Adopt Srebrenica: A Week of Events

01 September 2008

The Adopt Srebrenica Project, started by the Alexander Langer Foundation from Bolzana and Tuzlanska Amica Association from Tuzla. Many other people and associations from BiH, Italy and other parts of Europe joined in, aiming to support the development of the culture of peace and non-violent conflict transformation in Srebrenica.

The project also aims to continue the work of Alexander Langer and his dedication to building peaceful coexistence and integration in South Tirol, in the Balcans and all over the world.

The project organized the second in a row Iternational Week in Srebrenica, with people from other countries in the Balkans, Italy and Europe joined the local population, to open dialogue with local people and organizations to give them space to express their memories, feelings, thoughts and desires, but also the hope to do it in the future.

The participants were able to visit important historic and religious sites, like the Potočari Memorial Centre, and met with the local population of the village of Sućeska. During the Sućeska visit, the participants saw the local school and youth centre and saw a short film about the village.

On the Perućac Lake, the participants were able to make new friends and compete in water sports. Also, on the third day of the International Memory Week, a friendly football game was played between the teams of married and singles.

The Baobab International Orchestra from Pescara gave a concert in the Srebrenica Cultural Centre, titled Between Fire and Silence. In fact, the orchestra and its songwriter Vinzenzo D`Aquino collected their impressions of the trip to Srebrenica and the stay there and presented them in the concert. The band says that the composition speaks about humanity, pain, hope, peace and future for the country that have experienced fire and war in recent past.

The International Week concluded on August 29, with a conference From Srebrenica to Brussels: We Want Europe, which confirmed that the progress to European integrations has to deal with the need for justice and shared memories in the Balkans. The organizers aimed to offer an opportunity to discuss present and future Europe.

As they point out, that would be Europe where victims are not forgotten, where traumas are eased and peace built. Europe made of citizens that take full participation and not accept role of passive suffering. Europe open to lives and voices of others.