As part of our role as Salto Contact Point for the Erasmus+ program, in the past few days we visited Sarajevo to meet with representatives of the John Paul II Archdiocesan Youth Pastoral Center, who act as a contact point for the European Voluntary Service (ESC). This meeting was an opportunity for detailed discussions about future cooperation, coordination of activities and strengthening the mobility of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Conversations with colleagues from the ESC program focused on harmonizing activities and defining key steps in order to jointly improve the mobility of young people in BiH. Special emphasis was placed on adapting services to end users – young people and students – through a clear and efficient division of tasks between the Erasmus+ and ESC programs.

We focused on planning joint activities that will allow young people easier access to European mobility programs. We considered how to integrate the strengths of both programs, with ESC contributing to the development of volunteering opportunities, while Erasmus+ provides wider opportunities for educational exchanges, professional development and youth projects.

This meeting in Sarajevo represents the beginning of intensive cooperation and long-term action. Inspired by the visit and the positive atmosphere, we are committed to the further promotion and development of these valuable programs in order to provide young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina with even more opportunities for personal and professional development.