OSCE-supported “Building Bridges” event in Skopje gathers students of different communities to interact together
SKOPJE, 2 October 2016 – More than 600 students from 27 schools around the country came together for a day of songs, dance performances, theatre plays and sport games, as part of the Building Bridges Fund event, organized today by the OSCE Mission to Skopje.
Music artists and the Fund’s Board members Rebeka and Toni Zen, together with Fleka Band, and ‘X Factor Albania’ competitor Kanita Suma performed in front of the audience.
“I want to praise all those teachers, parents, students and schools for their eagerness to participate in this learning by meeting journey. New generations build new bridges to each other leading to an integrated future in a diverse Europe,” said the Head of OSCE Mission to Skopje Nina Suomalainen.
Minister of Education and Science Pishtar Lutfiu said: “The Building Bridges project is a valuable example of how the international community, in direct co-operation with the Ministry, can contribute to lasting progress in our country. The numerous bridges between different languages and communities that have been built through the project form a richness on which we plan to build a brighter future.”
Dutch Ambassador Wouter Plomp said: “The Netherlands supports building this initiative because bridges make connections between communities, and connections between young people are of such importance. In this respect, we stress the importance of the Ohrid Framework Agreement as the underlying foundation for a stable country. And we look forward to being inspired by young children of different ethnic backgrounds, who together represent the future of this country.”
The Building Bridges Fund, which is designed to benefit students, is a joint effort of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Dutch Embassy, the Irish Government and the OSCE Mission to Skopje. It is supporting joint activities at schools involving students from all communities, and different languages in order to increase interaction, understanding and integration in the school environment.