SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina, May 30, 2011 – BH Foundation Mozaik, Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSF BH) and the World Bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina awarded grants to seventeen civil society organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the annual Civil Society Fund competition. Among 112 applications received this year, proposals by the following organizations stood out for innovation in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable categories:
| No. | ORGANIZATION | PROJECT |
| 1 | Association for environmental protection and culture of living “HORIZONTI”, Velika Kladuša | Outing spot for persons with disability |
| 2 | Humanitaran organization “Partner”, Banja Luka | Designer workshop GRISS |
| 3 | Association of female citizens “Grahovo”“, Bosansko Grahovo | From preserving tradition to employment of women |
| 4 | Association of citizens „Proljeće“, Fojnica | Mini carwash |
| 5 | „SUMERO“, Sarajevo | Employment of persons with disability |
| 6 | Association of citizens for fight against addiction and reducing the damage created by addiction “BILO”, Zenica | Promotion of knowledge and skills of treated addicts |
| 7 | Association of blind of Visoko Municipality “USOV”, Visoko | Literacy, the key to social integration of blind persons |
| 8 | Youth Roma Initiative Kakanj, Kakanj | Education of Roma children |
| 9 | ANEA- Youth of Gračanica, Gračanica | „Light in the dark“ |
| 10 | Association for help to persons with mental retardation “Kutak radosti”, Gradačac | Project: I want to, I can, and I know how to work |
| 11 | Center for Creative Growth, Sarajevo | Projekat: Third Festival of Children’s Smiles 2011 |
| 12 | Landmines Survivor's Initiative, Tuzla | The right to life without barriers |
| 13 | Association “Education builds BH”, Sarajevo | Let’s protect ourselves and the environment |
| 14 | Association of Citizens “Nova Romska Nada”, Lukavac | Work instead of mendicity |
| 15 | Association of Citizens “Step by Step”, Tuzla | UN Convention and Open Policies |
| 16 | Association of paraplegics and other invalids of the Doboj region, Doboj | UN Convention and Open Policies |
| 17 | Bosnian Center for Drama Education, Mostar | First Step |
The total amount of grant funding awarded to these seventeen organizations is KM 73,070.
This was the twelfth consecutive year in which the World Bank awards small grants (ranging from KM 3,000 to KM 10,000) to civil society organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the third year of partnership with the Mozaik Foundation and the Open Society Fund in implementation of this program to strengthen civic engagement in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable categories of population.
“Even with relatively small amounts provided under this program, local organizations manage to achieve impressive results. For example, last year’s program resulted in increased employment opportunities for the disabled, and increased the awareness about the rights of persons with disability,” stated Marco Mantovanelli, World Bank Country Manager for Bosnia and Herzegovina. “This year we are happy to partner up with the Open Society Fund in BH and Mozaik foundation in expanding the scope of support to initiatives aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalized groups in BH.”
