Representatives from 9 partner organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Kosovo and Albania gathered in Belgrade from 6th to 10th September to launch the new phase of Young Men Initiative (YMI) and discuss a new strategy for achievement of joint vision: to enable positive and peaceful environment for young people in the Balkans.

Institutionalization of life-skills education, prevention of violence, promotion of gender equality, empowerment of young people to create positive changes and promote healthy lifestyles, are some of the goals the project strives to achieve in the next three years.

The third phase of YMI will be strongly focused on further strengthening an enabling environment for a long-term systematic solution for life skills education. Projects will be implemented by CARE International in close cooperation with the local partners:

1. YMCA, Pristina, Kosovo;
2. SIT – Center for Counseling, Social Services and Research, Pristina, Kosovo;
3. Act for Society Centre, Tirana, Albania;
4. Institute Perpetuum Mobile, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
5. Institute for Population and Development (IPD), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
6. Youth Power, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
7. Status M, Zagreb, Croatia;
8. Center E8, Belgrade, Serbia;
9. Smart Kolektiv, Belgrade, Serbia.

Projects are implemented with the support of our long-term donors:

• Austrian Development Agency, for the project: Future for You(th): Young people as Leaders of Life Skills Education in the Balkans
• Oak Foundation for the project: Young People as Future Leaders for Promotion of Life Skills (YMI III)
• Swiss Development Cooperation for the project: Young Men Initiative (YMI): Promoting Healthier Lifestyles and Decrease of Interpersonal Violence among Youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina by Challenging Gender Stereotypes; Phase III