Understanding Context to Reduce the Vulnerabilities of Young People in Bosnia

The International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA), in partnership with the FAIR Fund and local organizations, has begun the development of Project Prepare, a curriculum-based pilot intervention aimed at youth in Eastern and Central Europe. IOFA/FAIR Fund has identified young people exiting state institutions as particularly vulnerable to exploitation. These young people have limited support and access to employment opportunities upon leaving institutions. Faced with few options, they may be subject to trafficking for sex tourism and forced labor, both in country and abroad. Project Prepare seeks to address the vulnerabilities of these youth by equipping them with life skills training, information about trafficking in persons and safe migration techniques. The objective of the workshop was to perform a baseline assessment of institutionalized youth to determine the specific needs of selected communities, and to identify pilot communities and local partners for collaboration on curriculum development and implementation in future phases.