

For over 20 years, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has been the most recognised civil society organisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina working on youth-related issues.

Specialising in youth policy, civic participation and education, KULT has consistently played a leading role in designing, advocating for and implementing legislative and strategic frameworks for youth development.

These include the Law on Youth, the Law on Volunteering, and more than 80 adopted youth policies. Its work is grounded in a deep understanding of the local context, supported by a national network of local youth councils and partnerships with over 250 schools and 600 teachers. Each year, the organisation reaches over 10,000 students and engages more than 320 public and private stakeholders.

Since 2002, more than 100,000 young people and adults have taken part in KULT’s programmes. The organisation has successfully delivered over 300 projects in the areas of education, social inclusion, employability and democratic participation.
KULT enjoys high levels of institutional trust and has long-standing cooperation with relevant ministries of education, which support and facilitate the integration of its programmes into formal school systems.

Through its flagship “Learn, Think and Act!” (UMiD) programme, implemented 20 times, KULT has developed scalable models based on experiential learning, critical thinking and participatory approaches. These models have generated a nationwide network of certified peer educators, mentors and civically engaged youth.
Thanks to strong partnerships with CSOs, local authorities, international donors (EU, GIZ, USAID, UN) and the private sector, KULT is well-positioned to deliver large-scale, evidence-based and sustainable impact. This makes KULT a credible and competent lead organisation for education programmes aiming at systemic change across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For over 20 years, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has been the most recognised civil society organisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina working on youth-related issues.

Specialising in youth policy, civic participation and education, KULT has consistently played a leading role in designing, advocating for and implementing legislative and strategic frameworks for youth development.

These include the Law on Youth, the Law on Volunteering, and more than 80 adopted youth policies. Its work is grounded in a deep understanding of the local context, supported by a national network of local youth councils and partnerships with over 250 schools and 600 teachers. Each year, the organisation reaches over 10,000 students and engages more than 320 public and private stakeholders.

Since 2002, more than 100,000 young people and adults have taken part in KULT’s programmes. The organisation has successfully delivered over 300 projects in the areas of education, social inclusion, employability and democratic participation.
KULT enjoys high levels of institutional trust and has long-standing cooperation with relevant ministries of education, which support and facilitate the integration of its programmes into formal school systems.

Through its flagship “Learn, Think and Act!” (UMiD) programme, implemented 20 times, KULT has developed scalable models based on experiential learning, critical thinking and participatory approaches. These models have generated a nationwide network of certified peer educators, mentors and civically engaged youth.
Thanks to strong partnerships with CSOs, local authorities, international donors (EU, GIZ, USAID, UN) and the private sector, KULT is well-positioned to deliver large-scale, evidence-based and sustainable impact. This makes KULT a credible and competent lead organisation for education programmes aiming at systemic change across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

KULT promotes an open, inclusive school system, connected to real life.

Schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina are still largely closed systems, focused on theory, detached from real life, and lacking meaningful engagement with their communities. Students – especially those from marginalised backgrounds – often leave school unmotivated, underprepared for life and work, and with limited social awareness. Teachers, in turn, receive little support to renew their teaching practices.

This programme aims to change that by empowering 250 secondary school teachers across BiH to become promoters of inclusive, practice-based education.
Through a certified training programme rooted in experiential learning, critical thinking and peer exchange, teachers will gain skills to reconnect learning with real life and local communities. The programme builds on KULT’s UMiD model, recognised by the Ministries of Education and successfully implemented 20 times.
Teachers will receive mentoring from local youth councils and will develop initiatives with 500 fellow teachers and 3,000 students.
The 100 most impactful initiatives will be selected, co-funded and implemented in partnership with local actors (CSOs, municipalities, businesses). These initiatives will strengthen school–community collaboration and provide 6,000 students with meaningful learning experiences.

Three inclusive summer camps will host 100 marginalised young people, offering creative, empowering learning opportunities to those with limited access to summer activities. A nationwide awareness campaign will reach over 100,000 people through public content, promoting applied knowledge, inclusion and volunteerism, while advocating for the integration of life-relevant learning into school curricula.

A 20-episode podcast series will amplify the voices of young people and teachers.
A national conference will celebrate the programme’s achievements and foster dialogue between stakeholders. The programme includes a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework, with clearly defined KPIs and an independent external evaluation.
Its legacy will be sustained through reusable training materials, a peer-support network of teachers, and stronger school–community ties that will continue beyond the project’s duration.

The initiative lays the foundation for systemic, scalable reform of secondary education that meets the real needs of students and the societies they live in. It will advocate for the continuation of school–community partnerships, encouraging local governments to support school-led initiatives beyond the project through existing youth budget lines.

KULT promotes an open, inclusive school system, connected to real life.

Schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina are still largely closed systems, focused on theory, detached from real life, and lacking meaningful engagement with their communities. Students – especially those from marginalised backgrounds – often leave school unmotivated, underprepared for life and work, and with limited social awareness. Teachers, in turn, receive little support to renew their teaching practices.

This programme aims to change that by empowering 250 secondary school teachers across BiH to become promoters of inclusive, practice-based education.
Through a certified training programme rooted in experiential learning, critical thinking and peer exchange, teachers will gain skills to reconnect learning with real life and local communities. The programme builds on KULT’s UMiD model, recognised by the Ministries of Education and successfully implemented 20 times.
Teachers will receive mentoring from local youth councils and will develop initiatives with 500 fellow teachers and 3,000 students.
The 100 most impactful initiatives will be selected, co-funded and implemented in partnership with local actors (CSOs, municipalities, businesses). These initiatives will strengthen school–community collaboration and provide 6,000 students with meaningful learning experiences.

Three inclusive summer camps will host 100 marginalised young people, offering creative, empowering learning opportunities to those with limited access to summer activities. A nationwide awareness campaign will reach over 100,000 people through public content, promoting applied knowledge, inclusion and volunteerism, while advocating for the integration of life-relevant learning into school curricula.

A 20-episode podcast series will amplify the voices of young people and teachers.
A national conference will celebrate the programme’s achievements and foster dialogue between stakeholders. The programme includes a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework, with clearly defined KPIs and an independent external evaluation.
Its legacy will be sustained through reusable training materials, a peer-support network of teachers, and stronger school–community ties that will continue beyond the project’s duration.

The initiative lays the foundation for systemic, scalable reform of secondary education that meets the real needs of students and the societies they live in. It will advocate for the continuation of school–community partnerships, encouraging local governments to support school-led initiatives beyond the project through existing youth budget lines.