Through Forum theatre - a unique artistic and theatrical form - students from eight elementary schools from Bosnia and Herzegovina convey their stories of discrimination:
- STOP! – a voice from the audience
- Who’s place do you want take?
- Alen’s.
A boy walks down to the stage and takes the role of Alen.
Alen sits at the front desk in the class that has three other students who are abusers. Their leader, the biggest bully among them, is the son of a minister and bases his authority in the classroom on that ‘’protected’’ position. Alen shares a desk with Denis. He is quiet, a bit of a recluse and the biggest victim of bullies in the class. From the answers he gave while on the ‘’hot chair’’, we know that he has no father and no siblings; only his mother, who is aware of the situation, but is unable to change anything due to the arrogance of the teacher and principal. From the teacher’s answers, we can clearly sense the satisfaction with what she has/hasn’t done to change things. The other students in the class are passive; they do not support the bullies (directly), but they do not oppose their actions.
After the first performance of this short play, where we are introduced with the issues, the audience call’s forth a character to the ‘’hot chair’’ to ask him-her questions, to understand why they bully others, why don’t they try harder to save Denis and change the abusers, why don’t they oppose and ask for protection…
The actors perform the play for the third time, but now the audience can stop the play and switch places with one of the characters. Taking on one of the roles and reacting in their own way (to the given situation), these new actors gave new solutions to the problem.
It is important to mention that the audience is comprised of students, teachers, principals and parents.
A sea of raised hands flooded the room. The ''new'' Alen tried to protect Denis, thinking that if they joined forces they would do better; the ''new'' Denis, after being pushed to the floor, started defending himself. One of the teachers in the audience wanted to switch places with one of the passive students, saying that she doesn't want to be in such a class and called the other passive students to support her. Another interesting replacement was the role of the mother; the ''new'' mom was much more firm with the teacher and the principal, reminding them of their obligations as educators and demanded a meeting with the parents of the bully.
These were just some of the examples from the play that was a part of a children's fair held in Mostar, Sarajevo and Banja Luka in April and May. Within the project ''Education for a just society'', which is implemented by the Center for Educational initiatives Step by step, supported by USAID and Open society Fund, 54 children ambassadors from 18 schools across Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered with their teachers and principals. Three days of team work were dedicated to planing and organising of children's fairs called ''Small steps towards great deeds'', preparation of scripts, press releases, organising exhibitions and writing their own monument.
Over 100 elementary school students met to present their schools and cities, learned from each other through games and workshops. The children, with the help of their educators, conceived and realised the topic concerning discrimination, poverty and violence.
''We want to stimulate all of the children of the world to fight for their rights, and most importantly their future, like us. We desire a world without violence, fear, a world where we meet, rejoice and learn from one another'', signed by the children.
Youth Correspondent: Jasmina Poskovic - LDA Mostar