The Humanitarian Organization Genesis Project announces the launch of an innovative Short Film School, which will be implemented in six local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Teočak, Ugljevik, Zvornik, Jajce, Tešanj, and Žepče.
Through this school, young activists will get the opportunity to master skills in screenwriting, filming, and basic film editing, and to produce short films themselves. The goal of these films is to portray the challenges and stories from local communities, based on data and experiences gathered through social cohesion research.
The program is part of a broader project that Genesis Project is implementing to strengthen the capacity of youth and Local Action Groups (LAGs). These groups, formed in each of the six municipalities, gather around 90 young activists. They are already involved in a series of activities – from training on social cohesion and research methodologies to conducting surveys and analyses in the field.
“We want to empower young people to use creative and research methods to tell the stories of their communities. The short films they produce themselves will be a powerful tool for initiating dialogue, strengthening trust, and advocating for positive changes,” stated a representative of Genesis Project.
It is expected that upon completion of the school, participants will produce a series of short films that will be presented at local events and on digital platforms, allowing a larger number of citizens to become familiar with the challenges, as well as the potential, of their communities.
In this way, Genesis Project connects empirical and creative expression, providing young people with the tools to contribute to peacebuilding, strengthening social cohesion, and empowering civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The project “Empowering Local Voices for Sustainable Peace in BiH” is supported through the project “Strengthening Trust and Cohesion in Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Možemo Bolje (We Can Do Better),” which is financed by the European Union’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments under the Instrument for Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation, and jointly implemented by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, United Nations in BiH, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Council of Europe – Office in Sarajevo.