Zavod Bob

TARGET GROUP In general, the programs conducted at the organization are primarily designed for young people aged 13 to 30 years and adults. We aim to answer the identified needs of young people as the need for alternative forms of education, the environment in which they can achieve personal, professional and educational goals taking into account the characteristics, interests and abilities of the individual, the personal growth and development, the acquisition of competences for independent development and key life decisions, good quality socializing, reducing social, cultural, economic and political inequalities, financial accessibility of educational services, ... According to these needs we are following the methodology of non-formal and experiential learning where young people learn through active participation. In this way, the demarcation mentor – participant dissolves, the contents linked to one’s personal experience and the commitment of individuals grows. All programs are as well free of charge for the participants. FACILITIES Our facilities currently contain of three venues, all located in Ljubljana. Two are in immediate vicinity of the central train and bus station. One of them is a place where we are establishing an ‘outdoor youth center’, it is a big green area with a garden and area for social activities. THE COMMUNITY We have a wide social network - cooperating with organizations in the sector (youth, educational, cultural NGOs) and cross-sector (real sector), public professional organizations (schools, faculties, institutes, libraries and different cultural organizations) and individuals and professionals in various fields in Slovenia and abroad, where the exchange of groups or individuals gives us the opportunity to execute prepared projects. Our organization works in close collaboration with the policy makers such as local community and establishments like Ministry for Education, Science and Sport, the Employment Service of Slovenia and its branches and Social Work Centers. One of the members of Zavod Bob has been chosen as an ambassador of structured dialogue, an activity carried out by Youth Council of Slovenia, that puts our organization on the map of important stakeholders in the dialogue with the policy makers. STRATEGIC PLAN of the institute for the year 2017 anticipates activities with our target groups in nine working fields: development and justification of methodologies, implementing programs for the development of participants’ power sources, professional support within organization, informing and awareness raising activities, culture as a way of responsible action in shaping socio-political reality, co-designing public spaces and community facilities, field and street youth work, networking and constructive dialogue on organizational, local, national and international level both sectoral and cross-sectoral, youth center activities and international activities.