"Collaboratio Balkanica" - a sure way to continue cooperation with SEEYN and Collaboratio Helvetica
This i-platform trip, called "Collaboratio Balkanica" was created with the aim of developing cooperation between participants, trainers and organizations, and in that sense, we are certainly looking forward to a successful future, which we will create with our friends.
Non-formal education is one of the key ways for young people to gain invaluable knowledge on important topics, so we started this story with the ultimate intention of creating a new non-formal program for young people from the Western Balkans, with the active involvement of Swiss peers. 25 young people from six countries gathered in Baden in the previous days, and the i-platform was presented by Aldin Vrškić, trainer for soft skills of public speaking and intercultural work.
Our partner in this project, Collaboratio Helvetica, is implementing a "Catalyst Lab" program that connects different participants, with the aim of creating change in the local community. The executive director of the i-platform, Nikola Burić, is part of the Catalyst Lab, and all together aim to create a similar program in the Western Balkans region. In this regard, a completely new program "Catalyst Lab Balkanica" is being formed, which is a learning and design process, tailored to dedicated individuals (Catalysts) and their teams, dedicated to the implementation of the 2030 agenda, contributing to change towards environmental responsibility, humanity and the common good. Young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and Albania are participating in the project, with the support of their Swiss colleagues.
In Baden, the participants were presented with detailed information about the Catalyst Lab program by Nora Refaeil and Katalin Hausel, in front of the Collaboratio Helvetica, while Mirela Rajković, SEEYN representative, led workshops on the SDG 2030 agenda.
By creating this program in the Western Balkans, society as a whole will benefit in the long run.
The event was also organized to celebrate the intercultural work environment. In this way, young people had the opportunity to learn more about different cultures and customs. During this exchange, each participant promoted their own culture and habits, and special attention was paid to the celebration of diversity and bridging the gap between young people.
"I arrived in Switzerland one sunny day, with small expectations and without a clear understanding of what is going to be my role in the week to come. The program started with introductions and the usual games and energizers with aim of us getting to know each other. Days flew and I thought our job is to somehow achieve the goals of Agenda 2030. Little did I know the goal was to build a team, and what a team! We came to Switzerland as a group of individuals but left as one team. I learned empathy, how to listen more and talk less (still in progress), how to enjoy small things, and how one group can create energy that can change the world. Dreaming is the first step to achieving great things, and I feel blessed and inspired by all people that entered my life during this program. Many thanks to all people that guided us and supported us during last week, and organized this amazing program. Great things are yet to come!" - Kristina Kalajdžić, Serbia
About partners
SEEYN is a formal network of 20 organizations from 12 countries in the region that have carried out more than 600 regional activities in the last 20 years and indirectly, through its members, engaged about 80,000 young people within the region. The network conducted youth exchanges, trainings, exchange programs, volunteer work camps applying the principles of non-formal education. SEEYN is internationally recognized as a network with extensive experience in designing and implementing long-term youth programs on peacebuilding, youth economic empowerment and community development. The organization has six years of experience in working on the development of social innovation and the Catalyst Lab is an opportunity to further develop aspects of social innovation within their programs.
Collaboratio Helvetica, a Swiss organization, has extensive experience in non-formal education, mostly through the implementation of the Catalyst Lab program, which connects different participants. They say for themselves that they apply a holistic way of thinking. Collaboratio Helvetica empowers committed people and organizations to change deep-rooted attitudes and thinking, conduct dialogues more effectively, implement new forms of cooperation and thus jointly imagine and shape Switzerland's future.
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