From 1 to 4 June 2026, representatives of Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures (SMOC) participated in the international Y-AGORA training course held in Belgrade, Serbia. The training brought together youth workers, educators and representatives of partner organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania, with the support of experienced peer mentors from Belgium. The activity aimed to strengthen capacities for youth engagement, active citizenship and democratic participation.

During the four-day programme, participants explored topics including active citizenship, democratic participation, communication and dialogue, media and digital literacy, forum theatre, public speaking, advocacy and mentoring for civic action. The training combined theoretical input with practical non-formal education methods designed to support meaningful youth participation in democratic processes.

SMOC was represented by three participants who will play a key role in establishing and mentoring Local Y-Agoras in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through interactive workshops, peer learning and practical exercises, they gained valuable knowledge and tools that will support young people in identifying local challenges, developing solutions and becoming active contributors to their communities.

The completion of this training marks the beginning of the Y-AGORA journey for the newly trained participants. Returning to their communities, they will now share their knowledge, establish Local Y-Agoras and support young people in designing their own civic action ideas and local action plans.

In the next stages of the project, these ideas will be further developed and presented through the Y-AGORA process, with the most promising initiatives receiving support for implementation. Through this approach, Y-AGORA seeks to empower young people to transform their ideas into concrete actions and contribute to stronger, more inclusive and democratic communities.