The ”Superschools” program, implemented by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office of the Western Balkans (RYCO) continues in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with selected secondary schools from Serbia that will have the opportunity through cooperation and exchanges with schools from the Western Balkans to actively participate in building peace, reconciliation, intercultural learning and dialogue between schools and young people.
30 secondary schools from different parts of Serbia were presented and they will involve 400 students and teachers in these projects through exchanges and interactive activities. Exchanges give students and teachers the opportunity to travel, present themselves, their schools and customs, but also to learn something new about local communities in different parts of the region.
At the event in which secondary schools from Serbia were presented, the important of regional programs such as “Superschools” aimed at secondary schools was highlighted, the efforts of schools in creating a safe environment for young people were praised, as well as their contribution to the review of social constructs that burden the region. “The schools were selected because of their innovation and commitment to education, and their work and effort will now be additionally supported and will thus empower not only individual schools that are part of the project, but also the entire education system in Serbia”, said Slavica Đukić Dejanović, Minister of Education.
Young people make up a fifth of the population of the Western Balkans region and carry enormous potential for strengthening cooperation and understanding in the region. Through its youth policy, the European Union encourages the participation of young people in democratic life by supporting the social engagement of young people and strives to ensure that all young people have the necessary resources at their disposal for active participation in society.
“Today, as we celebrate the success of the third call of the “Superschools” program, I want to emphasize the enormous important of regional initiatives such as this one, which are specifically aimed at secondary schools. Such programs are crucial not only for strengthening the process of reconciliation and intercultural dialogue among young people in the Western Balkans, but also for the development of critical thinking and new skills and knowledge. I am very impressed by the proactive participation of schools from Serbia, which make up a third of the awarded participants of this year’s program. The long-term partnerships being established will provide invaluable opportunities for young people to critically explore and rethink the narratives that shape the heritage of the Western Balkans region, while empowering them with the skills and knowledge necessary for the future.
The European Commission, together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, is proud to continue to support this initiative, which not only promotes reconciliation and cooperation, but also encourages young people across the Western Balkans to shape the future”, emphasized Emanuele Giaufret, Ambassador of the European Union in the Republic of Serbia. It was also emphasized that this program is part of a broader support package from the European Commission for improving the status of young people in the EU and the Western Balkans.
Anke Konrad, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Serbia, said that on the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Process, within which RYCO was founded, we have the opportunity not only to witness the great results of the work of the offices in the Western Balkans, but also to see the plans for the coming period.
The Ministry of Tourism and Youth of the Republic of Serbia supports RYCO both through active work in the Governing Board and through support for various activities carried out by the organization, emphasized Ivana Antonijević, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Youth.
Through this year’s cycle of “Superschools”, RYCO will support 45 partnerships with a total of 90 schools from the region, of which 30 schools are from Serbia. As part of the exchange that will last from November 2024 to April 2025, each school will organize a visit to its partner school with a group of students and teachers, and in this way 400 young people and teachers from Serbia will have the opportunity to participate in exchanges.
“So far, 1,850 young people have participated in exchanges, as well as 300 teachers who had the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and skills through special programs created from them, and 154 schools have been part of the program so far. What speaks in favour of the success of the program is the fact that 90% of young people who were part of the activity pointed out that after the program, they understand the perspectives of others in the region much better and do not judge them, as well as that they believe that through the program they have found friends for life. Staying in families additionally contributes to deeper bonding and understanding and bridging differences, which is an additional element of this year’s program cycle”, concluded Marija Bulat, Head of the Local Office of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office in the Republic of Serbia.
The “Superschools” program aims to create strong and sustainable links between secondary schools in the region and build long-term partnerships and is part of a broader project, with a total value of EUR 5.5 million, financed by the European Union with EUR 4.5 million and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with an addition million euros.
The European Union’s support for youth and sports in Serbia is reflected in encouraging the education of young people, their mobility and involvement in decision-making, as well as the development of sports and the promotion of healthy lifestyle, and more information is available here.
