Youth for Peace has been honoured to participate in Summer European Academy. The Academy was organized by European Academy Otzenhausen, Asko Europa Foundation and Konrad Adenauer Foundation and took place in Otzenhausen, Germany in May, 1st till 9th. Main topic of Academy is summed in its title “Encounter Europe - Current challenges of European Integration – civic participation in best practice”. 35 participants from South Eastern Europe came together to give active participation in Academy, delivering their perspectives from respective countries. All participants were coming with huge experience in non-government and political sector, either.
From May 1st until May 8th, two Youth for Peace members, Anela Zorlak and Emina Frljak, attended seminar “Making Europe Work” at European Academy in Otzenhausen, Germany, together with young people from Western Balkans, France and Germany. The topics on the seminar were related to overcoming the past and creating better future. During the 6 days long program, young people were talking about topics and problems important and relevant to participants’ countries, so at the end of the seminar they proposed their own projects, which they will work on as an international teams in the following period. The content consisted of theoretical lectures and interactive exercises for participants, and the aim of seminar was to develop healthy communication, bring up own attitudes, all with respect for others and different. Besides this, young people had one more aim: with joint forces and previous knowledge to find solution for Europe to start functioning the way they want. All participants had opportunity to talk about topics they like to discuss about, but also about those more difficult, more complicated, more sensitive ones, and in safe team environment express their disagreement with their colleagues, using assertive way of communicating and by respecting other participants.
10 youngsters and 2 leaders of Youth for Peace, in cooperation with Turkish organization ALESTA had an opportunity to take a part in seminar “Steps to Peace with Art”, which was held in Ankara from 25th until 31st of January 2016. Together with participants from Poland, Romania and Turkey, they have participated in workshops dedicated to peace. They were discussing their own experience of peace, coexistence with others, about solidarity and what they can do, as individuals, for peace. Participants could also learn Polish, Romanian and Turkish traditional dances, as well as to present their own traditional dances.
Besides workshops, young people of Youth for Peace have visited Cappadocia, one of the most beautiful parts of Turkey, done a sightseeing of Ankara and seen Ataturk’s mausoleum. Participants left this seminar with a lot of knowledge, experience and new friendships.
The Team on behalf of Youth for Peace is ready to leave for Ankara and take participation in the project Steps to Peace with Art. In cooperation with the Turkish organization ALESTA, ten young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with their peers from Poland, Romania and Turkey will become a part of a project aimed at gathering and bringing together young people regardless of their race, religious affiliation, nationality or language. During seven days of the project, youth will develop their skills, express themselves creatively and learn about others through workshops and joint activities. The project is developed and promoted by and with young people coming from different countries aware of the importance of solidarity and cooperation, supported through the Erasmus+ Project.
On the 30th of May 2015, representatives of Youth for Peace's from Bosnia and Herzegovina, went to Sombor and in collaboration with organization Sombor's Educational Center held a workshop "Challenges of Dialogue". During this workshop they represented their work, position of young people in their country and what are most important prerequisites for interfaith and interreligious dialogue.
Throughout lot of discussions young people from Sombor could check their values and beliefs about their own identity and diversity, and as well to exchange experience about similar subjects. During this visit, members of Youth for Peace had a meeting with representatives of Sombor's Educational Center during which they agreed about future collaboration between these two organizations. This collaboration is focused on connecting young people from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and as well, building capacities of both organizations throughout exchange of knowledge, skills and experiences.
