UNHCR announced the winners of high school competition “Welcome to my country”

UN Refugee Agency (UNCHR) is pleased to announce the winners of state high school competition “Welcome to my country”, within which high school pupils from all over Serbia have shown their creativity under the topic of refugees’ rights and their inclusion in local communities. The competition was organized in partnership with Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia, EU Delegation to Serbia and Sixth Belgrade Gymnasium.

Pupils submitted works for three competition categories – the best drawing in the technique of choice, the best literary work and the best short film up to two minutes – which were then evaluated by a competent jury, composed of teachers from different regions of our country, as well as renown journalists and professors of art faculties.

A special award was given to a girl from the refugee population who attends school in Serbia.

Upon reviewing a large number of submitted works, the jury announced the following winners:

• Anastasija Hadnađ, Seventh Belgrade Gymnasium – First prize in the category Best drawing in the technique of choice“

• Luka Jašćur, Gymnasium „Sava Šumanović“ Šid – First prize in the category „Short film“

• Nikola Pančić, Sixth Belgrade Gymnasium – First prize in the category „Literary work“

• Bakhtavara Aryubi from Afghanistan – Special Award for Refugee Pupils.

“It is our great pleasure today to enjoy the creativity and talent of Serbian high school pupils, as well as their compassion and solidarity with the people who need help. Young people have immense energy and are committed to what they believe in, and UNHCR Serbia looks foward to further cooperation with them in order to create more solidarity with displaced people, as well as more opportunities for them. They represent the future and today, with their creativity, they have sown the seeds of solidarity that will contribute to the development of a much more inclusive society in the coming period“, said Francesca Bonelli, UNHCR Representative.

The competition was organized with the support of the relevant ministry of Government of Republic of Serbia.

“The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development is guided by the idea that inclusive educational practices are a sustainable mechanism, within which every child is valued and accepted. That is why the education of migrants is systemically regulated, through inclusive principles, but also through the Professional Instruction for Inclusion of Refugee / Asylum Seeking Pupils in the Education System, which prescribes a Pupil Support Plan that includes a programe of adaptation and overcoming stress, and then also a program of intensive local language learning“, said Snežana Vuković, Head of Sector for Human and Minority Rights in Education, at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.

The European Union, as one of the largest donors to UNHCR, also supported the organization of the competition.

“Solidarity and protection of the rights of others are fundamental values ​​of the European Union. We want to promote such an approach among the members of the youngest population in Serbia. Creative competitions like this contribute to our efforts and I am happy to have seen so much creativity in the work of these young people”, said Brigitte Kuchar from the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia.

Award-winning literary works

I prize, Nikola Pančić Šesta beogradska gimnazija

II prize, Tijana Matić Gimnazija Svetozar Marković Jagodina

III prize, Jovana Konstadinović Prva niška gimnazija Stevan Sremac

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