Project “Safe environment for children in divided and segregated schools in the Central Bosnia Canton – Sustaining the change” which was implemented by Genesis Project in Banja Luka has been successfully completed.
In the municipalities covered by the project, there was a total of 267 workshops for teachers held, 259 workshops for pupils, 140 educational puppet shows and five educational seminars for teachers. The project included over 9,500 elementary school pupils and 360 teachers from 16 schools that operate on the principle of “two schools under one roof “. Representatives of both schools attended all implemented activities.
The project, which was funded by the German foundation Stiftung Schüler Helfen Leben , UNICEF BiH and the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia, had as the objective the building of a safe and stimulating environment for children in divided and segregated schools of the Central Bosnia Canton .
As highlighted by Dijana Pejic, executive director of the Genesis Project, since September 2009, when the implementation of the first joint activities in divided and segregated schools started, until today, cooperation and communication in divided and segregated schools of the Central Bosnia Canton has been improved, which was the main goal.
“While working with children and teachers we noticed significant progress in building confidence and changing attitudes among different ethnic groups as a precondition for creating a safer environment in school,” said Pejic.
She also points out that the beneficiaries of the project were educated about skills of communication and peaceful resolution of conflict, and that a platform for development of cooperation was provided, overcoming differences and implementation of joint activities in the future.
“Annual plan of homeroom classes for schools following the Bosniak curriculum for schools and for schools that have Croatian curriculum was advanced and synchronized, and knowledge and awareness of project issues were increased,” said Pejic.
The project was implemented with the support of the Ministries of Education, Science, Culture and Sport in the following municipalities: Bugojno , Gromiljak , Kiseljak , Busovaca , Vitez , Fojnica and Jajce .