OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina announces winners in school competition on national minorities

SARAJEVO, 8 December 2010 - Three schools received valuable prizes today as the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina announced winners of the a nationwide school competition in which participants shared their views on national minorities, democratic values and diversity.

Students from fifth to ninth grades took part in the Kaleidoscope school competition by submitting school projects that taught fellow students about national minorities and the country's shared heritage. More than 100 entries were submitted to the competition, held from 1 April to 19 November.

Seventeen school representatives, including students and teachers, were awarded prizes for their projects on different approaches to the idea of inclusion in schools. The number of winners symbolizes the number of recognized national minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina - 17.

Pupils from Zivinice's Second Primary School won the top prize, worth 2,000 euros. The Sokolje Primary School in Sarajevo and the Branko Copic Primary School in Prijedor won second and third prizes - worth 1,500 and 1,000 euros respectively.

Ambassador Gary D. Robbins, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, said all pupils who participated had gained by learning about their country.

"Through your participation and engagement in developing your projects, you have all learned something new, including greater awareness and understanding of the richness of diversity in your communities, and in this country," he said at the award ceremony.

Representatives of the Education Ministry, pedagogical institutes, embassies and national minorities' associations took part in the event.

The Kaleidoscope School Competition, supported by the OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities, will further promote and encourage schools to explore the culture, history, and tradition of the country's 17 national minorities.

In 2011, the 17 winning submissions will tour the country to showcase the talent and creativity of students and encourage others to explore the country's wealth of diversity.