On April 2, 2024, an iftar was held at the Primary School 6. Mart, for the users of the Ušivak Reception Center and primary school students from the Hadžići Municipality. The goal of the event was to socialize and introduce the local population to people on the move. The event opened with a musical intermezzo, and student Nerma Keško played two traditionals songs know as sevdalinke. Welcoming words were delivered by the director of Primary School 6. Mart, M.Sc. Muhamed Čović and member of the project team, prof. Jasna Kovačević, Ph.D. Before iftar, the attendees learned about the month of Ramadan and its characteristics through an interesting quiz. Lunch time was an opportunity for the users of the Center to meet and talk with local residents. The Center’s users speak Arabic, and communication was facilitated by a translator from PC Ušivak.
After iftar, the children wrote their wishes, which they want to have come true by the next Ramadan, and stuck them on the wish board. Among the wishes we found: the wish for them to be healthy as well as for their family to be healthy, to get excellent grades, good and sincere friends, etc.
The efforts of this event were to make the local population aware of the prejudices and stereotypes that we often have towards minorities. Fear of the other and the different is usually based on ignorance. People on the move are currently residents of the Municipality of Hadžići…, it says: People on the move currently reside in the area of the Municipality of Hadžići, but opportunities are rare when we can have a deeper conversation with them and get to know them. The month of Ramadan, as a month of charity, seemed like an ideal opportunity to connect these two groups and learn about each other through a meal.
Our activities are supported within the project “Individual measures to strengthen capacities for managing migration flows in Bosnia and Herzegovina” financed by the European Union and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
