ICYF successfully held the opening ceremony of the Balkan Youth Forum on the 28th of September 2021. The ceremony was officially opened by ICYF President H.E. Taha Ayhan and attended virtually by high level delegates and representatives from the Balkan region, OIC secretariat, partner organizations, and youth participants from the Balkans and beyond. Bosniak Member of The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina H.E. Šefik Džaferović and Director General of Cultural, Social and Family Affairs at the OIC Secretariat H.E. Dr. Amina Obaid Al-Hajri spoke to the 90 attendees at the event during the ceremony stressing the importance of the youth in solving socio-economic problems of the 21st century. 

The forum kicked off on the first day with the first panel under the title ” Youth of The Balkans: Mapping Opportunities, Needs and Prospects” which discussed the ever-changing socio-political atmosphere we live in and how the youth can navigate and prosper and uncertainty. 

The second Panel titled ” Need for Dialogue & Cooperation Among The Youth of The Balkans: Role Of Governments & Policymakers, and The third panel under the name ” Balkan Youth Partnership: Prospects Of Dialogue & Cooperation Through The Eyes of Balkan Youth Forum will both take place on the second day of the forum with experts and opinion leaders taking the center stage to answer the burning questions and address the elephant in the room. Workshops will also be held after panels to better help with getting the views and opinions of the youth. 

The fourth panel titled ” Balkan Youth and The Agenda of Sustainable Development” and the reading of the declaration of commitment will both take place on the third and final day of the event. 

The 3-day online forum is calling upon young leaders and activists from the Balkans and the OIC region to establish effective dialogue among strategic stakeholders on the role of the youth in building peace, cooperation, and development for the upliftment of the youth in all sectors. The forum also seeks to provide a platform for the youth to discuss and share possible solutions to regional problems and issues currently hindering the advancement of youth-led initiatives.