- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Special Initiatives
- Grant Amount $400,000
- Grant Period March 1, 2015–February 28, 2017
- Location Roxbury, MA, United States
- Geographic Focus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia
About this grant
The project goal is to increase levels of youth civic participation and initiative for positive social action in Southeast Europe. To this end, YouthBuild USA will strengthen existing YouthBuild programs in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia and establish new programs in Bulgaria and Romania. YouthBuild is a model for helping young people learn life and job skills, serve their communities, and gain practical work experience. The grantee will also build support for the program from diverse stakeholders with the goal of sustaining established program sites and scaling up the program to other parts of the region. Working closely with local partner organizations during the previous two years, the grantee engaged more than 400 young people in programs in seven locations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. These participants made a significant impact on their communities through peacebuilding campaigns, upgraded schools and rural homes, new playgrounds, and mentoring of children. The grantee will implement this project through its YouthBuild International division and a network of local nonprofit partners.