The Third Youth Academy “State of Peace”, organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the Center for Post-Conflict Research, is opened today in Europe House in Sarajevo.
This year’s “Peace State” gathers 50 young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia, with the aim of learning about the construction of sustainable peace and democratic society through workshops, socializing and study visits.
The European Union, through various youth projects that are implemented throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, wants to encourage young people to take a more active role in building society and are involved in reform processes on the road to European membership. Through a single two-seater program Academy “The situation of peace” provides the opportunity to connect and build new friends with peers from neighboring countries, an enclosed understanding, empathy and awareness of the importance of reconciliation for the future of the region.
Deputy Chief of the European Union Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Adebayo Babajida, emphasized that the program “Peace State” is a strong message that young people are not only hopes of hope, but also concrete changes.
“Their participation is sent by a clear message – those involved, learn and cooperate, will be in the company. Through this program, the regional cooperation will continue to support such initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region,” Babajida concluded.
This year, the “state of peace” will include visits to Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Tuzla, Brcko, Ugljevik, Travnik and Vitez. Participants will have the opportunity to talk to representatives of international and non-governmental organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, visits to museums, memories and memorials, and tribute to civilians killed at several locations. It will also discuss the inheritance of wars from Serbia in the 1990s from Serbia, BiH and Croatia with experts in the field of Serbia.
Velma Šarić, Founder and President of the Post-Conflict Research Center, has pointed out that cooperation with the European Union at the Youth Academy “is an important contribution to strengthening the role of young people in the process of European integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Youth from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro have the opportunity to exchange ideas, learn each other, develop joint initiatives and actively contribute to the construction of a stable and prosperous region in the European spirit,” Saric said.
This year’s program continued for the successful editions held in the previous two years, during which young people from the region had the opportunity to visit various cities, meet with cultural and religious heritage, and discuss important social topics through workshops and dialogue. Special emphasis was placed on mutual understanding, compliance with diversity and active participation in the construction of democratic values.
This year’s program also includes recreational facilities – from staying in Pannonian Lakes in Tuzla, to the Vitez ethno village visit, where participants will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the examples of sustainable tourism and environmental responsibility in BiH.
