The emigration of qualified young adults is hindering the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program “Re-connect” backed by the SDC aims to counteract this trend by offering qualified youth several months of practical training in their home country.

The Re-connect project is directed at Bosnian youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad who have already graduated or will shortly complete their studies. It offers them attractive training programs in private and public institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Re-connect pursues two objectives: Firstly, it aims to provide better job opportunities in the labor market through practical training as an incentive to prevent emigration. Secondly, diaspora youth are given the opportunity to become reacquainted with the conditions in their homeland and prepare for their possible return. Any knowledge they gain abroad is greatly needed to help institutional development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Re-connect is being financed by the SDC and the Swiss Federal Office for Migration (FOM), and implemented by the NGO “Community of Bosnia”. Promoting young people is one of the major priorities of SDC's program in Bosnia and Herzegovina. To announce the official launching of the project, the SDC is holding an information session to which media representatives are also invited.

The meeting will take place on Monday, December 5, at 12.00 p.m. at SDC headquarters (Freiburgstrasse 130, 3003 Bern, room 2023). In addition to SDC and FOM representatives, interested Bosnian youths will also be among the participants.