On May 27th, the final event of the project “Building Relationships for Intercultural Dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina – BRIDGE” was held in Sarajevo. The project was funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) through its Western Balkans regional office in Tirana and implemented by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event was attended by H.E. Marco Di Ruzza, the Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Letizia Fischioni, Deputy Director of AICS Tirana, Narine Sahakyan, Acting Resident Representative of UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and representatives of the Ministries from the two Entities involved in the project: Nasiha Pozder from the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Jelena Gavrilović from the Ministry of Tourism and Trade of Republika Srpska.
The 30-month project was a transformative journey for nearly 2,000 young people aged between 7 and 24 from 55 municipalities and cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. These young people had the opportunity to meet, socialize, learn, and build friendships through environmental actions, awareness campaigns, outdoor sports activities, and cultural programs conducted in the beautiful settings along the Via Dinarica trails. BRIDGE was carried out in synergy with another AICS Tirana-funded and UNDP-implemented initiative, “Via Dinarica,” now in its second phase, aimed at promoting tourism for sustainable economic development of the Dinaric Alps communities, preserving the environment, and respecting the socio-cultural diversity and authenticity of the communities.
The final event brought together a large and diverse group of participants to celebrate the project’s achievements, including government institutions, representatives of the international community, partner organizations, and project beneficiaries. A comprehensive overview of the objectives, activities, and results achieved was provided, encouraging the continuation of dialogue and networking among the main stakeholders.
“The BRIDGE project highlights our commitment to youth, community cohesion, and sustainable development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By engaging a remarkable number of young people and numerous local authorities, we have promoted intercultural dialogue and interaction among youth from different geographical areas of the country, helping to bridge social and cultural divides, restore trust, and promote sustainable development,” said Letizia Fischioni, Deputy Director of AICS Tirana.
H.E. Marco Di Ruzza, the Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, added: “The success of the BRIDGE project is an example of the positive impact of international cooperation and the commitment of the Italian Embassy to supporting reconciliation, sustainable development, and youth empowerment in this beautiful country, also in support of its European integration path. The initiative, thanks to the fruitful synergies with Via Dinarica and the broad participation of young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina, has promoted friendship, environmental appreciation, youth activism, innovation, sustainable tourism, and community development. The enthusiasm and gratitude of the young participants in the project are the greatest rewards for all of us.”
