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SARAJEVO, May 25 (FENA) - Ambassador of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina Nicola Minasi, and the Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in BiH, Steliana Nedera, signed today an agreement for the implementation of a new joint project named “BRIDGE – Building relations for intercultural dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
The project, of the overall amount of almost 800,000 EUR, aims to invest in intercultural dialogue and bridge social distance among different communities in the country, by engaging primarily with younger generations. Young people from different backgrounds and communities will be connected via ecological and cultural activities, adventure tourism and environmental protection, with an eye to supporting sustainable development and tourism and promoting the incredible touristic potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The project contributes to one of the key priorities of the UN Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 in Bosnia and Herzegovina – social cohesion - providing support to active and inclusive communities and civil society for sustained dialogue among citizens.
“I am very happy that, together with UNDP, we are launching the BRIDGE Project to help especially young people to work together on projects that will be centered on reconciliation. We see huge potential in the country for youth to be active and we want to help them deliver on this potential”, stated Nicola Minasi, Ambassador of Italy in BiH.
The project will also facilitate the establishment of the “Via Dinarica National Youth Games without Borders”, partnering with local governments, schools, sport associations, youth associations, mountain and tourist associations and media (Italy is the main funder, together with the USA, of the UNDP-managed program “Via Dinarica”).
“If young people and their families from different backgrounds are continuously provided with opportunities to interact through learning activities, culture, art, nature, and fun, this will build bridges over social and cultural divides and lead young people to a future built on trust, better knowledge and acceptance of differences“, stated Steliana Nedera, Resident Representative of UNDP in BiH.
Amongst the different activities scheduled to take place in the coming months, the project will develop a digital application to inform young people about cultural, natural and historical heritage of BiH, establish the “TED Youth Talk” for Bosnia and Herzegovina and organize a “National Youth Knowledge Championship” among all high schools in the country, in cooperation with a partner TV programme, that will involve as well non-governmental organizations from all over the country.
Italy and UNDP reaffirm their strong commitment to supporting sustainable development in Bosnia and Herzegovina and investing in youth, education, intercultural dialogue, and cohesion to unlock the full potential of the country, UNDP announced.
(FENA) A. B.
