The two-week ‘State of Peace’ Youth Academy has concluded with the message that the differences in the Western Balkan can be overcome through getting to know each other, socialising, and connecting with a common goal of moving towards a better, peaceful future. The first ‘State of Peace’ Youth Academy was organised by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina in collaboration with the Post-Conflict Research Center from August 18 to 31 in Tuzla, Brčko, Sarajevo, and Vitez.

Ferdinand Koenig, Head of Communications and Spokespereson at the EU Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina said, „I am delighted that we were able to provide support for an activity that brought young people from four different countries in the Western Balkans to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU’s motto is ‘Unity in Diversity’ and we are sure that the friendships that have been made during the ‘State of Peace Youth Academy’ will last long into the future and continue to provide participants with new perspectives and challenge prejudices “.

50 young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, learned about interreligious dialogue and tolerance, reconciliation, peace education, communication, activism, and human rights through art, socialising, and travel. Throughout the academy, they visited four places of worship from different religions and over ten different cultural and memorial institutions. They see the first ‘State of Peace’ Youth Academy as a unique educational platform for bridging and transcending national and religious differences and for preventing future conflicts.