The Secondary School of Economics and Hospitality in Nikšić is one of five Montenegrin schools granted the opportunity to participate in the Super Schools programme, a regional initiative that promotes student mobility and strengthens cooperation among schools in the Western Balkans.

This programme, implemented by RYCO with the support of GIZ, the European Union, and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, enables secondary school students to develop intercultural dialogue and build bridges of cooperation through experience exchange.

Thanks to this programme, the Secondary School of Economics and Hospitality in Nikšić and the Secondary Technical School in Bugojno established a partnership in the 2023/24 academic year. Their joint project, “It’s Your Fault if We Fall in Love,” has been recognised as one of the most successful, mainly due to its innovative approach to peace and intercultural cooperation topics.

To mark the start of the new cycle of Super Schools, a conference was held at IPC Technopolis, attended by representatives of national and international institutions. On behalf of the host school, project coordinator Professor Olivera Lučić addressed the attendees.

"This project demonstrates that borders do not exist when we are united by common values, dialogue, understanding, and a desire for a better future," Lučić emphasised.

"More than 2,000 students from the Western Balkans region have participated in this programme over the past two years. When you think about it, that’s a significant number of young people who have the unique opportunity to create shared stories and learn from one another," said Riccardo Serri, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro.

He highlighted that the Super Schools programme is an excellent opportunity for educational institutions in the region to strengthen their capacities in intercultural dialogue, dealing with the past, and peacebuilding.

Edin Koljenović, Head of the National RYCO Office, emphasised that the projects of the five Montenegrin schools participating in the Western Balkans School Exchange Programme offer young people a chance to learn more about peace, tolerance, breaking stereotypes, and fostering mutual respect.

Darko Stojanović, Director-General of the Directorate for Youth and Cooperation with NGOs at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, underlined the importance of the exchange programme and added that the government fully supports initiatives that contribute to the empowerment of young people in Montenegro.

For students from Nikšić and Bugojno, an interactive workshop on media literacy was organised to help young people develop critical thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of the role of media in peacebuilding through practical exercises.

Source: RTNK