The European Cooperation Day 2018 was marked on 3 October with three children’s homes from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro in our very own cross-border art colony in Bijela, Montenegro.
This year’s idea was to help create a cooperative Europe by letting the children lead the way and paint our future together in a form of an art colony.
The event gathered children from three homes for children from Dubrovnik (HR), Mostar (BA) and Bijela (MNE). The program started with a theatre show performed by children of the Bijela home for children, who delivered an important message to protect our environment and preserve it for future generations. A show performed by professional facilitators followed and taught the children ideas of being caring, kind and considerate to our environment and friends. After the show, the event moved outdoors and made the colouring and painting activities more fun.
Groups of children from three countries participating in the Programme decorated the T-shirts branded with this year’s logo and painted canvases with natural elements of our programme area. The children also helped a professional street artist in painting a wall mural with elements of the three cities from which the children arrived – Kanli fortress of Herceg Novi, Mostar’s old bridge and the city walls of Dubrovnik. At the end of the event, Programme bodies provided gifts for homes for children participating in the event to remember the fun activities of European Cooperation Day 2018 in Herceg Novi.
Why an art colony? We believe it is the best way to highlight the role of children and young people in building the Europe they want. We believe it is the best way to tell the story of cooperation between Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro as well.
