Students started extra curriculum activity at the elementary school “Ivan Goran Kovačić” in Gojevići near Fojnica with the support of the UPSHIFT grant in the amount of 3,000 BAM

On Thursday, June 24, 2021 extra curriculum activity for students of the elementary school “Ivan Goran Kovacic” in Gojevići near Fojnica was officially opened. Students Natalia Džepić, Sanda Šako and Ivano Iviš participated in the 4th eUPSHIFT workshop as Team 6 with the topic “Young people do not have the skills needed to run a household”. In order to solve this problem, with the support of the staff of their school, the students decided to equip the school premises where the student extra curriculum activity on the topic of household will take place weekly from the next school year under the slogan “Skillful hands – let’s be independent for life”.

The ceremonial opening of the activity was attended by the Mayor of Fojnica, Mr. Sabahudin Klisura, President of the Municipal Council Ms. Vanja Oroz Jukić, mentor of Team 6 from the eUPSHIFT workshop, Mr. Alen Gudalo, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Organization “Genesis Project” from Banja Luka, Mrs. Dijana Pejić, students and school staff.

The principal of the elementary school “Ivan Goran Kovačić”, Mrs. Mirjana Golub, explained that students wanted tools and conditions in which they could more easily acquire the skills needed to run a household. Students and staff of the school and representatives of the Municipality of Fojnica expressed great gratitude to all those who supported this initiative and enabled young people in Gojevići to get a better education for independent living. Team 6 members say: “We want to know how to fix something, how to cook and how to manage different situations when we grow up. In this, we are fully supported by parents, teachers and everyone at school. We are looking forward to this activity!”

Additionally, the school received great support from the president of HKD Napredak in Fojnica, Mrs. Ljiljana Jurak and Mr. Branko Stanić, director of the Institute for the Care of Mentally Disabled Persons Bakovići, who voluntarily, selflessly and cordially in their engagement organized a reception at the school, during the opening of this activity.

After the ceremonial opening of the new activity, the students tried preparing salty and sweet delicacies in the newly equipped space. Everyone present tasted and praised the prepared delicacies. In this, they were supported by the head of the culinary workshop, Professor Gordana Pecirep. Students in Fojnica and Gojevići are now looking forward to the beginning of the next school year, in which they will learn something on how to manage a household each week.

The initiative of Team 6 in Gojevići was supported through the UPSHIFT program, which is implemented by the Humanitarian Organization “Genesis Project” in partnership with UNICEF in BiH, and with the support of the Kingdom of Sweden. eUPSHIFT aims to help young people put their idea of ​​improving the local community into practice. More information about the project is available at the official UPSHIFT website in BiH: https://upshift.ba/