Passion Project: “Mostar Ideathon – From Ideas to Impact”
On April 29th, 2026, a one-day innovation event focused on solving real-world environmental and societal challenges was organized as a Passion Project at the Faculty of Economics, University “Džemal Bijedić” in Mostar.
Titled “Mostar Ideathon”, the event aimed to encourage young people to think critically, collaborate in teams, and actively engage in designing solutions to pressing issues affecting communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The ideathon gathered motivated participants who worked intensively in teams, combining creativity, analytical thinking, and teamwork to propose innovative and impactful ideas.
About the Project Concept
The ideathon was designed to bridge the gap between awareness and action. By presenting participants with real-life challenges, the project encouraged them not only to understand key issues, but also to take the first steps toward solving them.
Participants were given the opportunity to choose one of several problem areas, each reflecting current environmental and societal concerns:
Cities for Breathing – Air quality challenges in Sarajevo, Tuzla, and Zenica
Mapping the Invisible – Illegal waste disposal across Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Last Mile – Early warning systems for floods and landslides
Guardians of the Forest – Illegal logging and forest management
Rivers Without a Voice – Monitoring water quality and aquatic ecosystems
Through this structure, participants were encouraged to approach problems from multiple perspectives and develop practical, scalable solutions.
Team Experience and Participation
One of the participating teams, Future-Programlets, consisted of Junior Scholars: Eldar Sarajlić, Hamza Delibašić, and Hasan Brkić, who worked under the mentorship of Senior Scholar, Ajdin Mehmedović.
Their experience reflected the core values of the ideathon—collaboration, innovation, and proactive problem-solving. Like other teams, they engaged in brainstorming, refining ideas, and presenting their solutions in a structured format.
The event created a dynamic and supportive environment where participants could exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and learn from one another.
Speakers and Evaluation
The ideathon featured two distinguished speakers and judges, MA Sara Kljajić and Prof. Dr. Veldin Ovčina, who played a key role in guiding and evaluating the teams.
Through their expertise, they provided valuable insights into both the thematic areas and the process of developing feasible solutions. Their feedback helped participants better understand how to transform ideas into actionable initiatives.
Impact and Takeaways
Mostar Ideathon emphasized the importance of youth engagement in addressing real-world challenges. By combining teamwork with problem-based learning, the event enabled participants to strengthen critical thinking, communication, and innovation skills.
Participants left the event with a deeper understanding of the issues affecting their communities, as well as increased confidence in their ability to contribute to meaningful change.
Looking Ahead
This Passion Project highlights the power of youth-driven initiatives in creating space for learning, collaboration, and impact. By focusing on real problems and encouraging practical solutions, the ideathon demonstrated how young people can play an active role in shaping a more sustainable and responsible future.
Through mentorship, teamwork, and shared purpose, Mostar Ideathon stands as an example of how ideas can evolve into actions that matter.