Mutual understanding is the key to ongoing peace in the former Yugoslavia

The ethnically-fuelled war that tore former Yugoslavia apart ended in 1995, but until today ethnic prejudices and tensions plague the region. Young people pick up engrained narratives and intolerances, quietly embedded across a generation. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, an ongoing dialogue and encounter is necessary to overcome differences and nurture reconciliation.

In the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, the Catholic Youth Centre promotes volunteer work and trains young people to become responsible, active members of their communities. It has launched a programme aimed at building a sustainable partnership with the country’s Orthodox Church and the Islamic community. By cultivating a strong dialogue and mutual encounters among young people from the different faith communities, it hopes to bridge persistent differences.

The programme introduces 30 participants to each other's traditions and beliefs in a bid to break down the religious divisions between them. It also teaches about the importance of civil society, engagement and volunteer work within every religion. Once they have completed the training, these young people are called to act as facilitators of peace and reconciliation in their own communities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. With greater social cohesion and stability, this once war-torn country can dispel the ethnic divisions of the past.