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House of Good Tones: A Place for Learning, Gathering, and Positive Change | Balkan Diskurs
Mirnes Bakija
February 16th, 2024
The Srebrenica association House of Good Tones has been fulfilling its mission for over a decade, believing in the idea that changes must be local, lasting, and sustainable. From the very beginning, their goal has been to connect young people from Srebrenica, Bratunac, Potočari, Milići, Konjević Polje, and Skelani, providing them with various skills through modern teaching methodologies. Although they started as a musical movement, today, young people within the association have the opportunity to explore and study other fields.
Ismar Porić, the president and director of the association, emphasizes that they started their work with modest expectations, with only a few hundred euros in their account. However, a cultural and artistic project soon evolved into an association that has been successfully operating since 2011.
“So far, thousands of children have gone through our programs, significant talent exchanges have taken place in the region and throughout Europe. Our students have performed over a hundred concerts across Europe. We’ve had initiatives with various organizations and associations from Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Austria, Germany, and many other countries,” Porić explains with pride.
In the early days, when they first recognized the need to establish this association, they didn’t have the support they have today. Porić adds that through dedicated work and effort, they have managed to overcome challenges.
“We started hiring more people and gained the trust of various donors as well as parents, which was one of the most challenging aspects for us in the beginning. When we first came to Srebrenica to work on this project, we were one of a thousand different initiatives, and parents were understandably skeptical. However, after a few years, we built trust, which we consider the key to our success,” says the association’s director.
The alumni of the House of Good Tones are the best testament to the association’s impact on their student’s development, and Porić emphasizes that the most important thing is that the children have grown into good people.
Listening to Young People’s Needs and Engaging in Dialogue
The House of Good Tones is led by a team of young people, and for Porić, their most crucial activities are going to the field and engaging in conversations with people about their problems. “We believe that working in the field is the most important because issues like these cannot be resolved by sitting in offices and writing reports that no one reads,” explains Porić.
They place considerable emphasis on listening to the needs of their students. Collaborating with numerous organizations and universities worldwide, they are able to adopt the most modern approaches to education and achieve positive results.
Children growing up in Srebrenica carry a particular historical burden, and through discussions about their needs, the House of Good Tones has realized that music can effectively connect young people from different ethnic groups.
“Music is a fantastic tool for connection. We collaborate with many organizations in the Western Balkans, they come to visit us, and we go to them. The exchange of talents is crucial because they can learn a lot from each other. Our approach to our work is based on the idea that people connect best when they find a common problem because that’s when they’re most engaged, fastest, and most creative,” states Porić.
Porić explains that when dealing with sensitive topics, it’s important not to be confrontational and aggressive, especially when working with children.
“People are naturally different and have different affinities, but it’s also natural that we have to compromise in order to build bridges and provide young people with space for progress and a better future. People in the world are making rockets, and here we are still dealing with other things. I can proudly say that the nearly 150 concerts and countless trips we have organized are opening new perspectives for the youth,” said Porić.
Lack of Opportunities for Young People in Small Communities
The unemployment rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the country’s most pressing issues, with youth unemployment reaching nearly 40 percent according to the data from the national Statistical Agency. Some studies have indicated that a primary reason for the emigration of young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina is the inability to find employment.
In smaller communities, young people are further condemned to a lack of educational programs and content that might inspire them.
“Most programs are focused on big cities, and I think it’s extremely important to involve smaller communities as well. Statistical data shows that young people are more likely to leave smaller communities than larger ones. That’s precisely why I believe we’ve lasted so long in Srebrenica, as it’s a small community with limited opportunities, and the children appreciate us. We constantly tell them to use our facilities, to be here, to do their homework, to be creative, and that we will help with business ideas. We’re here for them. It’s important to stay, even in a small community, because, after all, home is where the heart is. We need to fight for it because wherever you go, it’s not all perfect,” explained Porić.
Porić says that the educational system in Bosnia and Herzegovina lags behind and is often boring, with children lacking the concentration they had before. A study in England showed that the average attention span of a young person is as long as watching a story on Instagram, which is usually seven seconds. If you don’t capture their attention during this period, young people typically continue searching for more interesting information.
“Therefore, we strive to have a different and modern approach to students so that they can more easily absorb knowledge. It’s different when you connect something to modern pop culture, which is familiar to them, so they listen more. For example, we incorporate elements of Harry Potter to achieve the desired results and help them understand the material,” said the association’s director.
Diverse Educational Fields: Something for Everyone
Through various alternative and modern educational methods, the students of this association have the opportunity to refine skills in different fields. In addition to artistic content, the association offers instruction in a variety of educational areas.
“We teach them about other cultures and nations, critical thinking, and media literacy. Today’s world is challenging for young people, and in our association, we teach them to form their own opinions, express themselves, and advocate for their rights. Additionally, we want our students to connect with young people across the Western Balkans, gaining experiences that will help them in various aspects of life,” explained Porić.
The House of Good Tones has six different programs: music, educational workshops, community engagement, volunteering, healthy lifestyle, and literature. The association operates five days a week throughout the school year. Each year, they have between 300 and 400 participants coming from Srebrenica, Skelani, Potočari, Bratunac, Milići, and Konjević Polje.
“We have our own transportation line that brings the children to us. We strive for each child to visit us at least twice a week. In addition, we have a canteen where the children are provided with meals, and the project is entirely free in all aspects,” said Porić.
The association also has a branch in Prijedor, and they express the desire for the House of Good Tones to develop into a network of associations throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on educating young people.
“We have our own way of working and an approach that can be transferred to others. There are many associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina doing great work, but there’s always a need for those who will educate young people in a non-invasive way and provide support in eliminating unnecessary material that children do not benefit from. We work tirelessly, and it’s important to us to shorten the path to success for our youth. Thousands of children have already gone through the House of Good Tones, and we’re very proud of that,” concluded Porić.

created: February 16th, 2024

author: Mirnes Bakija


text:
The Architecture of Yugoslavia - Meeting of East and West | Balkan Diskurs
Alma Mustafić
February 19th, 2024
“The region of the former Yugoslavia (1945-1991) is where East and West, North and South meet, and where bloody, turbulent plots intertwine. But it is also a region rich in nature and the kindest people, and certainly not lacking in periods of prosperity.” This is how Tatjana Neidhardt, architect and daughter of the legendary architect Juraj Neidhardt, begins the story of the architecture of the former Yugoslavia.
Yugoslavia, she says, was a successful model of an emancipatory project aimed at ensuring the well-being of all its peoples. The Yugoslav state was built with great enthusiasm, hope, trust, togetherness and solidarity. The basic goals of Yugoslav development were the education of the population, public infrastructure, housing, a planned urbanization process, and employment.
According to Neidhardt, the conference of Yugoslav architects in Dubrovnik in 1950 marked a turning point in the development of Yugoslav architecture, where socialist realism was rejected.  They called for full freedom of creativity. The government of the former Yugoslavia understood the importance of design in rebuilding the country. Competitions were announced for each major urban and architectural project, and residential areas always came with an accompanying social infrastructure, which indicates the importance of social life to the architects, the state, and the population in general.
“All of this led to a unique regional modernism with a pronounced pedagogical dimension, which differed from region to region depending on whether it favored Western or Eastern influences, the strength of the traditional and religious influences, the quality of education of the architects, and their imagination. Yugoslav post-war architecture was at the core of modern architecture,” Neidhardt points out.
This regional modernism achieved great things in the context of world architecture – achievements which are exemplified by two large Yugoslav public competitions. The first of which was the competition for the reconstruction of the former Jewish Synagogue in 1951, carried out by Zdravko Kovačević and Milivoj Peterčić. The original synagogue was designed by Zagreb architect Rudolf Lubinski in 1930 and destroyed in 1941 by the occupiers.
The second competition, in 1955, was for the urban solution to the Sarajevo settlement of Marijin Dvor and the nearby National Assembly, and was implemented by Juraj Neidhardt and associates.
The first significant residential architecture intervention of the period was the Džidžikovac residential complex in the center of Sarajevo, built in 1947 – a project of the Kadić brothers, who put their knowledge to the purpose of renovation.
There have been many successful projects by Sarajevo architects in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), but also by those from other parts of Yugoslavia. As early as 1958, in the competition for the Museum of the Revolution (today the History Museum of BiH), the first prize was won by Zagreb architects, while the other prizes were won by Sarajevo architects.
Media coverage was an important element that contributed to the publicity of these architectural projects. In addition to bringing public attention to the results, media articles developed discussion among architects and citizens, as well as giving birth to some new exhibitions.
In 1965, Borba, the Belgrade daily magazine, introduced an annual award for the most successful architectural achievements, signaling the importance of architecture and the shaping of space within other creative activities and city life. “Urban designers, architects and landscape architects were very respected citizens at the time,” says Neidhardt.
The conceptual design of the Bare city cemetery, among other significant winning projects, was one of the first Bosnian-Herzegovinian architectural projects to receive the Borba award. “Bare Cemetery in Sarajevo, designed by landscape architect Smiljan Klaić, connects Catholic, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish and atheist chapels, and is an extremely successful creative solution in an area with mixed ethnicity,” says Neidhardt.
From unique designs to negation and mythology
The construction of the Skenderija Cultural and Sports Center in 1969, which also won the Borba Award and was designed by Živorad Janković and Halid Muhasilović, was a unique architectural and multifunctional spatial solution bringing together culture, sport, trade and dining under one roof.
“As well as several large and successful interventions from local Bosnian architects’ rich opus of residential architecture and public buildings, there were numerous successful projects throughout the former Yugoslavia. If we include the school facilities built within the framework of the ‘A Thousand Schools’ educational project, then industrial and hydro plants, commercial facilities, sports facilities, cultural facilities, tourist facilities, and monument complexes, we get the full picture of the land that rose from the ashes,” explains Neidhardt.
After the Second World War, voluntary work actions for the construction of railways were organized in the former Yugoslavia, and the young people who were involved achieved extraordinary results in record time.
“After the fall of Yugoslavia and the 1992-1995 war, the inability of post-Yugoslav society to critically reflect on the era of the former Yugoslavia and the legacy it left behind created two conflicting views – on the one hand, a complete negation of that legacy, and, on the other, a nostalgia and romantic mythologization that also uncritically observes the period,” states Neidhardt.
In fact, in Neidhardt’s opinion, all of the heritage of the former Yugoslavia is collapsing and disappearing because the conditions have not been created for building a better, more progressive and more just society.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the Yugoslav model was the only possible model for the benefit of all peoples in this area, especially in BiH, with its mixed ethnic communities. It found itself in the middle of the divided states of the former Yugoslavia while the national governments continued to pull them apart, systematically killing the spirit of togetherness,” adds Neidhardt.
Following in her father’s footsteps
Tatjana Neidhardt’s initial wish was to study painting. However, at that time, there was no Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo and going to another place was too much of a leap for her, both emotionally and materially.
“Although as a child I would peek behind my father’s desk to admire his sketches and work, I also noticed the other side of my father Juraj Neidhardt’s success. Work, work, work. Days and nights of hard work, colored with often dramatic upheavals in life and career. Our family life also suffered, but we all knew that his goal was always the perfection of his vocation: the fight for humanity through urbanism and architecture, fighting for the life of people in the city and the villages,” she recalls.
She tells me how, whenever he was working on a competition, with the inevitable deadlines that came with it, the whole apartment would be full of his colleagues, the floors covered with drawings, cardboard, models.
“I was invisible. They would put me in my room so I wouldn’t bother them, and my mother, in addition to being my father’s secretary and typing the necessary texts and letters on a typewriter, had to prepare meals for people who were there all day, sometimes even at night.”
Tatjana enrolled at the Faculty of Architecture in Sarajevo, where her father was a professor. She says that everyone expected her to have her father’s talent, but that did not happen. “Besides, I was very shy, timid, terrified of tests and exams,” she adds.
She adds however that, thanks to her persistence and conscientious work, she finished college in four and a half years, and in the year she finished she got a job as a teacher at the Civil Engineering Technical School, where she remained for 25 years.
“I tried to introduce students to other fields beyond the profession as well. We would talk about all sorts of topics, and we attended various exhibitions and other cultural events. Later, meetings with my students confirmed to me that my efforts were not in vain, their gratitude is my greatest reward,” concludes Neidhardt.
Promoting of the cultural values of Sarajevo
Thinking about this city of hers, she emphasizes how four years of war left human souls broken, which is why she got involved in a series of humanitarian activities in order to escape the indifference.
Tatjana and her colleagues have tried to promote the cultural values of the city of Sarajevo – values that the grenades failed to destroy – through a collection of calendars, city maps, bookmarks, postcards and the like.  The idea was born to make a booklet about Sarajevo: Sarajevo through time is a small-format booklet featuring watercolors and text covering all the historical periods of the city and all the most important elements of the cultural heritage of the city.
“We have been working on it for several years. We finally finished it. We promoted the first edition in Bosnian in 2004 and it was a great success, and editions in English, then German and French followed. We did not intend to do the French version, but one day, I met an elderly gentleman, Dr. Mustafa Hadžihalilović, who lives in France but occasionally comes to Sarajevo. He was excited about our booklet and offered to translate it into French free of charge. It took maybe two years, but the booklet in French stands next to the others in almost every major bookstore in town. With his engagement, the booklet was included in the UNESCO cataloguing in Paris,” said Neidhardt.
She finds it very sad that not enough attention is paid to the maintenance of buildings of architectural and urban heritage, be they from the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, or modern periods. Ultimately, Neidhardt believes that they are all undervalued.
“Several attempts were made through various activities, but not enough is done in practice. It is sad to see dilapidated facades, upgrades where they do not belong, and the devastation of the city space by inappropriate construction in the Sarajevo valley. This has effects in every segment of city life. For example, instead of respecting the ventilation corridors and planting trees, buildings are being built,” she laments.

source: news-balkandiskurs

created: February 19th, 2024

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Alma Mustafić


text:
Peace Festival 2024: How youth build peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
February 21st, 2024
In the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the small town of Vitez, young people have been gathering for three years to learn about preserving peace, coexistence, and tolerance. The Peace Festivals are organized by the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC). During the first two editions, they gathered nearly 100 young people from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina to work together on building a better and more peaceful future for our country.
The third edition of the Peace Festival is taking place from February 22nd to 26th in Vitez, with young people from Visoko, Tuzla, Zenica, Glamoč, Sarajevo, Tešanj, Travnik, Banja Luka, Kozarska Dubica, Bihać, Bugojno, Mostar, Jablanica, Bosansko Grahovo, Sanski Most, Hadžići, Busovača, Milići, and Kakanj.
Velma Šarić, the president and founder of the PCRC, states that the Peace Festivals bring together young people from communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina, enabling them to learn about breaking ethnic prejudices through art, documentaries, and other content, encouraging them to make a more active contribution to peacebuilding in their cities.
Alongside the Festival, the Center has also created the MIR Magazine – the first peace magazine in the Balkans dedicated to promoting young, innovative individuals who are pushing social and creative boundaries across Bosnia and the region.
“At both Festivals, we have recognized the greatest values of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are multiculturalism and multi-ethnicity. Through art and various educational activities, we strive to motivate young people and provide them with the necessary tools to work in their communities towards creating a climate of sustainable peace and tolerance,” added Šarić.
This year’s Peace Festival is organized with the support of the Slovak Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Slovak Aid program, the Embassy of Canada in Hungary, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), as well as with developmental grants from the PCRC. Festival partners include the Ethno Village Čardaci Vitez and Al Jazeera Balkans.
The Festival will also feature the work of young people through artistic workshops as part of “Subjective Atlas” – a project by the PCRC, the Belgian organization Subjective Editions, and Newcastle University. Subjective atlases are cartographic publications that map the country, region, or city according to the perspectives of the inhabitants of that area, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, they are created by young people from across the country who participate in PCRC activities.
The workshops led by the Subjective Atlas team encourage participants to share their own experiences of the environment through artistic expression. This methodology aims to challenge and bypass verbal and written language as standard means of knowledge production and transmission. “The goal is to demystify cartography and emphasize other ways of expressing belonging to a place, which is also at the heart of the Subjective Atlas series,” explains Annelys De Vet, the founder and chief editor of the Subjective Atlas.
In collaboration with Al Jazeera Balkans, the Festival will bring the story of Tomislav Cvitanušić, who climbed Mount Everest, marking only the fourth ascent by a Bosnian-Herzegovinian mountaineer to the world’s highest peak. The Festival’s documentaries will be on moral courage in difficult times, Bosnian-Herzegovinian citizens who rescued members of other ethnicities during the past war, and the phenomenon of reaching summits and ascents, all aimed at inspiring peace in individuals and communities.

created: February 21st, 2024

author: Balkan Diskurs


text:
Shadows of the Past Upon Peacebuilding | Balkan Diskurs
Amina Sejfić
February 23rd, 2024
The wartime past of the region is still part of the present for many of its inhabitants, due to trauma, glorification of war criminals, and divisions on national grounds. As a result of the proliferation of false narratives, the unresolved issues of the past remain an obstacle to a more stable future.
A serious and objective history of the ‘brotherhood and unity’ that was destroyed by the war was buried along with those who unjustly lost their lives. In the countries of the region, official historical narratives are often completely contradictory. Vesna Teršelič, a peace activist, feminist, and leader of Documenta – Center for Dealing with the Past, Croatia, says that in democracies it is normal for the same historical events to be interpreted in different ways.
“It is normal to have different interpretations and narratives. I think it is legitimate to interpret the same facts in different ways, but there is a limit to that as well. Denial of facts about war crimes should be inappropriate, and denial of the worst crimes such as the Holocaust and genocide should be prohibited by law. In addition to the prohibitions, which are unfortunately a necessity in the region, the most important thing is responsible media, because the prohibitions themselves cannot ‘erase’ different narratives,” she explains.
Different interpretations and narratives of the wartime past should be approached with a dose of caution, as they often lead to a deepening of intolerance and the spread of hatred. For this reason, is extremely important to deal with the past in a healthy and objective way. For Nataša Maksimović, president of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Network for Building Peace, dealing with the past is extremely important for the future.
“To build peace means to be aware of yourself, but also of everyone around you. Accept them all with all that they are and do not judge. It is important to step into other people’s shoes, it is important to get into all those narratives, to feel them, to understand why they were created, what feelings are hidden behind it,” she says.
As complex as it is indispensable
Dealing with the past is a difficult but indispensable part of peace-building. Vesna Teršelič points out that the research work itself is a very complex process and that publishing research results is also a challenge due to the sensitivity of the topic.
“We talk about the layering of historical events every time we publish new research and publications, thus creating new interpretations, not only of the war events of the 1990s but also of other controversial periods of the 20th century,” adds Teršelič.
The opinions of young people are colored by the experiences and memories of the elderly, which, when war crimes are denied and their perpetrators celebrated, becomes problematic. Both young and old have become hostages of the past, which is so deeply intertwined with the present. Nataša Maksimović explains that we have been growing up for centuries with the idea that war every 50 years is a normal occurrence in this region.
“We pass on so many of these wartime traumas from one generation to another. In a way, we live in the past, not the present, and we don’t seem to have a future. Precisely for the sake of having a present and a future for new generations, it is important to deal with the past and start building peace,” elaborates Maksimović.
According to available data, between 130,000 and 140,000 people died in the wars in the former Yugoslavia. Of these, more than 100,000 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, more than 20,000 in Croatia, and more than 13,000 people in Kosovo. Approximately four million people became refugees due to the war, and 2.2 million people were displaced in Bosnia and Herzegovina alone.
In the post-conflict societies of the former Yugoslavia, more than two decades after the wars, conflicts have been waged with the sharp swords of inaccurate information. There is more talk about other people’s crimes and one’s own victims than vice versa, and emphasizing the facts of the war is often a thorn in the side of those who ignore the truth.
Truth is often seen as an attack on identity, on ‘nationality’. That identity – religion, nation, prejudice, propaganda – is a wall built to block out the facts.
For justice we need truth
An objective history of the events of the wars of the 1990s is crucial for the prosperous development of society. Its denial means that divided communities will not accept it. The basis of justice is truth, and to ignore the judicial truth means to rekindle the war mindset.
In this way, victims are diminished and what appears is a false sense of patriotism and an ideology of denialism. When patriotism, nationalism, and denialism are combined, not only what is essentially true is contradicted, but also a new dimension of truth is created contradicting all laws of logic. Nationalist-oriented politicians who reject the verdicts of the International Criminal Court contribute to all of this.
Those who resist false narratives, however, are paving the way for a brighter future. They build that path with facts, love, knowledge, and tolerance. They accept the facts and defend them no matter what.
“I don’t let discouragement swallow me up. I always try to look for the potential in people,” says Vesna Teršelič. Teršelič and those like her are driven by, as she puts it: “hope for change and inexhaustible optimism”.
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This article was initially published in the first edition of MIR Magazine. MIR, which means ‘peace’ in Bosnian, is an annual publication and platform for young inventive people developed by the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. It is dedicated to individuals and organizations that left us a legacy of strongly built foundations to continue our fight for peace and justice.

created: February 23rd, 2024

author: Amina Sejfić


text:
From the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Young people send messages of peace and tolerance | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
February 24th, 2024
Understanding, non-violence, love, respect, tolerance, health, and friendship are just some of the words used by 50 young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina to describe their understanding of peace. The fourth Peace Festival was opened on February 22 in the Čardaci ethno-village in Vitez.
For five days, young people from 20 different cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina will participate in this year’s Peace Festival, which is being organized by the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC) for the third year in a row.
Tatjana Milovanović, PCRC’s Director, explained that the Peace Festival is an opportunity for young people from different cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet and socialize, and to share the lessons they have learned in their communities and work together to build a better and more peaceful future.
The Slovak Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the SlovakAid program, helped found the Peace Festival back in 2022. Their Consul and Deputy Ambassador Patrik Turošik joined the Festival opening and noted that on this occasion three years ago, he became impressed by the amazing young people present.
“Take advantage of your opportunities. Talk about how you see your country. What kind of future do you want to fight for? You, young people, are the best ambassadors of your country, wherever you travel promote its beauty and your vision of a better future,” said Turošik.
Representing another Festival partner, OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Glorija Alić greeted the participants and thanked the organizers for choosing a small town – Vitez – to send messages of peace to the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Until now, we have seen that peace has been discussed at these Festivals through different formats, and it is truly one of the beautiful things about this Festival that you have shown that peace can also be talked about through music, dance, poetry, as well as different forms of art,” said Alić.
Peace Festival opened with an exhibition opening from the project ”On the Margins” which was developed by PCRC and OSCE Mission to BiH, to break down prejudices about the Roma population, citing positive examples of their life and integration in BiH.
Velma Šarić, PCRC’s Founder & President, recalled that the idea of creating the Peace Festival was to primarily allow young people to learn about peace, multiethnicity and diversity, and talk and socialize through alternative content. “We wanted to gather as much peace content as possible in one place and create a unique platform for youth and the civil sector.”

created: February 24th, 2024


text:
Peace Festival 2024: By Respecting Human Values We Build Peace | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
February 26th, 2024
Tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and the absence of violence, along with respect for universal life values, are necessary for building sustainable peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This is the shared message of youth from various communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina who participated in Peace Festival 2024 in Vitez, organized by the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC).
“Such festivals provide an opportunity for youth to express their opinions and views, and with the cultural content available, these are opportunities to work on breaking down disinformation and decontaminating the youth,” said Ljupko Mišeljić, who came to the Peace Festival from Banja Luka.
Andrea Milojević, a student of medicine who came to the Peace Festival from Derventa, finds the topic of peace interesting as well. She believes that peace is crucial not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but worldwide and that young people in particular should be involved in, and work on building peace. “For me, peace is love, and love is comprehensive. It implies understanding and non-judgment,” emphasized Andrea.
The participants spent a day in Travnik, where they explored its rich historical, cultural, and religious diversity. “An intense sense of peace was felt at the Travnik Fortress [today]. It has been here for years witnessing various armies, enduring wars, only to proudly evoke admiration for its beauty today. As we walked through Travnik, we encountered Bosniaks heading to the mosque for Friday prayer, at noon we were joined by the bells from the Catholic church, while we headed towards the Orthodox church,” described Lejla Ćirić from Glamoč.
She added that her mind was completely filled with peace upon entering the birth house of Ivo Andrić, whom “all the participants of the Festival unanimously declared as OURS.”
During an interactive session on peacebuilding, the youth discussed moral courage in their local communities after watching an episode from the documentary series ‘Ordinary Heroes,’ produced by the PCRC and Pinch media.
Velma Šarić, President and Founder of the PCRC, explained that ‘Ordinary Heroes’ are part of a multimedia program representing positive stories of moral courage from members of different ethnic groups who, in hard times, decided to truly embody human values.
“The war is over, but we are surrounded by people who are facing transgenerational transmission of trauma. Stories like these are what young people need to be surrounded by because if we heal ourselves, we will heal everything around us,” said Dženeta Fazlić from Sarajevo.
At the Festival, the film The Deepest Summit was screened, produced in co-production with Al Jazeera Balkans and MY TV. The ‘Ordinary Hero’ award was presented to Tomislav Cvitanušić, a Bosnian-Herzegovinian mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest. He spoke with young people about fundamental life values, strength, and energy that helped him climb the world’s highest mountain peak.
“For my generation, it’s too late, we cannot make many changes. The only hope is you. You are our future. You have the right to dream, no one can tell you otherwise. As long as you dream, you are alive, when you stop dreaming, I’m not sure what happens to you. With your work and your effort, everything is possible,” Cvitanušić conveyed.
The award ceremony marked the end of Peace Festival 2024, held with the support of the Embassy of Slovakia in BiH through the Slovak AID support program, the Embassy of Canada in Hungary, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), and with the developmental grants from the PCRC. The Festival’s partners are Ethno Village Čardaci Vitez and Al Jazeera Balkans.

created: February 26th, 2024


text:
Liceulice Magazine Hires People on the Margins: “We’re all the same, we just didn’t have the same chances.” | Balkan Diskurs
Danica Novaković
February 27th, 2024
Eleven years ago, a group of people in Belgrade learned about the concept of a street newspaper. Seeing how much the sale of these newspapers helps socially and economically disadvantaged people, especially the homeless, they decided to launch a project in their own city.
The International Network of Street Papers helped the group acquire new knowledge and skills and linked them to similar initiatives in Europe. More research was then done on the development of the media and distribution network concept. They started as an informal coalition of civil society organizations and individuals and, in July 2010, founded a non-profit organization called Liceulice (The Face of the Street), headed by Milosav Marinović. From the beginning, the organization has been committed to supporting marginalized groups and the aim has always been clear – to improve the social and economic position of the most vulnerable people in society.
“The very idea behind street newspapers is not new. There are currently about 125 street newspapers in 35 countries in the world. We have made a step or two further than most others with the editorial concept and quality of the magazine itself. Many street newspapers in the world are at the level of fanzines. We wanted something bigger from the very beginning. When I presented the concept to some professionals ten years ago, many of them did not believe that such a thing was possible. We wanted to write interestingly about ‘boring topics’, to be serious but accessible, to write about problems without looking for culprits but possible solutions,” explains Milosav.
In addition to the quality of the written content, Liceulice is also dedicated to high-quality visual presentation. They have worked for years to establish and enhance a network of designers, illustrators and artists, principally through competitions and open calls that invited them to think about socially responsible topics.
“While in the initial phase, we published irregularly and a much lower number of copies, Liceulice has been published ten times a year for several years, and we recently published the 70th issue. Currently, more than 180 sellers are active in Belgrade, Kikinda, and Novi Sad. For all those who want to read Liceulice and are not able to meet our sellers, there is the possibility of subscribing to either the paper or digital version. Liceulice is read today in Australia, Norway, the Emirates, and many other countries,” Milosav tells us.
The Liceulice team decided to dedicate a substantial amount of magazine space to socially sensitive content, focusing on fact-based stories that offered different perspectives and opened up dialogue with the reader, all discussed and presented in an accessible way. Subject matters of public interest such as ecology, the fight against discrimination, and the improvement of public space receive particular attention. As well as this, every issue contains the sellers’ stories, from their own personal perspective and, occasionally, the literary or artistic contributions of their readers.
“We are happy that Liceulice has become a respected member of the International Network of Street Papers, which has nominated us for the best texts, cover and design eight times so far, and awarded us the prize for the best cover. That particular cover was designed by our associate Sanja Stojkov in 2017, for an issue dedicated to the fight for women’s rights. Three years ago, we received the medal for Feminist Alliance in Media from the BEFEM festival,” says the editor.
However, the most important element of Liceulice is the sellers themselves. The magazine’s street sales network consists of members of various marginal and hard-to-employ groups, such as the homeless, people with disabilities, users of psychiatric services, Roma, and the elderly. Liceulice hires people facing poverty and social exclusion, offering them a chance to work, earn and gain knowledge, skills, and motivation. Half of the earnings from each copy sold are paid to the seller.
“By applying the ‘hand up, not a handout’ approach, we are working on building up the capability of our sellers towards gaining their independence, return to regular social life, and inclusion in the labor market,” says Milosav.
In addition to the earnings, communication with buyers and passers-by is very important to sellers. The uniqueness of street newspapers lies precisely in the fact that they build connections between sellers and readers because sales are done face-to-face. This interaction helps build bridges between those on the margins and the general public. It also helps everyone understand the key issues of social exclusion and see that we are all the same, we just have not had the same chances in life.
“Over the past ten years, we have been able to do so much to help our sellers. We regularly produce specially designed collections of Liceulice t-shirts. We have also launched the Vreva street festival of activism, the My Homeless Neighbor online initiative to help the homeless, and the For Good Reasons platform for the promotion of socially-engaged design,” explains Milosav.
To help its associates, Liceulice provides the sellers in Belgrade with support from their in-house professional team; Novi Sad sellers are taken care of by partners from the Patrija association; and the sellers in Kikinda are supported by the local center for the provision of social protection services. This support refers to general consultation, helping with individual financial planning, assisting with sales plans, and sometimes solving acute problems. In addition, vendors who need it are included in psycho-social empowerment groups.
“During the pandemic, sellers’ support was somewhat different than in regular circumstances. Our team was in regular telephone contact with all vendors, who found this loss of routine extremely difficult, and, during the same period, we distributed aid packages to them several times. We also helped some sellers by obtaining special permits for them to go out during curfew, helping them to find accommodation, or in other ways,” Milosav tells us.
With the help of the money they earn and the support provided, many Liceulice magazine sellers have managed to finally find adequate accommodation, often overcome alcoholism or drug addiction, and, most importantly, gain their independence. Their touching and inspiring stories can be found at: https://liceulice.org/

created: February 27th, 2024

author: Danica Novaković


text:
How the Kilim, Sevdalinka, and Baklava Can Take On a Whole New Dimension | Balkan Diskurs
Vanja Šunjić
March 1st, 2024
Together, non-governmental organisations, businesses, and cultural institutions from across Bosnia and Herzegovina have received approximately four million euros from the Creative Europe Fund over the past six years. This fund is a great opportunity for local cultural workers to meet and collaborate with their colleagues from all over Europe, improve their work, and produce high-quality international programs.
The Creative Europe Desk in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been operating since July 2015 and is led by Aida Kalender, an electrical engineer and Master of Cultural Management and Cultural Policies. Aida has been working in the cultural sector for 20 years. She was responsible for the “I am the Museum” campaign, which opened the National Museum of BiH after it was forced to close for three years. The campaign was awarded the Europa Nostra award – the largest European award for cultural heritage – in 2016.
Creative Europe is a European Union-level fund for financing projects in the cultural and audio-visual sectors. In the period from 2014 to 2020, the Fund disbursed 1.36 billion euros to projects across the continent.
“These funds are distributed to applicants in Creative Europe member countries. These are EU members and neighbouring countries that have signed an agreement with the European Commission and entered the Creative Europe program. The funds are distributed through the more than 20 open calls and competitions that are announced every year,” explains Aida Kalender.
In addition to the largest and most relevant cultural events, Creative Europe also helps small cultural institutions in underdeveloped countries. Applications are evaluated by international experts based upon the quality of the project, its European dimension, and the extent to which the project fits into the priorities set by Creative Europe. One of the main priorities is audience development, as well as working with children, youth, and marginalised groups.
“It does not matter if projects are from small or big towns, the only thing that is valued is the quality of the project! So far, BiH organizations have received approximately four million euros from the Creative Europe fund, which is a very good result,” says Kalender.
Through its projects, Creative Europe aims to direct the cultural sector towards professionalisation and modernisation, so that cultural production appropriate to the 21st century can be created.
“Of course, that does not mean neglecting cultural heritage. On the contrary, the promotion of cultural heritage is very prominent in the Creative Europe calls, but with an insistence on new forms of representation and interpretation. The goal is to bring it closer to a younger audience, one which is already growing up on new technologies. So, the kilim, sevdalinka, and baklava, when brought into the context of, say, artificial intelligence, can take on a completely new dimension,” explains Kalender.
Support for Film and Theatre
The head of the MEDIA desk of Creative Europe is Zoran Galić, a film producer from Banja Luka. He is the founder and owner of VizArt Production, which has more than 30 feature and short feature, documentary, and animated films in its portfolio. He is a member of the European Film Academy and a European expert on projects in culture and cultural policies. He says that BiH has been an area that has been active in the film industry since the late 1950s.
“This all stopped during the 1990s, but with the films and awards that came in the new millennium, we have returned to our rightful place. Bosnian film is our most important and largest export product, and the MEDIA sub-program (part of the Creative Europe program that finances film and complementary activities) has, since 2014, become an important way of financing many film projects,” he explains.
During the last six years, more than one hundred projects have been co-financed by this program, thanks to which we have also been able to see many European films in BiH cinemas.
“We have developed our most important films with the MEDIA program, and the Sarajevo Film Festival and CineLink Industry Days have been supported from the beginning through every call for support to festivals and markets. For this success in gaining sustained support from the MEDIA program, we can thank the agile film producers who used the opportunity offered by this pan-European fund in the best possible way,” explains Galić.
In 2018, the SHIFT KEY project received the support of the Creative Europe program. The lead organisation on the project is the MESS International Theatre Festival from Bosnia and Herzegovina, with partner festivals from the Netherlands, Spain, Great Britain, and Italy.
“The festivals selected 12 young companies and artists to support. The project thematically treats the fluidity of European identity and celebrates the richness of diversity. All artists who are part of the project originate from several European countries or were born in one country and live and work in another. Everyone is a migrant in one way or another,” says the director of the MESS festival, Nihad Kreševljaković.
Kreševljaković sees the Creative Europe Fund as an important opportunity for the implementation of ideas and projects. In addition to financial assistance, he emphasizes how it also enables those supported to gain valuable experience.
Aida Kalender believes that BiH does not lag behind Europe in terms of ideas and creativity, but that it lacks a systematic approach to culture, including transparent financing of culture, a focus on quality, systematic support for young talent, audience education, and overall professionalisation of the cultural sector. In short, contemporary cultural policy.
Candidacies for European Capital of Culture
Kalender sees the candidacies of Mostar and Banja Luka for the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) as extremely important for the cultural sector of BiH. Firstly, the candidacies meant that for the first time, the city administrations became interested in supporting a long-term development project in the field of culture. Secondly, the initiative came from the culture sector itself, where cultural workers were empowered to try to persuade their cities to enter this very complicated application process.
“The processes took a long time, and an atmosphere of togetherness was created among cultural actors who are usually fragmented and divided. And finally, for the first time since Dayton, the two Bosnian cities wrote down their cultural strategies, which represent a vision for cultural development over the next 10 years. That is a huge success,” she tells us.
She believes that it is a huge success that both Mostar and Banja Luka were shortlisted for the ECOC and that they “defended” their applications before a European expert commission.
“What was clear to the members of the commission, however, was that neither of the two cities could give guarantees that the financing of such a large program would be truly supported by local actors from BiH, which is the obligation of every city that carries the title of ECOC. The share of local funds in the multi-million budget of the ECOC is quite large: only one and a half million euros come from Europe. The ECOC process lasts from five to seven years and no one can guarantee what the political system in our country will be like in that period. Will, for example, the new minister accept or obstruct the decision made by his predecessor regarding the ECOC? The expert commission correctly assessed that the political support for such a huge project is not stable. They made the right decision in awarding the title of ECOC to the Norwegian city,” adds Kalender.
As explained, if it happened that any of the BiH candidate cities were elected, an agreement on the implementation of the ECOC program would be signed, which is binding for the city. In the case that the planned budget commitment was not fulfilled, the city would get into financial problems, such as was the case with Maribor.
“The decision that neither Mostar nor Banja Luka would receive the title of ECOC is probably still a true reflection of our realistic capabilities, but not our wishes,” concludes Aida Kalender.
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This article was initially published in the first edition of MIR Magazine. MIR, which means ‘peace’ in Bosnian is an annual publication and platform for young inventive people developed by the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. It is dedicated to individuals and organizations that left us a legacy of strongly built foundations to continue our fight for peace and justice.

created: March 1st, 2024

author: Vanja Šunjić


text:
Almin Zrno “Undisguised Characters of My Photographs: Small and Fragile, Naked and Free” | Balkan Diskurs
Adelisa Mašić
March 4th, 2024
Almin Zrno’s love for photography started long ago, when, following his intuition, he knocked on the door of the famous CEDUS photography club. This introduced him to the world of his future profession. His career has been marked by various photographic expressions. Today, he finds his expression in nude and portrait photographs.
One of the most important photographers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Almin Zrno has held 18 solo exhibitions in BiH and abroad. He is a member of the Artists’ Association of Applied Arts and Designers of BiH, is the author of two monographs, and is the winner of seven prestigious Collegium Artisticum awards for best photography. Zrno also has the status of a prominent independent artist of the Sarajevo Canton.
He describes himself as a completely ordinary man, in love with life and all that life offers us. He does not like to be thought of as an art photographer, but a creator, or at least trying to be so. He draws inspiration from everything around him and transforms it into his famous achromatic works.
“Most of my photos are made in valerian achromatic colors so everyone could color them in their own way. Each of us, when faced with a work of art, should experience what he himself is. Such colors evoke the most empathy in me personally because my dreams are also made of such colors,” explains Almin Zrno.
He had been involved in documentary photography for a long time before one of his most famous works, Mother of Srebrenica (2001), marked a turning point in his artistic work. Because of this work, he decided not to pursue the genre anymore.
“The photograph Mother of Srebrenica was taken in 2001. After I took it, I realized that I couldn’t build my happiness on someone else’s misfortune, because no war photo has ever stopped a war. We are constantly questioning the past and doing historical revisionism… but art’s place is not there, it is somewhere else. If I continued to work in that direction, I would annul myself, which would lead nowhere,” he says.
Zrno believes that art is a strong drive that a person has within oneself. His leitmotif is to love the art that lies within ourselves, not ourselves in art. His work has now taken on new contours, in the form of nude photography, which, he says, offers him countless possibilities for revelations and discoveries of both body and spirit.
Atypical for this region is Zrno’s creation of his Apology of Eros monograph. It consists of 53 photographs divided into two cycles – ‘Fresco’ and ‘Nude’ – and two professional texts written by Professor Dr. Amela Hadžimejlić and Professor Dr. Fehim Hadžimuhamedović.
“It is not only about sensitivity toward the physical, the act, but also sensitivity toward the spirit. We all have masks which we skillfully put on the minute we wake up. Therefore, my photographs are maskless, showing people naked and free and, at the same time, small and fragile. We need to dive into ourselves and find ourselves, because that is where the center of the universe and the center of all our problems and solutions are, and we can only do that if we are completely naked. This is my ‘Apology of Eros’. It is my response to the world around me and a mirror of my reality,” explains Zrno, addressing the underlying concept of his monograph.
He adds that his photography cycles, through certain gestures and poses, suggest certain emotional states, forcing us to celebrate love and freedom, thus counterbalancing the nonsense of the world we are surrounded by today.
Through the promotion of himself and his art outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, he also promotes the country he comes from. In this way, he tries to break down stereotypes about this area.
“I try to raise awareness of certain taboos in our society and break down prejudices. The issue is that some people have limited art to what is dark, negative. They insist that art can only be of that realm, and we are all expected to follow suit. I hope that one day we will reach the level of freedom at which we can truly be free,” he says.
Almin Zrno does not consider photography a job, but a love, and for him love is not possession but giving. In fact, this has become his personal maxim. “As soon as the desire to own something appears, it is no longer love,” he says.

created: March 4th, 2024

author: Adelisa Mašić


text:
Message from young Bosnian sportswomen: “Don’t allow prejudices. Be brave, persistent, and believe in yourselves.” | Balkan Diskurs
Neda Vukadin
March 8th, 2024
Young women and successful athletes – Milena Nikolić, Lana Pudar, the Sipović sisters – Ajla, Nejra, and Emina – are the best and greatest ambassadors of our country, proudly standing shoulder to shoulder with sports giants, breaking their own and others’ records, and proudly inscribing themselves in Bosnian-Herzegovinian and world history.
They agree on one thing – to fight for the colors of their flag and celebrate successes in their country with their people are feelings that nothing will ever surpass. The message to girls, as well as to all women: “Be brave, persistent, and dream. The world of sports awaits you,” and the most famous Bosnian-Herzegovinian mermaid from Mostar adds: “Believe in yourself and do the hard work. There are no shortcuts!”
Milena Nikolić is one of the best European female footballers showing that there are no limits to her talent and hard work, yet she unconditionally returns to play for the colors of her country whenever the opportunity arises. The famous Sipović sisters, Ajla, Nejra, and Emina, together and individually, have charted new paths for Bosnian-Herzegovinian karate in the world and shown that support can indeed be a trigger for success. The same ideal follows the most famous Bosnian-Herzegovinian mermaid in history – Lana Pudar, a young swimmer whose name echoed around the world even before she turned eighteen and who already then deserved a place among the most famous sportswomen Bosnia and Herzegovina has ever had.
They spoke about their sports journey for Balkan Diskurs on the occasion of International Women’s Day, offering some advice for girls who may aspire to carry the title of successful Bosnian-Herzegovinian sportswomen alongside their names.
From childhood battles with prejudices to the throne of women’s football
Milena Nikolić made her football beginnings in her hometown of Trebinje and at “Leotar,” a club which was not publicly known for the existence of women’s football. Although she excels in all positions on the field, this 32-year-old plays as a forward for Swiss club FC Basel. It’s impossible to list all her awards and recognitions. She is a prominent member of the Bosnian national team, and her statement “It is an honour for me to wear the jersey with the national emblem, we will not give up,” has won sympathies across the region.
As a child, she harbored immense love for the most important side activity in the world. When she started training in her childhood, women in general were more often in a subordinate position and faced prejudices. Additionally, training conditions were not at an admirable level as female footballers practiced on undeveloped fields without changing rooms or club facilities. It was, as she emphasizes, difficult to survive, but love conquered all. Today, she is a professional athlete with maximum dedication, and each visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina means a lot to her.
Regarding the overall sports growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina, she believes that it has progressed over the last ten years, with many more girls wanting to play football. Additionally, the national teams are developing in the right direction and playing better each year. However, Milena adds that there is still much to be done and developed to approach European standards, especially concerning infrastructure and media attention.
As for the advantages of training in Bosnia and Herzegovina, she mentions the proximity to family and friends. However, Milena notes that a drawback is the lack of investment in women’s football, resulting in lower quality because girls opt for other professions or sports where there is more investment or higher earnings. She emphasizes that the infrastructure for playing football is at a very low level and that women’s football receives very little media coverage.
“Women in sports in Bosnia and Herzegovina definitely do not receive as much attention as they deserve, neither from the authorities nor from ordinary people. Generally, sports in Bosnia and Herzegovina are not followed as much as they should be, as some other things are systematically imposed on us, pushing sports into the background, which is terrifying to me. Fewer and fewer people are engaging in sports, and consequently, the interest in following sports is diminishing,” said Milena.
Reflecting on football as the most important side activity in the world, she emphasizes that the stands at men’s Premier League matches are almost empty in most games, not to mention women’s football, as there are people who don’t even know that women’s football exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is very discouraging. On the other hand, she explains that there is a very small number of those who regularly follow and support them, mostly family and friends, and for that, they owe them enormous gratitude.
For now, she doesn’t plan to return to Bosnia and Herzegovina, at least not in the near future, and we will see her in Swiss Basel until 2025. As she herself says, she will see what the future holds. Her message to all girls in Bosnia and Herzegovina who would like to roll the professional ball on the grassy field like her: “Believe in and follow your dreams, and never allow prejudices to stand in the way of achieving your dreams.”
The Sarajevo diamonds shine worldwide.
How often do you hear about three sisters standing side by side achieving the greatest successes in one field? Such examples are indeed rare, but did you know that one such example is hidden in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina? Sisters Ajla, Nejra, and Emina Sipović have elevated Bosnian karate to the highest level in just a few years, so much so that the name of our country shines proudly on the world podiums. They have brought hundreds of medals to Bosnia and Herzegovina so far. Their skill is best demonstrated by the fact that they have been known to win competitions that had up to 5,000 competitors.
A typical day for the Sipović sisters consists of three training sessions. These are great efforts, sacrifices, but also a struggle to achieve success. Despite the challenges, Nejra emphasizes that the joy and satisfaction that come from sports growth and representing their country surpass all these difficulties.
When it comes to practicing karate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are several advantages, but also challenges that the Sipović sisters face. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate conditions and government support is often emphasized, which can diminish the enthusiasm and motivation of athletes.
“The state doesn’t invest enough in athletes, resulting in financial difficulties that many athletes face. Compared to other countries, our system of support for athletes may not be as developed, which can make achieving top results more difficult,” said Nejra. She added that despite these challenges, there is a bright spot in her life, and that is the support of her family.
As emphasized, the support and encouragement of family are immensely important. “Their presence makes me stronger and more motivated. Together, we manage to overcome obstacles and challenges that come with training in our country. It is precisely this support that gives me the strength to continue and achieve my sports dreams, despite all the challenges that may arise along the way,” says Nejra.
When it comes to supporting women in sports in Bosnia and Herzegovina, she agrees with Milena that there is some progress, but there is still room for improvement.
“The authorities have begun to recognize the importance of supporting women’s sports, but we still face challenges such as insufficient financial support. More investments and concrete measures are needed to create better conditions for the development of women’s sports. As for the support from ordinary people, we can notice an increasing interest and support. However, there is still a need for greater visibility of women’s sports events and results to raise awareness and promote support for us,” Nejra explained.
Nejra’s goal is to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina and continue building her sports career in her homeland.
“I believe we have extraordinary potentials and resources that can support the development of sports in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I want to be part of that process. I plan to continue training and competing, but I also want to be an inspiration to young athletes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I see my future in Bosnia and Herzegovina as an athlete who will not only achieve success in sports but also contribute to the social community through the promotion of sports, a healthy lifestyle, and positive values. I believe that together we can build a better future for athletes and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” emphasized Nejra, referring to the message she wants to convey to future young female karate athletes.
She advises all young girls, as well as female athletes, to believe in themselves and their dreams: “That is a golden rule that is worth following regardless of the challenges that may arise along the way; it is important to remain persistent and believe in your abilities. There are no limits to what you can achieve if you have faith in yourself. Secondly, be prepared to work hard and be dedicated to your sport. Achieving success requires a lot of effort, hard work, and sacrifice. Be prepared to put in the effort and be committed to your training and goals. Also, be open to learning and growth. Never stop looking for ways to improve in your sport.”
Nejra adds that young sportswomen should be prepared to listen to coaches, accept advice, criticism, and work on improving their skills.
“In the end, never forget that sport is a journey full of challenges, but also joy. Enjoy every moment, learn from defeats, and celebrate your successes. Your love for sports will guide you and inspire you to achieve everything you desire. All it takes is your courage, perseverance, and belief in yourself. Be brave, be persistent, and dream big. The world of sports awaits you,” Nejra encouraged all girls and future adult women who will build their careers right in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ajla and Emina mostly agreed with their sister, but Ajla had a few more words to add.
“Being a female athlete in Bosnia and Herzegovina comes with a passion for sports and challenges in facing limitations. I would describe my life as full of challenges, but also incredible moments of growth and success in the sports world of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The advantages of training in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the camaraderie and support among athletes, as well as opportunities for development and progress. The disadvantages are the lack of adequate resources and infrastructure, which can hinder professional development,” said Ajla.
She believes that women in Bosnian sports are now recognized and supported, but there is still room for improvement. Investment in Bosnian sports is being made, but sometimes it’s not enough, and the reality is that the audience appreciates women in sports and follows their successes, but the support could be greater. Her plans for the future involve working on sports development because she is still young and believes that a great future awaits her. Ajla sees herself in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where, as she emphasizes, she will continue to fight with all her heart for her beloved homeland.
She tells young sportswomen and girls who dream about entering the world of sports to follow their dreams, be persistent and believe in themselves. “I would advise them to surround themselves with positive people and to ignore obstacles. The message is that they can achieve anything they want if they work hard and believe in themselves,” emphasized Ajla.
The Mostar gem wins even in the world’s greatest depths.
Choosing strong words that could describe the greatness and importance of Lana Pudar for Bosnia and Herzegovina in every aspect, we are sure that it would not be an easy task even for the most eloquent writers. This 18-year-old girl is a specialist and multiple record holder for the dolphin style, and her technique of breaking through the water in just a few years conquered the whole world, greatly raising Bosnia and Herzegovina on the list of successful countries in sport. The audience gave her the nickname “mermaid,” as she has been spending her days in the water since childhood, training, fighting, and becoming Bosnia’s most precious water jewel.
Pudar, currently one of the most famous sports names in the region, tells our women and all readers that the recognition of women in sports determines their results, in principle the same is the case with men. She does not see any difference or discrimination in relation to women, that is, she has not felt it on her own skin.
When it comes to investing in sports, Pudar stated that at the beginning of her professional career, it was very difficult. “This is best known from my home club ‘Orka’ and my family. Later, when I made the first serious results, more serious investments started, allowing us not to worry about whether we will be able to finance some of our basic needs, such as going to competitions or training camps,” Lana said.
She continued to express that the support she receives and feels from people in our country and the diaspora is “simply incredible”.
“It’s fascinating wherever I’ve gone for a major competition, from Australia to Japan, there has been a huge number of our people in the stands giving me great support. Especially at the last World Championship in Doha, where there were over 200 fans from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the stands. So, people from our country really appreciate and respect what my team and I do,” Lana boasted.
Like in all areas of life in our country, including sports, Lana believes there is a lack of systematic organization, and athletes in our country feel it on their own skin.
“All of that has its charm, and such situations often give me an extra motivation to be even better. I don’t think there is any difference between men and women in that regard. Especially when it comes to top-level sports, which have their own specific rules and regulations, which are the same for both men and women. My sports growth has been exactly as it should be, and I think my results prove that” Lana said.
When asked about the future, she answers that her plans are mostly short term, which is the upcoming period now until the Olympic Games and the Olympic Games themselves, while all other plans will wait.
“I have time to make quality decisions for my future, but I would definitely love it the most if I had an Olympic pool in my city and could go to the biggest world competitions from my city. There is no city more beautiful than Mostar anywhere in the world. And I have seen quite a few in the past few years,” Lana stated.
Her message to all young people who want to try their hand at any sport in our country is: “When you want to be good at any job you do, the message you need to send is universal and very simple. Believe in yourself and do the hard work. There are no shortcuts!”

created: March 8th, 2024

author: Neda Vukadin


text:
Jelena Milušić and Merima Ključo: Balkan Soul Expressed Through Music | Balkan Diskurs
Luka Čavar
March 11th, 2024
While Jelena Milušić caresses the specific counter-alto with her voice, one of the world’s most famous accordionists, Merima Ključo, accompanies Jelena on the accordion. They have both chosen music as their vocation and call their collaboration destiny.
Their album “Lume” contains 10 cover songs all around the world and five original songs inspired by the Romanian, Croatian, Kosovo and Sephardic traditions. For some of the songs they immediately knew they were the right choice, for others it took a little longer.
Jelena tells how the selection of songs was an intense and wonderful process. Both of them suggested songs, and it was essential that all the songs fit both of them in in terms of arrangement and program. The album has been produced by Merima, for whom “Lume” is the product of a wonderful collaboration.
“Lume means love. This album is all about that to me,” she adds.
For Jelena, working on this album is a great experience from which she has learned a lot about understanding and interpreting music.
“We often forget that lyrics are the basis of interpretation for the song because we focus too much on accurate and beautiful singing and technique and in that process, we often forget to convey the message lyrics carry. Merima pointed this out to me and helped me become aware of one very important part of my creative personality. The entire process of making this album was amazing – from the selection of songs, preparation, rehearsal and recording, and above all it is a special feeling to perform live with Merima,” says Jelena.
The reactions to their album were, as Jelena says, extremely positive and emotional.
“We had the opportunity to perform in the region and Europe, as well as in the US. Regardless of the region, the audience shares with us feelings in which you can sense admiration. There are also compliments for the performance and energy between Merima and me. Merima’s composition is especially positively welcomed because it is full of surprises,” she adds.
They also revived Aleksa Šantić’s fairy-tale poem “Snowflakes.” It started with Merima proposing to produce Jelena’s solo album, which she gladly accepted.
“I really liked what’s written because it brought me back to the carefree days of my childhood and revived Mostar from the most beautiful memories. We decided to record audio and video for Snowflakes and announce my solo album with that song”, says Jelena.
Merima adds that Aleksa Šantić’s songs are very visual.
“You just can see every word and thought he wrote, which inspired and encouraged me to create a sound image,” she says.
The adaptation of the hit classic “Catch Me in the Suburbs”, performed by Merima with the famous Croatian jazz musician Matija Dedić, was awarded the Porin. She enjoys the recognition by the other musicians, but she is especially glad that people from the region recognized her hard work, and that they are familiar with her work.
Her inspiration comes from the music of Sephardic Jews, which also can be felt on the album “Lume.” And the love for that music started at the age of fourteen.
“I was walking down the Sarajevan streets and passing by an instrument store I heard a wonderful melody. The sound was somehow familiar to me, but different from anything I had heard until then. I couldn’t resist the urge to walk into the store and ask what kind of music it was. I was told it was Sephardic music. I was and still am fascinated by that music, so I did a series of compositions and arrangements on Sephardic themes. My composition ‘Sarajevo Haggadah: Book Music’ was a great success and five years after its premiere and numerous performances, it is still performed all over America,” says Merima.
Jelena and Attila Aksoj recently recorded their second album “Yo Hanino, Tu Hanina,” which took all listeners into the world of Sephardic music.
“Sephardic music is special and magical. People feel it even though they don’t understand the lyrics because it is listened to with the heart. In addition, the music of Sephardic Jews is part of our cultural heritage. Given that there are not many artists in our country and region who perform Sephardic songs, I think it is very important to preserve this tradition,” concludes Jelena.
Photography: Miki Olabarri Powell, Marko Ercegović, VTF Studio
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This article was initially published in the first edition of MIR Magazine. MIR, which means ‘peace’ in Bosnian is an annual publication and platform for young inventive people developed by the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. It is dedicated to individuals and organizations that left us a legacy of strongly built foundations to continue our fight for peace and justice.

created: March 11th, 2024

author: Luka Čavar


text:
The Fight for (Full) Marriage Recognition in Bosnia and Montenegro’s Queer Communities | Balkan Diskurs
Melani Isović
March 15th, 2024
In Bosnian society, same-sex partnership is still taboo. It is discriminatory that same-sex unions are not recognized in the legal system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which brings along a range of other problems, including inheritance rights, property management, partner maintenance, access to social and health benefits, pensions and tax benefits, as well as restrictions on visiting partners in case of serious illness.
Taking into account the conservative, religious and patriarchal elements present in family structures, it becomes apparent that the majority heterosexual population has a negative view of LGBTQI people and their demands. Such social factors further complicate the struggle for the recognition of rights and the acceptance of the LGBTQI community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to a 2017 survey by the Sarajevo Open Center (SOC), as many as 80 percent of same-sex couples in Bosnia and Herzegovina want to formalise a life partnership, but their years-long relationships and the life they have built together are not recognized by state institutions.
Amil Brković, a lawyer and legal advisor from SOC, notes that Bosnia and Herzegovina has done very little in terms of recognizing the rights of same-sex couples. The legalization of the rights of same-sex partners is the responsibility of the entities and the autonomous Brčko District. To that end, the process of legal recognition has started only in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), which began the process in October 2018.
“The first step entailed the Interdepartmental Group conducting a comprehensive analysis of legal regulations and their impact on same-sex couples, and drawing conclusions that would include recommendations on what needs to be done to improve the position of same-sex couples in the FBiH,” Brković explains.
Brković adds that the second step of the process requires the relevant ministries, by order of the Federation of BiH (FBiH) Government, to appoint experts who would draft the law on same-sex cohabitation in the FBiH.
“From June 2023 to the moment of this interview, this second step has not even started because the Federal Ministry of Health is waiting to appoint its expert, while other ministries have done it on time,” emphasizes Brković.
No Recognition Means No Rights
Same-sex partnerships face many challenges and obstacles in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Long-term relationships of same-sex couples do not enjoy recognition or legal protection, which significantly limits their exercise of various rights that are available to heterosexual couples, regardless of whether they are married or not. Brković states that same-sex partners are not eligible for tax benefits or housing loans that married heterosexual couples can access. Likewise, if one same-sex partner dies, the other does not have the right to legally inherit the rights of the deceased partner. If one partner is hospitalized, the other does not have the right to visit as they will not be considered a family member.
The results of a 2023 survey of the problems and needs of Queer people in Bosnia and Herzegovina evaluated the responses of more than 250 respondents.  The questions assessed the importance of legalizing different aspects of same-sex partnerships using a scale of one to five.
When it comes to public opinion, certain prejudices have remained throughout the last decade.
”In the survey of public opinion in the Western Balkans from 2015 and the repeated survey in 2023, over 66 percent of respondents from Bosnia and Herzegovina believed that LGBTQI people should not express their identity outside their four walls,” said Brković.
However, when respondents were presented with rights that are unavailable to same-sex partners, such as the right to health insurance, the right to visit a sick partner, tax benefits, inheritance of property and pensions, maintenance obligations, the right to custody of the partner’s biological child, the majority of respondents were in favor of them. According to Brković’s explanation, the respondents’ support decreased when it came to adopting children. He notes that proceedings are being conducted before the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the fact that a person is unable to inherit their deceased partner’s estate from a same-sex relationship.
“These are real life stories of people who live in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to whom the state must provide equal rights,”  says Brković.
In the absence of legal protection, same-sex couples try to find alternative options to be recognized by the law.
“There are situations in which same-sex couples from BiH have gone to neighboring countries to entera same-sex marriage and then, upon returning to BiH, have asked the domestic registry authorities to recognize a foreign public document on registered partnership in order to exercise their rights in BiH. All these cases have ended up before the courts and are awaiting decisions,” notes Brković.
As an alternative to seeking court recognition, some same-sex couples have decided to conclude a lifetime maintenance contract with a notary, and regulate the issue of inheritance through a will. According to Brković, these alternative directions are neither a stable nor a long-term solution for protecting the family life of same-sex couples in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“It is necessary to legally and comprehensively regulate the legal position of persons in same-sex unions,” says Brković.
Legal protection of same-sex partners is traditionally opposed by right-wing political currents. There are also parties that support and advocate the rights of same-sex partners, such as the liberal Naša Stranka, but Brković adds that there are not many advocates on the political scene and that it will take a long time for the situation to change.
“Politicians generally come forward to speak about LGBTQI issues when the visibility of the community is increased. For example, before or after the Pride parades. In this way, political points are collected, all at the expense of one of the most marginalized communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Brković states.
Anisa Pračić Šehić is a member of the organizing committee of the BH Pride Parade. For her, legal recognition of same-sex partnerships in Bosnia and Herzegovina at its entity level and Brčko District level would certainly make life easier for same-sex partners.
“The changes in the legislation would give a final confirmation of the visibility and demands of the LGBTQ+ community. The requirements are very clear, namely the right to a dignified life, protection of private and family life, prohibition of discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons and prevention of violence in all its forms,” said Pračić Šehić.
Rights Mean Mental Health
Legalizing same-sex relationships would also lead to a significant improvement in the mental health of the Queer community, as well as reducing their stigmatization.
“Certainly, the recognition of same-sex partnerships would give a sense of freedom. Social awareness should and must move in the direction of reducing homophobia, transphobia and biphobia,” believes Pračić Šehić. He also believes that the rate of violence would decrease, as competent institutions would be obliged to protect the LGBTQ+ community.
Admir Adilović, President of the Tuzla Open Center, says that Bosnian society has never been more ready for this change.
“We always ask ourselves whether it is the right time or not. There is no such thing as a right time. There is only this time that we are living right now. Therefore, now is the time for change and revolution. Whether our society is sufficiently sensitized or not is a separate topic. My position is that society must adapt because it is about basic rights and freedoms that must be available to all of us,” says Adilović.
Queer Life Partnerships in Neighboring Montenegro
In neighboring Montenegro, Miloš Knežević, Director of Queer Montenegro, says that the LGBTQ+ community in Montenegro only has the option of entering into a “life partnership” but not marriage. The Montenegrin constitution stipulates that marriage is only possible between a man and a woman. Miloš adds that great hope for the recognition of marriage has returned for social progress.
“All the necessary by-laws have still not been adopted, which would enable us to ensure that all LGBTQ+  people live in their full capacity under this Act. Laws related to the family and family ‘norms’ are the most stagnant. All this sends us a very clear message – the institutions of the system do not want to continue to deal with these obligations that are directly under their jurisdiction, so for years we have been going through direct institutional discrimination,” Knežević explains.
Knežević believes that Montenegrin society lives a certain disguised tolerance. In other words, thanks to activists and the civil sector, society has seemingly come to terms with the fact that LGBTQ+ people exist. However, rights such as freedom from discrimination remain contested. “In addition to institutional discrimination, attacks on LGBTQ+ activists and our premises where we work continue to occur, and hate speech on the Internet has never been greater,” emphasizes Knežević.
He adds that there are a small number of Queer couples in Montenegro who have taken advantage of the possibility of  “life partnerships”. This, as Knežević says, is a clear indication of how accepted they are in society.
“Despite the fact that there are certain legal solutions, unfortunately LGBTQ+ people in Montenegro are still treated as second-class citizens – which reminds us every day that the fight for our rights must never stop,”  says Knežević.
Jelena Đukić, a Montenegrin actress, points out that, after the legalization of same-sex life partnerships, the everyday life of Queer citizens of Montenegro has not changed dramatically. Although significant progress has been made, she notes that LGBTQI people still face challenges because they live in a traditionalist society that often rejects and denies basic human rights, such as freedom from discrimination.
“The adoption of the law on same-sex unions was supposed to put an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, apart from the fact that the people I know after so many years of living together can register their union, like all citizens of our country, that they have equal rights of inheritance, joint property, pensions, etc. (although I would wait for the answer to the question of the overall application of this law ), I’m not sure how much anyone’s daily life has changed,” stated Đukić, emphasizing that the law has  not reduced intolerance and violence towards members of the LGBTQ+ population in Montenegro.
Đukić stated that anti-Queer discrimination is growing stronger in Montenegro and abroad, especially in public discourse.
“Politicians, generally public figures and the media, maintain and very often support the fire that falls precisely on marginalized groups. So, unfortunately, I would say that, although our legal framework may be progressing, I am afraid of this feeling that we as people are regressing and hating more and more on various grounds,” concludes Đukić.

created: March 15th, 2024

author: Melani Isović


text:
Bosnian designers who enchanted Beyonce | Balkan Diskurs
Anja Zulić
March 18th, 2024
Graphic designers Lejla Nuhić and Ajla Šarić have incorporated their love for graphics into well-known jewelry brand Werkstatt, recognizable for its minimalist industrial style. Their pieces are designed for authentic women and have been worn by none other than Queen B.
After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo, Lejla and Ajla worked for many years as graphic designers. They would print their own graphics in their free time, all the while dreaming of their future. For years, they equipped the studio and waited for the right moment. That moment came in 2015 when they decided to start designing and making jewelry together in addition to graphics. So began their Werkstatt story.
They chose the German word werkstatt, meaning ‘workshop’, for the brand name as it describes their common workspace. As is usually the case, the beginning was not easy. Initially, they were making jewelry for themselves, simply satisfying their own aesthetic desires, but, after a while, their jewelry began to attract the attention of others.
“The orders started to come in. Since we both enjoyed creating and producing, we realized that it was necessary to decide in which direction to continue with our work, especially since we both had other jobs at the time and we felt it was very important to be honest with ourselves and others,” they say.
From Hobby To Profession
The growing demand and positive reaction to their jewelry helped them to make the final leap and to move from the ‘hobby’ phase to the ‘professional’ one. It was not easy to start their story of a handmade jewelry business in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The dynamics of brand creation, production and development required a lot of time. At first, they tell us, they were unaware of how important serious promotion is for brand development and market positioning. It turned out that after product quality, promotion was the second most important factor.
“Fortunately, we did not hesitate to research, listen and seek the support and advice of others with more experience in entrepreneurial design and branding. We had a mostly positive experience with the reactions of others, starting with people in Sarajevo,” they recall, reflecting back on how it all looked five years ago.
The support that the designers received from people in the fashion and art worlds helped them immensely in growing Werkstatt. The help and guidance of all those who have supported their work has been indispensable.
“Social networks came in handy when it came to the positioning of Werkstatt as a brand, and they helped our visibility and recognition outside of Sarajevo and even the region itself. At the same time, we tried to expand our network of retail partners, trying to base these partnerships on important aesthetic and business criteria,” they tell us.
World-class Cooperation
Four years later, the jewelry created by these two girls caught the eye of one of the most famous musicians of today, Beyoncé. The collaboration with the famous Queen B came in July 2019 through the designer Boris Kargotić and his Brand Demode Couture.
“Boris invited us to make jewelry that would go with one of his Lion King-themed Beyonce creations. Whether any of these creations would be in the shortlist was very uncertain. In the end, the project lasted 10 days, during which we worked intensively. The cooperation radically increased the interest in our work, more or less overnight, primarily in the media.” Their jewelry was worn by Beyoncé in the “Spirit” video, which was created as the soundtrack for the movie The Lion King.
Consequently, Lejla and Ajla received dozens of requests for interviews, which built more brand recognition around Werkstatt, as well as of course increasing demand and interest in the pieces that come out of their workshop.
“Working with Beyoncé has helped us to better understand our capabilities, fears, and imposed or self-imposed limitations. It has helped us to accept that it is OK to work and hope for great successes and results, which is especially important to us because sometimes it seems that our community values a kind of lack of ambition,” believe Lejla and Ajla.
Meeting the Needs Of Different Women
Werkstatt jewelry is made of brass and zinc, and for necklaces, earrings and bracelets they use silver accessories. As with any art, jewelry making needs inspiration, and Lejla and Ajla look for it in their graphics.
“What makes our jewelry different are the mini graphics that you can see on each piece. And what stands out in these little graphics is the contrasting effect of the intaglio printing,” say these creative designers. They play with textures, colors and lines from both everyday life and all kinds and forms of art. But in the end, their biggest inspiration is working together.
When designing and making a new piece of jewelry, they always have a certain woman in mind, from their own environment or public life. Such a broad field of inspiration means that they offer a wide range of jewelry where each fan can find something that suits them.
“This is how we gained the affection of women of different ages and different styles, such that, for example, our jewelry is often worn by both mothers and daughters. Werkstatt is for anyone who is not afraid to experiment, express themselves, and emphasize their own style, regardless of age or lifestyle,” they tell us.
This past year has been marked by the pandemic and has significantly changed everyday life as we know it. Due to the current situation, Lejla and Ajla tell us that they cannot plan much when it comes to the future of the business, but that they are currently focused on improving the design and quality of their products. They now experiment with new materials and techniques and try to maintain their level of creativity.
Werkstatt jewelry can be found in retailers in Sarajevo and Banja Luka, as well as Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. Their products can be found on their website as well.

created: March 18th, 2024

author: Anja Zulić


text:
DIS Theater: Where Dreams Are Born | Balkan Diskurs
Dunja Rujević
March 25th, 2024
DIS Theater for young actors was founded in Banja Luka 32 years ago. Today, they have more than 40 active members, and their premieres and first reruns are almost always sold out.
The most common themes of their plays are love, rebellion, and society from a young person’s perspective. The theater strives for its performances to also have a comedic character. They rarely deal with original works, preferring instead to find inspiration in them.
Anja Banjac is a young actress at the DIS Theater. Every play in which she has performed or watched is special to her in its own way, carrying its own charm and message, while often being  filled with anecdotes. DIS primarily produces plays for children.  It involves them in the story, acquaints them with the main characters, and provides them with the opportunity to help find a solution to the plays’ dilemmas.  On such occasions, the young audience receives answers and solutions, and after the performances, as Anja emphasizes, all these ‘gems’ become internal jokes that they fondly recall.
Anja explains the creative process from conceptual idea to premiere, including what happens if, initially, there is not a concrete idea.  “It starts with a meeting if the idea doesn’t exist yet, and with auditions if the idea is already developed. After that, there are reading rehearsals and role assignments, discussions about the script, resolving uncertainties, and fantasizing, followed by work on the stage,“ says  Anja. The last phase is the technical rehearsal, then the dress rehearsal, and the product of the entire process is the premiere performance.
The DIS Theater has established collaboration with almost all youth theaters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as beyond. They have co-produced plays with theater houses from Slovenia and Serbia, and have successfully collaborated with the youth theater in Zagreb. They also collaborate with the Vitez Youth Theater (Bosnia), as a result of which its actors performed a play titled “Comedy about Growing Up” at the Youth Academy “State of Peace”, which was  organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Post-Conflict Research Center in Sarajevo. They also organize the Youth Festival of Amateur Theaters with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republika Srpska.
“In the Balkans, the DIS Youth Theater ranks among the top three youth theaters,” adds Anja.
In comparison to other forms of artistic expression, Anja believes that the advantage of theater is that it is a “living thing” and as such offers the freedom to express opinions, ideas, and emotions in an interactive manner. “It allows direct contact with the audience and creates a collective feeling,” emphasizes the young actress.
Describing the theatrical dynamics among its members, she depicts a great wave of emotion and energy that carries the entire performance, while mutual understanding, acceptance, and support enable a successful collaboration.
Anja finishes by inviting all those who have a love for theatrical art to join the DIS Theater.  For her, the theater is a magical place where dreams are born, imagination comes to life, and where dedication leads to discovering something new every day.
“Start living, listening, and understanding yourself and the world around you because once you become part of the theatrical magic, it forever becomes a part of you,” concludes Anja.

created: March 25th, 2024

author: Dunja Rujević