In the first half of 2024, 44 participants of the Peer Counselors – Agents of Change project were intensively educated in the field of youth mental health, gender-based violence in youth relationships and providing peer support to young people. After the tests and interviews, 30 of them were chosen to be engaged as peer counselors for young people.
Until the end of 2025, peer counselors will provide free support and counseling (in the field of mental health and gender-based violence) to other young people aged 15 to 30, distributed in the equal periods od time, in the area of the City of Tuzla, Tuzla Canton and the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Peer advisors can be contacted by sending an SMS or viber/whatsapp message to the number 062 187 594 (The message can be, for example, I want to talk with you!)
The peer counselor who is engaged during that period will contact you as soon as possible and arrange a time and method of conversation (live or by phone, using viber or whatsapp or chatting through the same applications).
Peer counselors are not psychologists or psychotherapists – they are young people who are trained to provide support, actively listen, show understanding, provide empathy… They have certain knowledge but also personal experiences that can help other young people. They also have information on where and who young people can turn to if they are facing major and serious difficulties when it comes to mental health and/or gender-based violence.
(Note: Peer advisors provide this support as project volunteers, which means that they are not available 24/7, but only by agreement and by appointment.)
For the fourth year in a row, Peer Counselors – Agents of Change are actively working on the topic of the importance of youth mental health and gender equality through project social networks.
The project Peer Counselors – Agents of Change is financed by the Feminist Peace Organization FRIEDA from Switzerland.