CRC stands for Conflict Resolution Catalysts
Children and youth psychological programs
IYB stands for International Youth Brigade
- CRC - IYB currently includes court referred youth in several of it’s programs and has developed a special comprehensive Youth at Risk project in partnership with the Center of Social Help. The project serves the needs of refugee and delinquent youth experiencing social problems as a result of the war.
- A parenting support group, designed to assist parents of at risk refugee youth, meets weekly at CRC - IYB for training and discussion, to learn how to better help their children deal with the problems of adolescence that have been made more difficult by war.
- A special summer program employs youth at risk to identify and perform work project that benefit the community.
CRC - IYB sponsors 'Youth Night' every week, which includes movies, sport and games, and discussion about youth problems. The youth Nights provide healthy recreational and social outlets for local teens.
- A teen advisory board assists the CRC - IYB community Center staff in meeting the needs of the local youth and insuring the center remains an integrated and valuable member of the Banja Luka community.
- Catholics Relief Services sponsors the youth community initiative program at CRC - IYB which teaches local youth how to develop and operate its own NGO-type of program in Banja Luka
- A special summercamp, run by a team of local and international volunteers, is held to meet the educational and recreational needs of children, many of them refugees
CRC - IYB assists the Prijedor Children’s Consulate in it’s program for the children and youth in that community.
- Art, drama and dance classes are provided to children, many of them refugees, every week
- Three times a week, the center sponsors a social/recreational Youth Club.
Community Programs
- Peer mediation training is held to teach residents non violent methods of solving problems and disputes.
- Staff at CRC - IYB Computer center teach computer use to adults and children and provides access to computers for those who are already computer literate.
- CRC - IYB operates sporting equipment and games libraries for the community, A Ping-Pong table, computer games and other recreational materials are availlable at the center without charge, paddle tennis and swimming are taught twice a week. Billiards and bowling weekly.
- Donated clothing, school supplies and hygiene materials are distributed to the orphanage, refugee center and agencies assisting Banja Luka’s minorities.
A psycho social supportgroup for collective center refugee woman meets weekly for discussion, recreation and occupational therapy.
- A bi-weekly meeting is held at CRC - IYB to coordinate the efforts of local and intentional aid organizations who work in the field of psychological social work
- CRC - IYB operates an extensive English library and organizes the donation of English language reading and teaching materials to the university of Banja Luka, the national library, the Genesis project mobile library service and local schools. Thousands of books have been placed into circulation through these efforts.
- CRC - IYB facilitates travel by local residents to and from the federation. Staff assist residents obtain passports, visit family and friends in the other entity, and organize exchanges of students and NGO groups. The center offers shelter and support for federation residents visiting Banja Luka.
- In collaboration with other agencies (OSCE and the Institute for multi track diplomacy) CRC - IYB has begun work on the development of a post conflict peacebuilding program utilizing conflict resolution and mediation skill development.
Youth Media Programs
- BOM (Balkan Youth Brigade) is a monthly journal written edited and produced by youth. This publication includes articles of interest to youth, such as sports, entertainment, news, exploration of national and international culture and subject that affect young people throughout Bosnia. Journalism classes are given in conjunction with this program.
- Nepitami is a monthly magazine produced by youth in Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Mostar, Foca and Tuzla. This magazine acts as a bridge between the youth of Bosnia and teaches those involved the techniques and ethics of journalism.
CRC - IYB - IYB has great own websites
Schools
Community group
CRC - IYB international staff receive no pay, All of CRC - IYB’s program’s are free and open to all.
All together P.O.O. must say that it was quite attracted to this town. Completely shrouded in fog we visited this town the first time. The open spot were use to be the mosque could not bee seen. Everything was white. The drive to the house of our guide could not be found, although the guide was with us in the car. Everything was pure white.
Later we saw the Kestil, build by the romans who tried to conquer Bosnia from here. They wouldn’t succeed. We saw the river they saw at that time, where in the summer thousands of people swim. We saw the strange marked place, where people complain because they only sell the cheap Chinese stuff.
Banja Luka terribly needs a second youth. Maybe there is a little change since there is a new prime-minister who at least tries to show a good face. The old Hawks (Karadzic, Mladic and almost Krasnik) are at the end of their game. If the Bosnian Serbs would like to survive they have to give the change to the youth. Otherwise the youth will leave and find it’s solution in self-destruction, as taught to them by the generation that came before them. These generations thought there was something to win in a war. The youth of these days know better.