Helsinki Citizen's Assembly (hCa) Tuzla

And we are …

Helsinki Citizens Assembly (hCa) is the international network of civic initiatives, movements, social and political groups in the East and in the West, that work together on democratic integration of Europe. On April 08th 1995, the hCa has officially opened its office in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since then, hCa office in Tuzla has been an active participant in promotion, strengthening and linking of civic initiatives in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad.

Why did we come to being?

The main goal of hCa is articulation and promotion of views, interests and political visions of the civic society in the area of Helsinki, on European integration and problems that are faced. Talks of this integration and problems of Europe can not be held on the level of Governments of states themselves; the society should also participate in it. hCa wishes to broaden this debate on Europe to other but exclusively political elite's levels.International Secretariat of hCa has been established in Prague (Czech Republic), while the Western Liaison Office is based in Hague (Holland). hCa has its branches in almost all European countries. Since hCa wishes to establish strong warranties of freedom, democracy and respect of human rights in Europe, including protection of all types of civic initiatives, special attention has been directed to regions that are in conflicts. Basically, hCa assists all those brave people who fight to preserve the existence of civic virtues in situations of chaos, war and discrimination.

How do we work?

Our main fields of work are:
- Strengthening and linking of civic initiatives in different towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina and outside of our borders. hCa Tuzla made contacts with different civic initiatives all over BiH. The goal of hCa is to support and promote their activities, to link those with other partners, to assist them in organisation, etc. We have also initiated and started several networks (women, youth) and organised many conferences and workshops that brought together many people all over BiH. In co-operation with hCa Banja Luka, many contacts were re-established between persons from different 'entities'.
- Publishing of regular reports and articles on perspectives of civic society, social situation and situation related to human rights in BiH. Those reports were forwarded to different partners, civic initiatives, governments, European institutions, etc.
hCa Tuzla works on linking and exchange between many local organisations and individuals (journalists, non-governmental organisations, municipalities, schools, offices of the hCa, politicians, etc.) in Tuzla and abroad. This practically means work on defined projects in Tuzla that are in the interest of investors from abroad, assisting to partners from abroad through information to all their questions, establishment of communication with different local organisations, organisation of visits to Tuzla for different delegations, etc. hCa Tuzla also provides technical support in the sense of local organisations and groups being able to use fax, computers and other equipment of the hCa in Tuzla.
- Active promotion of international co-operation in projects of reconstruction of Tuzla. hCa Tuzla has, for example, been actively involved in establishment of organisation 'Dutch Cities for Tuzla'. This organisation is a result of mutual co-operation between local initiatives, non-governmental organisations, and local authorities in Tuzla and in Holland. Initiating nine integrated projects, the Dutch Cities for Tuzla have their goal in work on economic, social and cultural reconstruction and well being of Tuzla and its citizens.

Who do we work with?

- public administration institutions, from local, county and national level
- non-governmental organizations from B&H and abroad
- private enterprises
- other institutions involved in the local -development process

And what have we been working on?

Current programs

Youth and Local Authorities - This project we are running since 2002. Project aim: creating of healthy environment for the work of the local youth organisations in a small cities in B&H; creating some kind of "partnership" between the youth organisations and local authorities; increasing interests of youths in the youth's activism; increasing participation of the youths in creating of the local politic that connected with the youth activism; increasing quality of a democratic education of youths etc. For successful implementation of this project we decided to "divide" territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina into 5 regions (Podrinje, North Bosnia, West Herzegovina, Middle Bosnia and Region Una-Sana). In every region we have one partner (youth) organisation that undertake project activities directly at the field. Activities within this project are the same in every region and consisted of: meetings with local authorities, youth organisations, political parties, informal youth groups in region(s), situation analyse, organising public debate (youth activists-local authorities), small seminars for youth activists, small educative workshop and public debate. In spite the fact that hCa Tuzla is the main project holder, all 5-field co-ordinators together with project co-ordinator for whole B&H have a regular meetings, working as a team. They are discussing, evaluation, proposing and deciding of project by itself.

Youth Resoure Center (ORC) Tuzla - In January 2004 within hCa Tuzla office we opened the Youth Resource Centre Tuzla, which has been registered at the local level. Goals of the Youth Resource Centre (ORC) Tuzla are: Strengthening of youth sector in the area of the Tuzla Canton - Strengthening of the capacities and resources of youth organisations and informal groups of youth, especially in small areas - Monitoring, support and strengthening of the work of youth and of youth organisations - Support and strengthening of co-operation between youth organisations on local, national and regional levels - Collection of data and creation of database on youth organisations, their activities and work - Building of co-operation between youth organisations and authorities on all levels - Initiation of the process for institutionalisation of youth sector in BiH - Provision of expertise and logistic support and assistance to youth organisations in their work and especially to those in establishment - Establishment and creation of better communication and faster information-flow between youth organisations - Linking and co-operation between youth organisations in the region, of Europe and of the World - Improvement and development of activities and work of youth organisations, following the European standards - Establishment and creation of co-operation with other kindred associations in the country and abroad - Establishment of other mutual interest of youth and youth organisations.

Other activities:

hCa Tuzla is engaged in several regional projects and initiative, such as follows:
- Youth in Motion - The main project holder is Civitas Romania. This project is covering area of Southeast Europe and hCa Tuzla in one of the partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Project aim is to promote more active citizen participation in local governance by finding and promoting model / best practice examples in the SEE region, which involve a partnership of the local authorities and NGOs. This project involves among the main objectives: share the experience of involving citizens in decision-making processes in SEE; provide active professional assistance for the further development of these projects; disseminate relevant information regarding citizen's participation in governance and transparency in decision making on local level; foster co-operation between municipalities and NGOs, under the umbrella of the Citizens' Pact for SEE, in view of building up regional cooperation in promoting participation and thus supporting community development; build a website where relevant information can be accessed in an up-to-date basis in English . For more information please check the website of the project: http://www.seemotion.org
- RIME Project - The main project holder is Birmingham University (United Kingdom). hCa Tuzla is only partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina. This project aims to contribute to the implementation of the Durban Declaration, 2001 by training trainers in multicultural awareness. The region of activity is East Central Europe, the Balkan and the former Soviet Union. The main activites are a total of twelve interactive workshops to "train the trainers" in the four regions. The central objective of this project is to contribute to combating racism, xenophobia, ethnic discrimination and related intolerance.
- hCa/ORC Tuzla is member of the Citizen's Pact for Southeast Europe and Worldwide Network "World Movement for Democracy"
- hCa Tuzla also work within Euro region Danube-Drava- Sava

Among our projects we mention the following:

The Youth Network in B&H is the youth project that started with an active work in 1997 on initiative and co-ordination of the Helsinki Citizen's Assembly (hCa) organisations from Banja Luka and Tuzla. The lack of contacts and co-operations between the youth organisations in B&H has motivated us to start with this initiative. Our basic idea was to connect the youth initiatives (independent organisations, informal groups and individuals) from the whole territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to work on their strengthening, support in implementation of their projects, activities and ideas. A special attention for developing of this project we have directed toward the young people that live in a small communities and cities in B&H. The Youth Network in B&H presently gather 157 organizations and a few individuals (theatre, music, sport, ecology, students initiatives, human rights protection, education) from the cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are as follows: Banovici, Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Bosanski Petrovac, Bratunac, Brcko, Bugojno, Cazin, Derventa, Devetak, Doboj, Donji Vakuf, Drvar, Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje, Goražde, Gradiška, Gradacac, Ilijaš, Jablanica, Jajce, Janja, Kakanj, Kladanj, Kljuc, Konjic, Kotor Varoš, Kozarska Dubica, Laktaši, Lipnica, Livno, Ljubace, Maglaj, Milici, Modrica, Mostar, Mrkonjic Grad, Novi Grad (Bosanski Novi), Novi Travnik, Odžak, Prijedor, Prnjavor Prozor - Rama, Ribnik, Rudo, Sanski Most, Sarajevo, Skelani, Slatina, Srbac, Srbinje, Srebrenica, Srpska Kostajnica, Srpsko Sarajevo, Šipovo, Teslic, Tomislavgrad, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, Vareš, Velika Kladuša, Višegrad, Vlasenica, Zavidovici, Zenica, Zvornik i Živinice (total number of cities:68). Throughout our activities at this project up to now, the B&H public was able to see that still exist a good will and energy coming from the youths, to meet each other, to talk and work together on building their oven future in B&H. In the first phase of this project we organised a two working meetings: June 1997 in Tuzla and July 1997 in Banja Luka. At those two working meetings participated 25 young people from 10 cities from B&H. During those meetings we were talking about the present situation in B&H, situation of youths and their ideas of starting the youth network activities. Among others, the great activities that we have organised up to now are: three youth meetings/conferences of hCa Youth Network in B&H; in Laktaši/RS (October 17-19 1997, 60 members from both entities in B&H and abroad), Tuzla / FBiH (February 20-22. 1998, 90 members from B&H, SR Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Croatia and other countries), Teslic/RS (October 15-18 1998, 80 members from B&H and SR Yugoslavia). In September 1999 we have organised summer school "Media and promotion of the youth organisations in B&H" held in Brcko District. Within the mentioned summer school there were organised a three educational workshops about Internet, contacts with the journalists and using TV and radio as means in order that massages sent by youth reach the public, and promotion of the youth's activities by the media. In September 2000 we have organised II Summer School of hCa The Youth Network held in Tuzla, with topic: "Internet-Ecology -Campaigns", which also had a three educational workshops about the mentioned topic. We have organised a spring cultural festival of hCa The Youth Network in B&H with name: "Friendship bridges 99" (May 27-30.1999.g.) held in Mostar. At this festival participated around 80 representatives of the youth organisations and groups from B&H, representatives of The Youth Council from Denmark and "FAJABEFA" from Denmark.
Beside these youth gatherings, in the previous period we have organised activities as follows:

- Twenty editions of TNT Youth magazine, which has been distributed by the youth organisations/network members, as well as contacts and the youth's initiatives in area of Former Yugoslavia, with the basic goal that youth in the region get knowledge about situation in our country and information about all topics which concern the youths.

- We have organised two small workshops for the youth: Mostar, July 1998 "The youth's role in media" and Modrica, December 1998 "Developing of capacities in the youth organisations and the youth's human rights".

- In the period August-September 1998, we have organised pre-election poster campaign, with the aim to encourage young people to vote. Within this campaign we printed out 6000 posters that were put at the schools, faculties and other places in 20 B&H cities on the day of pre-election silence. The messages at posters were prepared and designed by the youths over the open competition.

- During the summer in 1988 we have organised visit for around 20 youngsters from B&H who went to to SIDU 6 (Summer School for the international understanding and dialog) held in Prague (Czech Republic) and Arzano (France). Topics of those summer schools were "Identity, minorities and conflicts" (Prague)," Identity, citizenship and conflict" (Arzano).

- During the period July-August 1988 we have organised T-shirt campaign under the name: "Tolerance between youth in B&H". Within this campaign it was printed out 1500 shirts that distributed throughout the youth organisations/network members. As addition for support of this campaign the youth organisations were promoting campaign goals at the appearances on the local radio stations and other media in their cities.

- By the beginning of 1999 it has been established the co-ordination Board of the hCa Youth Network in B&H. Within its work 14 members of the youth organisations from B&H were actively included. The goal for establishing of this body is improving communication between the network members and providing continuity in planning of the mutual activities and activities of the network members. The codex and working rules of this body had been established and it actively works on improving co-ordination and planning the active participation of all network members in exchanging information and activities.

- During the may 1999 we started with publishing the monthly information bulletin of hCa Youth Network in B&H, with the aim to promote and report the working activities of the network organisations. These bulletins are printed in local and English language. They are distributed by mail and e-mail to the over 2000 addresses of the local and an international organisations, which work with the youths in B&H and abroad.

- During the period 1999/2000 within the project "Leaders" we have organised a 6 workshops/training (six-days each) about non-violate communication and solving conflicts. The aim of this project is learning about the procedures for peace-building and improving the youth activists in B&H. Around 120 youth activists from all part of B&H have participated at this workshops, which organised in Laktaši, Modracko Jezero-Tuzla), Bugojno, Prijedor, Zenica and Doboj.

- During 2000 in Zenica (March) and Teslic (October) we have organised a two workshops "Writing of the projects and fundraising". Around 40 members from the youth organisations in B&H have participated at these workshops. After the workshop was finished, we organised two follow-ups for participants: in Doboj (May) and Banja Luka (December). Participants were putting the finishing touches on project proposals of their organisations on which they have been working on after the workshop, and had a chance to ask additional questions.

- During 2000 we also have organised a two workshops with the topic "Journalism": in Doboj (May) and Šipovo (December). The first workshop was about the basic things in journalism (story, reports, article), and at the second workshop the youths who have affinity to write and work on the youth magazines in their cities, had a chance to learn something more about a technical editing of newspapers. Around 40 young people from whole B&H have participated at the mentioned workshops, and most of those were people from the youth organisations that have their local youth newspaper a well as people who are writing or editing TNT Youth Magazine.

- We have organised a three workshops about the strategic planning of work within hCa Youth Network in B&H; first in Kulaši (Prnjavor)- July 1999, second in Laktaši- September 2002 and third in Zlaca-July 2002. Around 40 members from the youth organisations in B&H have participated at these workshops as well as the members of Co-ordination Council of Network and Co-ordinations of developing network centres. Result of these workshops was the strategic plan of work and development of hCa The Youth Network in the next period.

- We continued preparations for re-organisation of work within the Youth Network in B&H. We organised workshop of strategic planning in Zlaca, 01-04. July. At this workshop were present 14 representatives from the youth organisations-network members. During the workshop the participants were working on planning further work and re-organisation of the work of hCa Youth Network with directions as follows:
· hCa Youth Network changed its name in the Youth Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
· The Youth Network is transforming in accordance with the program's area of work and not toward the territorial or regional dividing as it was until now.

- We have organised a two summer schools of hCa The Youth Network in B&H (Brcko 1999, Tuzla 2000), where we educated the young people-network members about a different topics (journalism, internet, planning, running campaigns, public advocacy, etc.)

- In February 2001 we have organised the youth conference in Travnik with the name "The Youth and Politic?!" At this conference, except the representatives from the youth organisations from B&H, were participated the young people- representatives of youths from the political parties in B&H. During this conference, the young people were talking about topic such as: "Election 2000 - experiences of youths in B&H and neighbour countries", "Co-operation of the youngsters from NGOs and youngsters from the political parties" and "Media and propaganda".

- By the beginning of December 1999 we run the second youth campaign of hCa Youth Network in B&H, with name "Corruption in B&H". We sent the message what the youth think about a growing problem of corruption. Message was sent toward the political structures, international and local organisations, and other relevant factors but also to the citizens, and for that purpose we used: the radio jingles that were broadcast during 20 days on around 20 independent radio stations in B&H, new-year greeting cards (3000 copies) and stickers (5000 copies) distributed by the mail as well as by the youth organisations and groups wide B&H. The aim of this campaign, except the clear message, was also promotion the work of hCa Youth Network in B&H and the youth organisations-network members. We believe that fight against corruption is the key factor for strengthening of democratic procedures in B&H.

- In October and November 2000 we have organised "The Citizen's pre-election campaign 2000". Within this campaign we printed out 4000 posters with the messages. Massages have been made by youths in B&H. These posters with the messages and provocative look were challenging youths in B&H to vote. During the Bus Tour around B&H, which lasted 20 days and covered more then 20 cities in B&H, these posters were stick at the BH cities by the young people -members of the youth organisations. According to free estimates at this tour participated over 3000 youths in B&H.. Also, we printed out 10 000 post cards with the same messages, which we were distributed at the street of B&H cities as well as sending them by mail toward all government structures, individuals in B&H, NGOs (local and international).

- In addition to this campaign in April 2001 we run the "After-election campaign". With the name "We voted-what now" we started with sticking of posters with a same message (April 10, at 12:00 hrs in 23 BH cities simultaneously). After that we have organised a public youth debates in Tuzla, Banja Luka and Sarajevo. Topic at all three debates were an actual youth's problem in B&H, with a special designation about an urgent local problems (education, unemployment, increasing of drug addiction and prostitution, corruption, increasing of crime and violence, emigration of youths from B&H). By the end of June within this campaign a group of young people- representatives of hCa Youth Network in B&H were in the working visit in Holland, where they achieved many interesting and useful contacts (Loesje, Press Now, CORDAID, IKV, ATAK Tilburg, Amnesty International). For the end of this campaign we printed out messages on T-shirts.

- On beginning of September in 2001 we have started a new series of the local youth campaigns in B&H cities, with the contemporary support at the global level (press conferences, petitions, lobbying, sending letters toward officials in B&H). Campaign topics are problems of the youth organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the biggest of them are: Lack of working space, lack of co-operation, communication and understanding of the municipal authorities and lack of the community interest for some of the mentioned problems. Until now we implemented 11 of those campaigns in: Banja Luka, Bihac, Una-Sana Canton, Sarajevo, and Srpsko Sarajevo, Tuzla, Prijedor, Odžak and Modrica, Kakanj, Zvornik, Milici and Derventa. Results of this campaign are very good. In many B&H cities the youth organisations have succeeded to return back their spaces or to get from the municipality a new rent-free space for use. Beside this, by campaign we have succeeded to raise a question of the youth's spaces (youth centres, cultural centres) and their present legal status at the global level. These campaigns are sill going on, and as continuation of cycles we plan to run a series of the youth campaigns, which topic would be lack of co-operation from the local authorities.

- In May 2002 within the project Integration of B&H we held the conference together with The Forum of Tuzla Citizens, hCa Banja Luka and The Centre for Citizen Co-operation Livno. The conference topic was: "Bosnia and Herzegovina and European standards - How B&H would go to Europe?" At the conference one workshop was dedicated to the youths and on this workshop participated representatives from the youth organisation in B&H and representatives of the youths from the political parties. Introductor at this workshop was Mss Emina Ganic - political adviser and assistant of The Special representative of the General Secretary of European Council in B&H. At the workshop was discussed about the present situation of the youth organisations in B&H as well as possibilities for their joining to the Youth Directorate at European Council.

- During 1999 we started co-operation with the Danish Youth Council (DUF) about a youth exchanges between Denmark and B&H and preparation of the joint projects. Also, we have made a good co-operation with numerous youth organizations and initiatives from Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia with the aim of joint works and projects within initiative "The Citizen's Pact for stability in Southeast Europe".

- We actively participate in support of idea for the Local Youth Councils, and also co-operate with the youth organisations and organisations that deal with the youth's problems. Within this co-operation we were participating in organising The Youth Fairs held in Sarajevo 2002 and Mostar 2001 together with the youth organisations: "Nešto više" Sarajevo, CARE International and SHL Sarajevo.

- We established the co-operation with The Netherlands organisation LOESJE, which in 2002 held a several workshops for the youths in B&H. At those workshops members of the youth organisations from B&H had chance to learn many things about design campaign messages, design poster messages etc.

Partnerships

As mentioned above, we have established a very good partnership with numerous youzth organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, local authorities, international organisations settled in B&H and privite enteprises.Due to the reason that hCa/ORC Tuzla is active member of many regional networks and initiatives, we are free to state that we have a good co-operation and partnership with many non-governmental organisations from whole World, especially with those from Southeast Europe.

More information about our work you can find at http://www.omladina-bih.net