This project activity named “I vote for the first time!” is focused on pupils of the final grades of secondary schools reaching age of majority by the upcoming 2018 General Elections so they will be able to vote for the first time.
Election turnout is of a great importance for the development of democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and young people (ages 18-29) make up 21% of the voting eligible population. Through interactive workshops, the Coalition “Pod lupom” will educate pupils, encourage them and highlight that their voice is of a great importance.
“Young people are reluctant to go out and vote due to various reasons, partly because they are not interested, do not trust in electoral promises or do not trust to certain political parties/ politicians, but what is important for us is to try to animate them, especially those voting for the first time”, said Ilija Trninić, the member of the Strategic Board of the Coalition” Pod lupom”.
Twenty-eight Coalition’s members conducted 651 workshops in the period March-October 2016 educating 14,552 young people in 155 different educational institutions.
“We have measured the effect/impact of our work. We are recognizable by the fact that a significant number of young people voting for the first time turn out in high numbers and voted, which is very important to us,” Trninić added.
The workshops “I vote for the first time “are organising in a framework of the BASE project (Building Accountability and Systems in the Elections), with cooperation and financial support provided by the European Union.
For all additional information please contact PR coordinator of the Coalition “Pod lupom” Jovana Kljajić via e-mail pr@podlupom.org or by phone 033 268 160 and 065 252 016..
