First-time voters – Go out and vote

First-time voters – Go out and vote Implementation period: 01/03 – 31/12/2020 Donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Transformation of society is a long-term matter and it begins with civic education of a young generation. They soon may become active agents of change. Therefore, the project aimed to increase young people's participation in public life, starting with the local level. It is necessary to introduce them possibilities how they can make a difference, so that young people will become interested in public affairs.

Through activities, the project increased the turnout of youth first voters in the national elections and considerably contributed to changing the system of civic education in BiH. Through education in schools, 3200 youth was taught and motivated directly to take part in elections for national bodies. Students gained knowledge of how to vote, which decreased the number of invalid ballots, but more important motivated young people to take their destiny into their own hands and to be more responsive to society as a whole. Trainers were teachers of Democracy and Human Rights (10). Trained teachers also delivered 10 training to other 100 teachers of Democracy and Human Rights or Sociology, how to organize and deliver lectures for students on the importance of active citizenship, election system in BiH, and voting procedures. Parallel with this AEOBiH created recommendations and advocated for curriculum changes to include voting procedures.