Case Study 2: Building Bridges in Communities

The community of Vukovar is still recovering from the devastation the town suffered in 1991 following the outbreak of the Croatian War of Independence. One result is that, even now, 20 years later, the communty and the educational system remains segregated, with Serb and Croat children having little opportunity to mix and interact with each other. Whereas keeping communities apart may mean avoiding past pain and distress and allow people to get on with their lives in the short term, it has the potential to create future problems. Lack of interaction and alienation between different communities does not allow for any healing or reconciliation to take place, and there is a danger that ill feeling could be carried into future generations, with the potential for an eruption of violence or war once again. 

Working with segregation in schools

Since 2009, iFaciltate has been a member of Consol, a project being implemented by an international team with members from France, the UK, Croatia, Serbia and Cyprus. The project aims to build bridges across community divides by working with people to foster social interaction and build healthy relationships. A range of enjoyable and non-threatening approaches helped to promote collaboration and co-operation between participants.

 
iFacilitate continues to work with the Consol team in Vukovar. In January 2010 and January 2011 the project enabled Serbian and Croatian schoolchildren to come together and participate in a very succesful and enjoyable series of workshops. Using science-based and groupwork activities, the children worked together and were supported in developing their skills in communication, collaboration and critical inquiry.  
 
Children's feedback - translated from Croatian
 
"We have learnt that we can learn a lot through meeting and laughing; that we can learn and have fun at the same time”
 
“I liked that we learned through a game. I learned a lot of useful things I know I will use. One suggestion for something better is ‘do not change’. Cooperation with colleagues was super...teachers were interesting and all the best. Science is teaching us about our achievements, the planet… everything useful. Adjective which is describing me now “ I am very happy … !!! “
 
“Cooperation with colleagues : at the beginning I was a BIT confused because I didn't know everyone, but later it was super. Because we got to know each other. “
 
 
 
Tags:: 
reconciliation segregation dialogue learning science groupwork