15-21 July, 2019
Place: Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia
Deadline for Applications: 21 June 2019
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia and its project partners[1] are pleased to announce the call for applications for the Summer School of “Challenge History 3 – React for the Future” Follow up, which will be held 15-21 July 2019Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia, financially supported by the Western Balkans Fund, the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, the Friedrich -Ebert-Stiftung Office in Skopje (FES), the Swiss Embassy in the Republic of North Macedonia and forumZFD (Forum Civil Peace Service).
We are inviting open-minded students from high schools (16-17 years old only) in North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo* to apply for the Summer School as part of the REACT program.
The Summer School will enable its participants to:
- Actively reflect on historical narratives, particularly those related to the recent wars/conflicts in the Balkans, in order to enable them in developing open dialogue and constructive approach dealing with past for the future
- Increase their regional network and strengthen cross-country neighborly relations; and
- Increase their critical thinking through fun and creative activities network with young people from the region and strengthen cross-country neighborly relations.
Information about the Summer School “Challenge History 3 – React for the Future” Follow up
Costs and expenses: The organizers will cover all the costs of travel, visas, accommodation and meals during the seven working days. Members of the organization staff will accompany students on their travel from the capital of their home country to Ohrid and back.
Working language: English – participants must have a good working knowledge of the English language
Program: The Summer School “Challenge History 3 – React for the Future” Follow up will consist of the following four main modules:
- Social identity/ies
- Legacies of war/peace
- Contrasting/shared historical narratives
- Human Rights
Each module will be organized in an interactive way and be based on a variety of formats, such as lectures, workshops, field visits, debates, case studies, creative activities and production of media. Distinguished regional experts will lead all the modules. In addition to the program modules, cultural and evening side-events will be organized based on participants’ inputs.
Who can apply?
- Students in the second/third grade of high schools (or 16/17 years old at the time of the application submitted), and who will not have attained the age of 18 at the time of the Summer School
- Who are from North Macedonia, BiH, Kosovo*, Montenegro or Serbia
- Who wish to learn about history of the region from an alternative multi-perspective view
- Who are willing to apply the new skills, the knowledge gained and the follow-up peace building activities in their local communities
- Who have sufficient knowledge of English language, in order to be able to interact in the sessions
How to apply?
Interested students are invited to fill in the application form (see below) accompanied with the parental signed authorization for traveling and participating at the Summer School and the Project. The participants should also write a motivation letter in which they will:
- provide brief description on: interest, knowledge and background
- provide clear motivation to participate at the Summer School and the Project “Challenge History 3 – React for the Future” Follow up
- state in which way they could personally and as participant contribute to the success of the Summer School and Project “Challenge History 3 – React for the Future” Follow upand how they could be effective as a young peace builder committed in their communities as schools, youth groups, social spaces, etc.
Send your application form, motivation letter, scan of your passport, and scanned signed parental authorization form to:
Republic of North Macedonia: Ena Bendevska, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia e-mail: ena.bendevska@mhc.org.mk
Kosovo*: Besnik Prekazi, Democracy Plus e-mail: besnik@dplus-ks.org
Serbia: Luka Bozinovic, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights Serbia e-mail: luka.z.bozovic@gmail.com
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Irma Husic,United World College in Mostar e-mail: Irma.husic-pandur@uwcim.uwc.org
A total of 30 participants (6 from each of the participating countries) will be selected according to their motivation to acquire additional knowledge, to engage in critical debates, to commit to developing and implementing follow-up peace activities after the Summer School in their communities. The short-listed participants will be notified by email by 22 June 2019 and interviews will take place from 22 till 25 June 2019.
If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us at 02 / 3119073 and ask for Ena Bendevska or Kalia Dimitrova.
[1]Centre for Peace and Tolerance (Kosovo*), Democracy Plus (Kosovo*), Helsinki Committee for Human Rights Serbia (Serbia), United World College Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), War Childhood Museum (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Grammar School Slobodan Skerović (Montenegro)