As a part of the ETOS initiative, the TPO Foundation awarded a grant to a project titled <strong>''Paths of Understanding''</strong>. The coordinator of this project was Äula Hasagić Borić. The project activities were conducted at the Combined Secondary School Zenica and the Elementary School ''Ahmed Muradbegović '' Stranjani, from May to November 2019.
Since this was an intercultural and interreligious project, it was implemented in cooperation with representatives of religious communities, students, parents and professors from these schools.
The main objective of the project was the open access to the other and to the different based on ETOS guidelines and to allow students to learn about other religions and customs and to establish interreligious dialogue with the goal of recognizing diversity as one of the attributes of the modern world and life.
ACTIVITIES HELD:
<strong>Activity 1. Lecture by Muhammed Gluhić</strong> on ''The Multiplicity of Simplicity'' (Comparative Religious and Cultural Concepts). Workshop "Paths of Interreligious Understanding" (Practical Possibilities of Implementing Interreligious Dialogue within Youth), led by Kenan Hodžić. As a way of getting to know the culture and traditions in a particular religious time, iftar was organized for the participants of the first workshop. The lecture, workshop and iftar were attended by 16 participants at the room of The Combined Secondary School Zenica. June 3, 2019.<br />
<strong>Activity 2. Muhammad Gluhić's lecture on "Multiplicity of simplicity"</strong> (Comparative Religious and Cultural Concepts) and the workshop "Paths of Interreligious Understanding" (Practical Possibilities for Interreligious Dialogue within Youth), led by Kenan Hodžić for professors / teachers promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue, enhancing competencies and increasing the sensitivity of professors / teachers on religious diversity. The lecture / workshop was attended by 13 professors and 1 student at the room of The Combined Secondary School Zenica. July 4, 2019.<br />
<strong>Activity 3. During the summer break, in cooperation with the Interreligious Council, 15 high school students from the area of Zenica visited the Aladža mosque in Foča, St. George's Church in Sopotnica and socialized with the youth at the Goražde Cultural Center</strong>. On this occasion, representatives of religious communities and representatives of the city of Goražde spoke about religious diversity, interpersonal relations and the need for dialogue. July 31, 2019<br />
<strong>Activity 4. Workshop "Paths of Interreligious Understanding"</strong> (Practical Possibilities of Implementing Interreligious Dialogue within Youth) led by Kenan Hodžić for parents and students of The Combined Secondary School Zenica. The workshop was attended by 11 parents and 9 students. September 19, 2019<br />
<strong>Activity 5. For students of the fifth, eighth and ninth grades of Elementary School “Ahmed Muradbegović” Stranjani, a workshop on “Tolerance, Openness, Solidarity towards the Other and the Different”</strong> (Listen to see. Watch to hear. Inform yourself to understand.) was organized and led by Mevludin Purić and Samir Purić. The workshop was attended by 14 students and 1 professor October 14, 2019.<br />
<strong>Activity 6. Fourth grade students attended a lecture by Manuela Čulum </strong>on "The Word as the Bearer of Human Action" (Word, Philosophy, Literature, Religion). The lecture was attended by 23 students. October 15, 2019.<br />
<strong>Activity 7. The Orthodox Center for Youth as part of the Metropolitan Church of the St. Peter "the Sarajevan" (Sveti Petar Sarajevski), in cooperation with the Committee for Interreligious Cooperation of the City of Zenica, set up an exhibition of works</strong> of Orthodox and Islamic calligraphy in the gallery of the Zenica Synagogue. It was visited by 5 students and 1 professor. October 25, 2019.<br />
<strong>Activity 8. Students of The Combined Secondary School Zenica participated in a workshop titled "Tolerance, Openness, Solidarity towards the Other and the Different''</strong> (Listen to see. Look to hear. Inform yourself to understand.)". The workshop was led by Mevludin Purić and Samir Purić and was attended by 15 students. October 31, 2019.<br />
<strong>Activity 9. 6 students visited St. Elijah the Prophet Church in Zenica</strong> and attended the program as part of the "Spirit of Assisi" event. November 16, 2019.<br />
<strong>Activity 10. A roundtable on "Tolerance"</strong> was organized at the room of The Combined Secondary School Zenica for students who showed the most enthusiasm for developing ETOS values. After brief introductory lectures by Amela Mujaković, Aras Borić and Sumedin Kobilica, the students had an interactive discussion about what tolerance is, whether it has its limits and how to practice it. November 28, 2019.
116 students, 11 parents and 15 professors, or 142 participants in total went through the project. Through the activities of the project, 116 students were educated in order to develop multicultural, interreligious relationships and understanding, as well as general human values of ethics, tolerance, openness and solidarity with the others. The direct involvement of parents in the project expanded the field of influence on the community in order to break prejudices and stereotypes about the other, and to gain better interpersonal relationships, as well as their more active involvement in school educational activities. In this way, the school is involved and connected to the local community which has a willingness to cooperate with special stress on Zenica Interreligious Cooperation Committee, religious officials, the City of Goražde and others.
