Senior Expert Associate for the Youth Sector of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports, Adnan Bektić, conducted a field visit on 4 November 4 2025 to the “Scout Unit Zvijezda Vareš” Association, as part of the Action Plan of visits to the beneficiaries of approved funds, The purpose of the visit was to review documentation related to the implementation of the “International Ecological-Orientation Scout Competition – Friendship Days 2025” project, which was supported by the Ministry through the Youth Transfer Fund in the amount of BAM 4,000.00.

The Scout Unit “Zvijezda” Vareš successfully implemented the “Friendship Days 2025” project that connected young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region through a series of organised activities, promoting youth activism, international cooperation, and environmental protection. The project was implemented in the period from 15 July to 2 November 2025, and included three interconnected components: an international scout competition, initiative to establish the Youth Council of the Vareš Municipality and an ecological bivouac with a reforestation campaign.

The international ecological-orientation competition, held from 12 to 14 September 2025, gathered around 250 young scouts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. The activity contributed to strengthening team spirit, friendship, and regional cooperation among youth. The initiative to establish the Youth Council of the Municipality of Vareš brought together 25 young people and 10 representatives of institutions and organisations, who participated in workshops and round-tables to jointly explore models for future youth engagement in the local community.

As part of the ecological bivouac and reforestation campaign, 20 young participants spent three days in nature, where, in cooperation with forestry experts from the Vareš Forestry, they planted 500 spruce seedlings. In addition to the ecological contribution, participants engaged in educational and recreational activities that emphasised the importance of volunteering, environmental protection, and healthy lifestyles.

Through the implementation of the project, values of social responsibility, gender equality, teamwork, and intercultural cooperation were promoted. The project further strengthened the position of the “Zvijezda” Scout Unit as an important actor in youth sector development and nature conservation within the local community.