Nelt Group and UNICEF – One Year of Joint Mission for Education Toward a Sustainable Future
Knowledge and Skills for the Future of Children and Young People
- Bosanski/Hrvatski/Srpski
- English
Sarajevo, 25 July 2025 – Children and young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and North Macedonia are already feeling the benefits of the strategic partnership launched a year ago by Nelt Group and UNICEF. The aim of the partnership is to make education systems in the region more resilient, inclusive, and better prepared to meet the demands of modern society and the labour market.
Through a joint three-year initiative worth USD 1.3 million, students from schools with a high representation of vulnerable groups are gaining opportunities to develop digital and green skills, learn through STEM projects, and build self-confidence, creativity, and team spirit. In 2026, the initiative is set to expand to the Angolan market, where Nelt Group also operates.
“In 21st century, traditional book learning is no longer enough, practical skills and knowledge are essential. Education must be adaptive, inclusive, and tailored to empower vulnerable youth, preparing them for future challenges. To make this happen, partnerships with businesses are crucial. When businesses like Nelt Group invest in education, they invest in a human capital.” said Marc Lucet, UNICEF Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Children and young people must acquire the knowledge and skills needed to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future. Today’s education must keep pace with developments in science, technology, and the economy so that students gain knowledge based on new scientific discoveries and contemporary technological advancements and develop skills to apply them in everyday life. To successfully address the demands of the modern era, it is crucial to acquire 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity.
"At Nelt BiH, we are proud to support initiatives that will contribute to long-term and systemic changes in education, together with UNICEF and relevant state institutions. We believe that lifelong learning is of great importance, especially for young people. They must be digitally literate in a fast-changing business world that increasingly relies on technology. We are here to support the efforts of both UNICEF and institutions in successfully integrating digital learning into education, so that our children and youth can benefit from it," said Suzana Sikimić, Executive Director of Nelt BiH.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the programme “TransformED” is focusing on the digital transformation of education. In the first year, 25 schools participated in the innovative initiative “Tinkering with E-Waste”, where old electronic devices are re-used for STEM lessons. Thirty-five teachers built their skills up, and educational materials will be available to a network of 100 schools. The part of these materials was developed within IT Girls initiative. UNICEF and its partners have also established an intersectoral body for digital transformation of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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ABOUT UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
UNICEF does not promote any of the products distributed by Nelt.
ABOUT NELT GROUP
Nelt Group is one of the most successful business systems in the Adria region in the field of logistics and distribution of fast-moving consumer goods, tobacco, and pharmaceutical products. As an international group, it employs 5,500 people across 14 companies in 12 markets in Europe and Africa. Its leadership position and achievements over 30 years of operations are the result of continuous investment in employee education and development, innovation, and the application of new technologies. An inclusive and open corporate culture is the company’s hallmark.
