Empowering Youth Through AI: A Passion Project That Sparked Innovation

In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping the world around us, educating young people about its possibilities and implications has never been more important. That was the driving motivation behind a recent initiative led by Anesa Kršlak, Sajra Agić, and Zara Mešević—three passionate scholars of the Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation.

Their project aimed to educate high school students on the fundamentals of artificial intelligence through interactive and engaging workshops that encouraged critical thinking and real-world application. Over two sessions, the team successfully brought together 60 high school students, each eager to explore the transformative power of AI.

The workshops combined introductory presentations on AI with an industry perspective, thanks to the support of Authority Partners, whose representatives shared insights into their work and presented one of their own AI-driven products. This collaboration provided students with a valuable look at how artificial intelligence is applied in professional settings.

A key highlight of the program was a mini-hackathon, where students were challenged to develop innovative AI solutions to real-life problems. The creativity and commitment displayed by all teams were impressive and inspiring.

The winning solution came from the team SignAI, who proposed an application that translates spoken words into sign language to support individuals with hearing impairments. Their project not only showcased technical ingenuity but also highlighted the profound social impact AI can have when designed with empathy and purpose.

The organizing team extends sincere gratitude to all participants for their enthusiasm and outstanding contributions, to the sponsors who supported the project from concept to reality, and to the jury members whose input helped identify the most promising ideas.

Through this passion project, Anesa, Sajra, and Zara were not only able to step outside their comfort zones and bring their vision to life but also empowered a new generation of students to imagine and build a better future with technology.

This is just one example of how young leaders can create meaningful change when given the right tools, mentorship, and support.

A special thank you to Encode BiH, Authority Partners, Semblie, hub unipromet and Europe House Sarajevo for enriching the experience with industry insights and supporting young people in this initiative!