Workshop for youth in Pale: Mutual dialogue and meeting against prejudices

Youth in Pale like movies, sports, TV shows, some are disappointed with the end of the “Game of Thrones”, and some because Manchester United did not play the Champions League Finals, they listen to Lana Del Rey, Doors, Bajaga, they would love to travel to Switzerland, to see Vienna and Moscow, to go to the concert of the band "Kiss".  We were at one of the youth workshops, implemented by the Youth Communication Center (OKC) from Banja Luka within the framework of the project "Dialogue for the Future". At the beginning of the workshop, sophomore students of the High School Center Pale, spoke about themselves and what they like or would like to do in their free time.

"Although we know each other for two years and we go to school together, today I saw through this workshop that there are many things about my friends which I did not know before, some things have surprised me positively and certainly it will bring us closer together, because I discovered that we have many more things in common than I thought. It is important for young people to get to know each other better for a better dialogue, and the power of meeting is important throughout life, " said Ana Elena, while Jovana said she came to the workshop in order to get to know herself first and then others:

"Dialogue is important in order to break down many prejudices. Some people, by the way they think, have remained in some past times and have prejudices towards everything that is different, and only through mutual meetings and getting to know each other we can help them understand how superficial such prejudices are, "says Jovana, adding that she is interested in all people and all cultures:

"I love knowing more about everything, I read the Bible, the Qur'an, the Indian epics ..., and it is fascinating to me how they are talking about the same things from various angles," Jovana added.

Boris was also at the workshop, and he emphasized the importance of the fight against prejudice, and that dialogue is the best tool for this:

"I had the opportunity to talk to young people from all parts of the country, Sarajevo is near, I have friends in many cities, and it should not matter to us where they come from, but what kind of people they are," said Boris, and Maja said that communication is the key:

"I volunteer in the Red Cross, and through volunteering I visited many cities and met young people from all over the region, and I have positive experiences from all these social gatherings. The better we meet the better we will communicate, " Maja concludes.

Executive Director of OKC, Saša Marković, who runs the workshops, said that after about 300 youth participants across BiH went through the workshops, he is satisfied with what he saw on the ground, as well as the effect of the workshops.

"Young people in all parts of BiH have the same concerns and problems - how to enroll in college, prepare for quality education, have the same challenges in love and community, and they are not burdened with politics. They are dedicated to family and friends. In these workshops, they learn how to better acquaint themselves and their friends, how to develop critical thinking and talk in a different way, " said Saša Marković.

The project Dialogue for the Future is implemented by UNICEF, UNESCO and UNDP  in partnership with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.