As part of the UčiMO MIR project, supported by PRO-Budućnost through the small grants program, Youth for Peace in cooperation with the Mostar Summer Youth Program (MSYP), implemented two LAB training modules for high school students, the first module on 5th and 6th November 2022, and the second on the 3rd and 4th December 2022. LAB participants are 30 students from seven high schools in Mostar. The LAB program is designed so that in the morning hours classes from physics, chemistry and biology are held, followed by practical work in the mentioned subjects. Afternoon hours are reserved for workshops. The goal of the workshops is to encourage intercultural dialogue, and the development of critical thinking among students, and to give them the opportunity to share their views on the society in which they live. LAB works according to the model of informal multi-ethnic education, where high school students from various ethnic groups learn together through workshops and practice in the field of natural sciences. Through this project, in addition to breaking down national barriers in education, young people are given opportunities to get quality practical education in the field of biology, chemistry, and physics, which they cannot currently get through the national plan and program.

The topics of the first LAB module from the area of soft skills were: media literacy, hate speech, and identities. The approach to inter-ethnic dialogue with high school students was indirect, but the topics of identity and hate speech were directly discussed through examples from Bosnian/Herzegovinian society, as well as how hate speech and the question of identity reflect on inter-ethnic relations and tensions. By improving media literacy, young people are empowered to be more resistant to media manipulations that often serve ethnonational narratives.

As part of the second LAB, a visit to the National Museum in Sarajevo was organized and workshops on the topics of dialogue and social cohesion were held. During the workshop on dialogue and social cohesion, young people were introduced to these two concepts in the framework of peacebuilding for the first time. The definition of dialogue, as well as the difference between dialogue, discussion, and debate, were presented through group work and exercises. The dialogue as well as its basic 10 principles were contextualized both in everyday life and in the aspect of social groups, including ethnic ones. Talking about the dialogue between different social groups, the concept of social cohesion and the challenges of similarities and differences were presented to young people. This time too, participants talked about inter-ethnic dialogue, and the need to understand different and/or conflicting perspectives in building peace.