Final conference of the project “The European and Our Affairs”, called “Youth in Action for EU” was held Thursday, the 4th April 2013, starting at 11.00am, in the Town hall Zavidovici.
This conference will mark the completion of activities that have lasted a year, in the Zenica region and local communities Zavidovici and Zepce, whose goal was to increase awareness about the EU enlargement and pre-accession aid, with special emphasis on the role of local governments and civil society in reform processes.
Activities of the project were to strengthen local capacity, public promotion, exchange of knowledge that included various aspects of local society, and among priority target groups are local governments, businesses, nongovernmental organisations, local media and youth. The proposed trainings, public promotion activities, exchange of best practice included in the programme served as a learning opportunity for stakeholders, but also as a way to dispel the myths and stereotypes related to EU integration.
Present at the conference, among whom there was a lot of young people, were first addressed by Stanka Parać Damjanović, Regional Programmes Coordinator of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies. This was followed by a brief presentation of the project, implemented activities and the results achieved, prepared by Jasna Zvekić from LDA Zavidovici.
The guest speaker at the conference was Ms. Juliana Tesija, from the Center for Peace and Nonviolence in Osijek, Croatia. She has prepared a short presentation on the challenges and experiences of civil society and local self-governments regarding the forthcoming accession of Croatia to the European Union.
During the morning hours, before the final conference, at the same location, the finals of the “EU quiz” for high school students was held. To remind ourselves, the first phase of this project activity was held on 25 and 26 March 2013, in the three schools in the area of Zavidovići and Žepče.
18 students who have shown the best knowledge had the opportunity to take part in the EU quiz and win valuable prizes: a laptop, a digital camera, and a gift package of computer equipment were prizes for the top three places.
The final event of the project “European and our work” was concluded by the proclamation of the winners of the „EU quiz”, while the prizes were awarded by Mr. Suad Omerasevic the Mayor of Zavidovići, who greeted the participants and congratulated the organisers of the conference.