In the context of increasing peer violence and juvenile delinquency, it has become even more important to work with young people in topics such as tolerance, respect for diversity regardless of personal differences, the negative consequences of radicalization, the development of intercultural dialogue skills, and how young people themselves can actively advocate for modern concept of human rights. This was one of the conclusions of the five-day Intercultural Camp organized by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) for high school students from various municipalities in Montenegro, held in Kolašin from 23 to 25 October 2024, as part of the “Harmony in Diversity” project funded by the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.
Stela Burzanović, a psychologist and family therapist who was one of the lecturers, emphasized the importance of such programmes. “These events are primarily educational, but the communication and social interaction among young people from different cities can have a positive impact on their mental health. Through various workshops and lectures, they gain knowledge, meet different educators, and all this contributes to their quality growth and development. The goal is to promote awareness and acceptance of diversity, various topics, as well as meaningful communication and cooperation,” said Burzanović, highlighting the programme’s importance in addressing violence and influences from everyday life.
“Non-formal education is crucial for young people to expand their knowledge and exchange views on topics they may not have the opportunity to discuss in the classroom. This is a chance for young people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds to build bridges of understanding,” stated Jana Vlahović, a historian and one of the camp’s lecturers.
Šejla Pepić, an activist for improving the position of the Roma and Egyptian communities in Montenegro, who also led one of the sessions, noted that these programmes provide young people with opportunities to engage in social processes. “It is essential for young people’s voices to be heard, and we need more educational events like this because youth are our strength and the drivers of future change in society,” Pepić stressed.
“I applied for the Intercultural Camp because I believe that violence rooted in ethnic divisions is a significant problem, not only in Montenegro but across the Balkans. Through interactive workshops, I gained knowledge I would never have learned in school, which I can now apply. I also met many new people, learning about their customs and cultures. This program has been an incredible experience, and I recommend it to everyone,” shared Luka Nikolić, a student at the “Petar I Petrović Njegoš” Gymnasium.
“At camp, I quickly bonded with many of my peers. I would recommend this type of education to everyone – not only for socializing but also for acquiring new and valuable knowledge. I learned a lot about various topics and even changed many perspectives I had brought with me,” said Ema Perazić, a student from the “Mirko Vešović” Secondary School of Economics and one of the camp participants.
Miloš Ognjanović, a student at the “Vaso Aligrudić” Electrical Engineering School, expressed similar sentiments. “These workshops were genuinely different from others I’ve attended, as we addressed issues at the root of misunderstanding diversity. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to participate,” he stated.
The lecturers at the Intercultural Camp were from academia, the non-governmental sector, as well as civil and youth activists. The programme brought together 25 high school students from 12 schools across nine municipalities (Budva, Cetinje, Podgorica, Danilovgrad, Nikšić, Andrijevica, Bijelo Polje, Berane, and Rožaje).
The following students successfully completed the Intercultural Camp: Ivana Bakić, Emina Adrović, Eldin Muratović, Džejla Kijamet, Nihad Šabović, Ina Mulić, Ena Špadijer, Emin Erović, Kaća Jelić, Anastasija Mićović, Viktorija Milić, Andrej Pavićević, Petar Ivanović, Miloš Ognjanović, Vuk Vuksanović, Ema Perazić, Nikola Vučinić, Uroš Đurišić, Nikolina Pejović, Kaća Kljaić, Kristina Đeković, Marija Mia Maraš, Luka Nikolić, Helena Kalezić, and Luka Deretić.
Marlena Ivanović, Programme Associate