RTK - Bosnia and Herzegovina Profile

PRIORITY ACTIVITIES, 2003-2004:

The project is being implemented in Tuzla, Sarajevo, and Banja Luka. In these cities, local NGOs conducted participatory and action research with local adolescents for a 6-month period beginning in May 2003. Each group of adolescents had the opportunity to choose which of the following subjects it would research - HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prevention of adolescent pregnancy, sexuality, physical development of boys and girls, gender, violence, addiction, human rights, or means for sustenance. Project activities are then carried out by a 5-member IFS team (adolescents and young people from Tuzla) and 20 adolescents (the so-called Team ZLA and the Local Investigation Group - LIGa Tuzla).

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE:

• A street basketball tournament called "No Drugs, No HIV/AIDS, No Alcohol - Just Play Basketball Tournament Two on Two" was held in August 2003 for mixed pairs of adolescents and teenagers (13 to 20 years of age). The International Forum for Solidarity, under the general sponsorship by BH Telecom, organised the tournament. As the tournament proceeded, the members of LIGa Tuzla distributed information on prevention of HIV/AIDS and free condoms. Every day, after the games were over, entertainment programmes were organised on Telex courts with performances by local DJs and modern dance troupes.
• An opinion poll was conducted in 5 schools (4 secondary and 1 elementary): GMS (78 polled), School of Economy (44 polled), Medical School (43 polled), School of Tourism and Catering (23 polled), and Mejdan Elementary School (24 polled). In addition, an opinion poll was conducted at the parents' meetings in the secondary schools.
• The idea to organise film nights at the Tuzla Wave Centre emerged during the sixth coordination meeting. Before and after each screening, organisers screened educational video clips, which is a result of the finding that most adolescents are avid TV audience and the visual reception of important information is well developed among them. The film nights will begin in February 2004.