Social Welfare Centre and Youth Centre Officially Opened in Bosanski Petrovac

The Social Welfare Center and the Youth Center were officially opened today in Bosanski Petrovac in the presence of numerous citizens, representatives of local authorities and partner international organisations.

The opening of these two facilities represents a significant investment in the future of Bosanski Petrovac and its surroundings, thanks to cooperation between the ‘Možemo bolje’ initiative, funded by the European Union, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund and the Municipality of Bosanski Petrovac.

The new building of the Social Welfare Centre will significantly improve the functioning of this institution, as well as the quality of services for more than 4,000 beneficiaries. The Centre for the very first time has its own building. During construction, it was adapted for persons with disabilities. The construction of the Centre was carried out through the project ‘Strengthening Trust and Cohesion in Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Možemo bolje’, funded by the European Union’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, and jointly implemented by the European Union in BiH, the United Nations in BiH, the OSCE Mission to BiH and the Council of Europe – Office in Sarajevo. The total value of the investment is BAM 567,000, of which the European Union allocated BAM 500,000, while the remainder was co-financed under the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund.

The Youth Center reconstruction was initiated by the youth of Bosanski Petrovac in order to obtain a modern and useful space for gathering, networking and active community engagement. The reconstruction was financed within the framework of the project ‘Advancing Social Cohesion through Cooperation in Local Service Delivery in BiH’ financed by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund, and implemented by the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Development Programme on behalf of the United Nations in BiH. The total value of reconstruction works on the facility and its equipment exceeds BAM 85,000.

Mahmut Jukić, Mayor of Bosanski Petrovac, expressed his gratitude to international partners who supported these investments. “After a long time, we are opening two facilities in Bosanski Petrovac that will significantly improve the quality of life in our and surrounding communities. The construction of the new building of the Social Welfare Centre was our priority, since the previous space did not have adequate working conditions, which has now been resolved. We are also pleased that, through the reconstruction of the Youth Center, for the first time in a decade, now youth have a place of their own.”

“We are glad to be providing assistance for activities that improve the quality of life for citizens and promote collaboration and solidarity within communities, such as the Center for Social Work in Bosanski Petrovac. The ‘Možemo bolje’ initiative, funded by the EU, aims to support social cohesion, in particular by providing assistance for communities that are leading the way in trustbuilding. By investing in the future of Bosanski Petrovac, we are recognising the efforts made by the community for inclusion and progress,” stated Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union.

“The EU, UN, OSCE, and Council of Europe have supported peace initiatives in Bosanski Petrovac since 2021, when we assisted the municipal authorities to inaugurate a monument honouring all victims of the past war. Today, through Možemo bolje we see the tangible impact of our collective efforts to foster dialogue and build trust with the opening of the Centre for Social Welfare. This centre stands as a symbol of solidarity, ensuring essential services—such as speech therapy, social support, and counselling—reaching those who need them most in Bosanski Petrovac and neighbouring communities”, stressed Dr Ingrid Macdonald, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in BiH, adding that “with support from the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund— benefiting from a strong global partnership with the EU—we also celebrate the opening of the Youth Centre. This space will empower young people to connect, grow, and actively shape their communities’ future, reinforcing the foundation for lasting peace and resilience.”