How can we define the culture? Activities that are undertaken within the community, reflecting the quality of life, traditions, and beliefs. It includes attendance at formal events, such as going to a movie or to a concert, as well as informal cultural activities, such as participating in community cultural activities and amateur artistic productions or everyday activities like reading a book.
The story was born in a place that awakens emotions and encourages thinking. With fascinating natural beauties, good food and awesome people that are the symbols of this small city with a big soul - The city of Prijedor. Located in the northwest part of the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This place is surrounded by magnificent mountain ridges and the national park Kozara.
As very curious travelers we aimed to meet as many people as we could in order to learn about every aspect of the culture brewing here. It was imperative to learn about the history of this city to truly understand it. And the culture, as our main theme, was all around us.
Prijedor bears deep wounds of history and stands as a witness to a very unpleasant past. It is fascinating that it still thrives with cultural growth after the many battles that took place here during World War II and the war in 1991.
Breaking isolation leads to social cohesion by bringing together people from a wide range of background. Age and experience which are the key to developing the culture.
Ultimately, diverse societies are more about values and norms that are shared by individuals and groups that are likely to hold and express many diverse identities. This is how every single identity grows more openly. Learning about different cultures and being in touch with different views are a good influence for founding a way of life, expression and creativity.
We were part of a number of activities engaging with their local culture in order to procure new views in our perception about the culture on a global level. Our views about the culture and youth participation in it were mainly based on our beautiful agenda that included interviews with people who are part of the city institutions and people that can bring out the capabilities or possibilities for the cultural growth. Such as the fine arts association, museums, libraries, theater and cultural referent.
Among the festivals and events that the city of Prijedor supports, there are a lot of events that are initiated by the youngsters and their groups. And it is very important to say that those youngsters are not afraid to go beyond the border and represent their work and show their passion in it.
Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place - that is the moto of the city which success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and the most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. We should never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up and never stop trying, keep motivating young people to be part of the present and future.
The report was written by Sonja and Ines, youth correspondents from Macedonia who visited Prijedor this year as part of the Youth correspondents exchange within the platform. The video reportage of their visit will be published soon.