PRONI Center for youth development

Background: The Association “PRONI” Centre for Youth Development Brcko District BiH is a non-government, non-profit and non-political organization founded with the purpose of organizing and implementing education in the field of social work with young people and with the objective of developing and promoting the voluntarism among the active citizens. The Association has 5 full time employees, 90 volunteers and 2000 registered members. In last twelve years PRONI Brcko implemented hundreds of youth projects in total amount of 3.500.000,00 EUR. This was achieved with mayor support of Sida (Swedish international development agency), USAID, UNDP, Brcko District government, Bijeljina municipality and other international and local donor institutions. The Association “PRONI” Centre for Youth Development Brcko District BiH exists for last 16 years and works directly in regions of Brčko district of BiH and Bijeljina municipality and it is active on BiH and European level trough partnership and networking with other youth NGOs. Vision: PRONI Center for Youth Development has a vision that all young people have the ability to develop themselves and equal opportunity to contribute to a democratic and just society in which their needs are acknowledged and resolved. Activism, collaboration and understanding among people are an integral part of the democratic and just society. Mission: PRONI Center for Youth Development is a nongovernmental, nonprofit, non-partisan youth organization founded in 1998 working on the development of a democratic society through: • Protection and promotion of human rights, • Youth work in the community, • Social education, • Peace-Building, • Inter-sectoral cooperation, • Support youth initiatives, • Promoting EU integration. PRONI Center is working on bridging the barriers that create differences within society. We work for individuals and groups in society that will have the benefit of the labor organization with a special focus on young people. We cooperate with all organizations in the NGO sector, institutions, government agencies at all levels within the state, funds and agencies outside of BiH that share the same goals and values as well as individuals who have intellectual and economic potential to support those ideas, goals and values that advocates and the organization. PRONI Center is implementing its peace work education and peace work methodology in the post-war areas where society expressed the need for social reconstruction. PRONI Center currently operates in North-Eastern Bosnia. Methodology: We work on principles and models of social education based on experiences and positive examples of youth work methods and work in the community applied to the EU. Models of social education that promote and apply are: • interactive way of learning • inter-cultural approach • teamwork individual work • creating a safe space for development • encourage responsibility and creativity • promotion of voluntary work • raising awareness among youth about their rights and obligations Strategic directions of PRONI: Strategic direction I Youth development, democratic and just society through youth work Strategic Direction II Activism and influence on the development of democratic processes Strategic Direction III Education for Youth and Community Development for democratic principles Strategic Direction IV Organizational development towards sustainability International networks PRONI is member of: EVS (European Volunteer Service) YEN (Youth Express Network) Anna Lindh foundation Forum Syd Balkans project network Danube NGO network Coalition for RECOM Membership in local networks: o BHMAC o Anna Lindh Foundation BiH network o TACSO o Partnership for youth o CiDi (MONO) o Youth council of Republic of Srpska o BiH NGO o Volunteer network o Youth for peace o Regional youth initiative for North-East BiH o Justice network BiH o Initiative Citizens for Europe o Youth network BiH PRONI capacities: • 5 educated and experienced youth workers • 2000 members • 2 offices - Brcko and Bijeljina, and house in Pirovac for seminars fully equipped • 2 cars • 26 youth clubs in 26 local communities in the area of Brcko District with over 50.000 visits of youth per year • 90 active volunteers in the area of Bijeljina and Brcko District Pool of trainers: PRONI Brcko provide skilled and experienced trainers for range of training activities to NGOs, GOs and business sector: • Business Communications • PR organization • Management in writing projects • Building a team within the collective • Conflict transformation • Non violent communication • Financial management • Conflict management • Computer use • Project management • Customer service • Entrepreneurial training • Life skills training • Leadership development • Civic education Financial Health PRONI Brcko is funded mainly trough Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and other international and local donors and institutions. PRONI Brcko has developed functional financial procedures and audit reports are confirming that PRONI Brcko finances respect international standards of financial procedures as well as local standards and laws. PEACE BUILDING WORK: PRONI Brcko was one of the first organizations that started peace building work in BiH. Since 1998 PRONI Brcko (in that time known as PRONI Center for youth development) started educational programs for youth coming from different ethnic groups and religions in BiH (Bosnaiks – Muslims and Serbs – Orthodox Christians) with aim to rebuild destroyed “bridges” and break prejudices amongst youth in BiH. Those educational and peace building activities started in 1998 set up foundation for all PRONI Brcko future coming activities and results. PRONI Brcko organize more than 100 educational activities in field of Peace building, more than 200 intercultural exchanges in BiH and region and organize and supported more than 1000 workshops where workshops leaders and participants were coming from different ethnicity in BiH. PRONI Brcko has prove that multiethnic coexistence and life is possible and become the first Youth NGO project that combine all three ethnicity in year 2000 and since that time PRONI Brcko is operating on promotion of multiethnic approach in BiH.