Supported by RYCO and the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund through the second RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals, the Association \u201cIskoristi Dan \u2013 Carpe Diem\u201d from Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with Srednjo\u0161kolski Centar \u201cNed\u017ead Ibri\u0161imovi\u0107\u201d Ilija\u0161 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Srednja Ekonomsko-Ugostiteljska \u0160kola Bar from Montenegro and Srednja Ekonomsko Trgovinska \u0160kola Be\u010dej from Serbia, implemented the project \u201cYouth in the Rocky Balkans\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The project took place from December 2019 to October 2020 and raised awareness on the importance of intercultural learning and dialogue as well as cross-border youth cooperation. To ensure the exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives during the activities, the project focused on various areas such as democracy and human rights, religion and culture, art and identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith Youth in and Rocky Balkans project we made a big step forward in many fields. Many young people travelled outside the places they live in for the first time and new friendships were born. I am very pleased that in addition to five thematic workshops during which they had the opportunity to exchange views, young people also used their free time to get to know and understand each other better,\u201d Project Representative of the Association \u201cIskoristi Dan \u2013 Carpe Diem\u201d Ms Elma Glamo\u010d stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Young participants were provided with an opportunity to engage in dialogue about youth empowerment and development in the region, as well as to practice skills related to these topics through interactive workshops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe that projects like this encourage us to be confident, inform ourselves and broaden our knowledge on different topics,\u201d one of the project participants Ms Marija Vuksanovi\u0107 emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking of their learning experience, another project participant, Ms Radoslava Verkin added: \u201cI really enjoyed the different types of workshops where I could learn from a lot of opinions and views. I believe that such projects are significantly reducing prejudice and social rejection, which unfortunately still exist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the first months of the project implementation phase, participants had the opportunity to travel, visit new places and meet each other. However, despite the shift to the online space which took place during the COVID-19 developments they experienced an invaluable experience and made new friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDuring Youth in the Rocky Balkans project, I experienced only beautiful and touching moments. I got to know my team from Ilija\u0161 much better and made new friends with peers from Montenegro and Serbia. Our main differences do not lie in the names \u201cBosniak\u201d, \u201cSerb\u201d and \u201cMontenegrin\u201d and they should never be a reason to build walls between us,\u201d Ms Merjem Dedovi\u0107 underlined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the end of this project, young participants gained new skills in intercultural dialogue and fostered cross-border cooperation with their peers in the region which they intend to nourish and develop further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n