Governing Board
Yağmur Aşıla
president
Mykhailo Didenko
VICE president
Duresa Rushiti
vice president
Iordanis (Danis) Katsapis
treasurer
president
VICE president
vice president
treasurer
Born on August 28, 1995, in Šabac (Serbia). He graduated from the Secondary School of Economics in Banja Luka in 2014 as the Student of Generation and recipient of the St. Sava Award presented by the Mayor of City of Banja Luka. In the same year, he enrolled at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Banja Luka, Department of Political Science, where he continued his studies.
He graduated in February 2019 with an average grade of 8.22, earning the title of Bachelor of Political Science. He continued his education in 2020, enrolling in a Master’s program at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb (Croatia), where in 2021 he obtained the title of Master of Political Science with an average grade of 4.1 and a defended master’s thesis „Youth Build Europe/Yugoslavia? A Comparison of the European Solidarity Corps and Youth Labor Actions.”
He served two consecutive terms as President of the Student Organization of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka, and in one term was elected student representative in the Student Parliament of the University of Banja Luka, where he was first elected as Secretary General and later as Vice President of the Student Parliament. At the same time, he was appointed a member of the Senate of the University of Banja Luka and a delegate to the Student Union of the Republic of Srpska.
In parallel, he was active in several non-governmental organizations, starting as a volunteer and later as a youth program coordinator at the Citizens’ Association “Center for Children, Youth and Family” Laktaši; member of the Secretariat and delegate to the Assembly of the Youth Council of the Republic of Srpska; member and Program Director of the Citizens’ Association “Agency for Development and Cooperation CEREBRA” Banja Luka; member and later alumnus of the Youth Advisory Group of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, among others. Until April 2021, he served as a member of the Governing Board of the Youth Council of the Republic of Srpska. He also held the position of Executive Director of the Network of Student Councils in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
From early 2022, he lived in Sarajevo and worked as a Community Engagement Assistant and later as a Project Assistant at the International Organization for Migration (IOM BiH). In March 2025, he was appointed Executive Director of the Citizens’ Association “Center for Children, Youth and Family” Laktaši. In April 2025, he was appointed Secretary General of the Youth Council of the Republic of Srpska.
He has been engaged multiple times as a trainer in the fields of youth activism, participation, information, leadership, peacebuilding, and the basics of project proposal writing.
In his free time, he writes poetry.
He lives in Laktaši and works in Banja Luka and Laktaši.
I’m a new engineering student, who believes that the world should give equal opportunities to all who live in it. As part of that, I also believe we should have a world to line in and thus should make efforts to preserve our planet and stop global warming as best we can. I love to travel to experience new countries and their cultures. That helps me have a more nuanced view about many different topics and thus helps me understand many issues better.
Yağmur Aşıla is a youth worker and activist from Türkiye. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces, protecting the environment, and amplifying the voices of those often unheard. She loves exploring new cultures, meeting people from all walks of life, and turning ideas into meaningful action. Since 2017, she has been active in grassroots and international projects on gender equality, LGBTI+ rights, environmental sustainability, and disaster risk management. She has volunteered in disaster-affected areas, coordinated recovery efforts, and delivered non-formal education trainings on topics such as gender equality, ecology, climate literacy, and community resilience. She believes that empowered young people can shape a more just and sustainable future.
I come from Slovenia and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. I’m currently finishing my Master’s in Management – Managing Organisations. I am passionate about travel, discovering new places, cultures, and people. I deeply value art and all forms of artistic and creative expression. Active in my rural local community, I represent youth both in local politics and civil society. I advocate for equal opportunities, mutual respect, and more spaces for young people to grow and lead. I believe that “youth are the foundation of tomorrow’s world” and I’m committed to making their voices heard.
Mykhailo – youth worker from Ukraine, member of the Foundation of Regional Initiatives (FRI). He holds a BA in Analysis of Phenomena and Processes and an MA in Public and Cultural Diplomacy Expertise within European Studies from Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. Since 2018, Mykhailo has been actively engaged in international youth work, leading projects, fostering intercultural dialogue, and promoting inclusive opportunities for young people across Europe. He is passionate about cultural diplomacy, storytelling, and building meaningful connections between communities.
I am a professional with a background in analytical sciences and over a decade of diverse experience spanning logistics, finance, and nonprofit work. Early in life, I faced the loss of my mother at 18, and being raised by my grandparents taught me resilience, responsibility, and the importance of community support — values that continue to guide me today. At 21, finding true love gave me stability and a sense of purpose that motivates me to contribute positively both personally and professionally.
My career path has taken me from leading operations and logistics as a CEO to managing international supplier relations, and most recently, to financial administration in the nonprofit sector. Alongside my professional journey, I have been deeply engaged in youth and LGBTQ+ advocacy. These experiences have strengthened not only my analytical and organizational skills but also my social skills — enabling me to build trust, communicate effectively, and work well with people from different backgrounds.
Duresa Rushiti is a driven professional in project coordination, marketing, and event management, motivated by creating meaningful impact and bringing ideas to life. Her transformative experience as a YES program alumna inspired her career path, shaping her passion for cross-cultural understanding and youth empowerment. With experience spanning the non-governmental, business, and creative sectors, she has led international projects, facilitated workshops, and built partnerships that foster growth and inclusion. Her background includes marketing and sales, event design for high-profile clients, and leadership in intercultural initiatives, where she combines creativity, precision, and a results-driven approach.
I am a change-driven educator focused on bringing participatory approaches and experiential learning to the forefront of modern education.
– As a senior trainer, I mentor educators in using advanced didactic techniques to enhance learner engagement, both online and offline.
– I design innovative training programs that meet today’s educational needs and offer consulting to foster skills development in emerging trainers.
– With proven expertise in international team leadership, I provide strategic insights on project planning, goal setting, and continuous improvement.
– Backed by a law degree and fluent in six languages, I bring precision, adaptability, and a broad perspective to each project.