The winners of “Intercultural Challenge” contest, that was organised by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in cooperation with UWC-IBO Initiative, language school Education First (EF) and Slovenian Ministry of Education and Sport, are Vaso Pelagić Gymnasium students from Brčko District. Members of the group Mirela Ivkić, Ismet Bahor, Ena Merić, Radana Perkanović and Darija Žilić under mentorship of Professor Sanela Fejzić convinced the committee with the project "Sajam sličnosti" Fair of resemblance).
At a solemn ceremony held on Friday, 20 November at the premises of the T.C. Biosphere in Mostar, BiH, the winners received an award in the form of a language course in the EU country with the enrolment fee and accommodation with a host family. The prize was conferred by CEP Programme Director, Andreja Dolničar Jeraj and representative of a language school Education First in Slovenia, Urška Kačičnik. The awarding ceremony was also attended by Elmaja Bavčič on behalf of the UWC-IBO Initiative and Director of United World College in Mostar (UWCiM), Paul Regan. The programme was moderated by two College students, Goran Simić and Jelena Radmanović.
For the authors of the eleven best project proposals that were chosen as finalists, together with their mentors and school directors, CEP organized two-day workshops and lectures on intercultural dialogue in Mostar. Participants also visited cultural sights in Mostar, including the Turkish house and the famous Old Bridge.
Besides the winning team from Vaso Pelagić Gymnasium, the finalist were also teams from Gymnasium Druga Gimnazija Sarajevo with project "Koračajmo zajedno u budučnost" (Let's walk together in the future), Milorad Vlačič High School from Vlasenica with the project "Nije teško biti tolerantan" (It's not difficult to be tolerant), Muhsin Rizvič Gymnasium from Kakanj with project "Međukulturalnom dijalogom do čistog zraka" (With intercultural dialogue towards clean air), Obala Sarajevo Gymnasium with project "Muzika – dio svih nas" (Music – a part of all us), Ismet Mujezinovič Gymnasium from Tuzla with project "Burek connecting people", Mostar Gymnasium with project "Vođe – pa to smo mi" (Leaders – that is us), Jovan Cvijič High School from Modriča with project "Svi smo mi isti, svi smo mi različiti" (We are all the same, we are all different), Stjepan Radič High School from Žabljak-Usore with project "Živimo u zajedništvu – upoznajmo sebe i druge" (We live in a community – let's know ourselves and each others), Banja Luka Gymnasium with project "Različitosti su naše bogastvo" (Diversity is our riches) and Ivo Andrić High School from Višegrad with project "Mostovi prijateljstva" (Bridges of friendship). Students from these high schools presented their projects at the Workshop. The presentations were very creative and original and included also dancing and singing.
Dan Podjed and Boštjan Kravanja from the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology from Faculty of Arts led students through lectures and a workshop on intercultural dialogue. In the introduction Kravanja presented some basic concepts of intercultural stereotypes and communities that were followed by a discussion on intercultural practice in everyday life.
Podjed presented Managers’ Intercultural Guide as an example of good practice, prepared by the students of the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology from Faculty of Arts that contributes to the improvement of intercultural relations. The aim of this project, that has been prepared in cooperation with the Association Manager since 2006, is to facilitate business meetings between representatives of different cultures. Speciality of the guide is, that is being prepared by young people, which shows that young people can contribute to fruitful cross-cultural contacts.
Presentations were followed by a Buildnig Bridge workshop. Participants were supossed to build a bridge between two groups in a short time with simple tools such as scissors, glue and ruler. At the same time they had to present their mental models, compare and establish them as well as reach an agreement how to participate. The two-day gathering in Mostar ended with a joint lunch of all participants and organizers.
With the events in Mostar the second phase of the project "Intercultural challenge" in the cycle of Educational Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina was concluded. The third phase, which represents the implementation of the winning project with the assistance of CEP, will be held in 2010.
