UNO Welcomes 37 Youth Leaders from the Balkans Region for the BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Department of Political Science and Office of International Programs are delighted to extend a warm welcome to 37 youth leaders hailing from the Balkans region. These remarkable students and young professionals — representing Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro — are participants in the BOLD (Balkan Youth Leaders) Civic Engagement Fellowship, an exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Embassies in their respective countries.

These three countries experienced armed conflict and turmoil during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and the legacy of the past continues to influence various aspects of civic society development. The Fellowship provides a unique opportunity to these future leaders to foster dialogue, build trust and collaborate on regional civic engagement challenges.

In 2019, UNO proudly assumed the role of administering the BOLD Program on Civic Engagement, but due to COVID-19, welcomed its first cohort of 30 students from Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022. Building on this success, the program has now expanded its reach to encompass Serbia and Montenegro.

The 2023 BOLD Fellowship will run from Aug. 12 to Sept. 15, and it promises a transformative experience for the emerging leaders, including an academic residency at UNO where they will learn about civic engagement, conflict resolution, leadership, collaboration and gain a deeper understanding of the U.S., its governance, diversity and cultures. The program's culmination will be an educational study tour of New York City and Washington, D.C.

Guided by dedicated UNO faculty and staff, as well as wider Omaha government and non-profit community leaders, the Fellows will develop Action Plans to address critical civic issues within their own communities. Once the U.S portion of the program concludes, the Embassies will help the Fellows implement projects in their home countries, creating a lasting impact.

In preparation of BOLD 2023, UNO BOLD Program Team members have visited the region. Lana Obradovic, Ph.D., Director of International Studies and BOLD Principal Director, visited the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, met with BOLD Alumni from the previous year and connected with incoming BOLD Fellows.

“BOLD empowers youth leaders to actively engage in their communities and societies, create spaces for regional dialogue and foster lasting positive change, ensuring a more just and peaceful future in the Balkans,” Obradovic says. “I am very proud to make Omaha and UNO home to such an initiative that can build stronger democracies and bring more stability to the region.”

Patrick McNamara, Ph.D., a UNO faculty member serving as the BOLD Academic Director, visited Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time this summer to reconnect with alumni and establish connections with the incoming cohort.

“It was a delight to see the BOLD alumni in their home environments,” McNamara says. “Each fellow I met, talked about how the program was transformational. I even saw the couple — Sara and Srdjan — who got engaged in Times Square when we were with the fellows in New York!”

McNamara adds that the natural beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina is unforgettable and the hospitality amazing.

“I got to present two workshops collaborating with alumni while there,” McNamara says. “I lived into the different narratives around the conflicts of the 1990s and the tensions of today. It gave me a better understanding of the situation and great hope to be there with these changemaking Mavericks!”

There are many ways to get involved with the BOLD program and other visiting international groups through International Programs. If you’re interested in getting involved with the BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship at UNO, please reach out to Dr. Lana Obradovic via email: lobradovic@unomaha.edu. Follow us on Facebook to receive updates.

KMTV reported on the BOLD program and spoke with organizers and one of the youth leaders. See the full story on KMTV's website.