Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Banja Luka in the period 06-08 October 2023, in Hajdučke vode (Borja, Teslić), organized a three-day training program called “Living Library BiH“.
Young people aged 18-24 from Bugojno, Banja Luka, Gradiška, Tuzla, discussed about the importance of storytelling and the concept of a living library (Human library concept) in the process of building dialogue in BiH. In the next few months, training participants will have the opportunity, using the living book method, to present their stories about maturation, reconciliation and coexistence in the country to other young people from Jajce, Mostar, Modriča, Srebrenica and Brčko and other cities across the country.
The training is part of the “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover” project, which aims to use the concept of a living library to build a framework for conversation among young people that can break down prejudices, counter hate speech against marginalized groups and challenge existing stereotypes and prejudices in inter-ethnic communities in the country, simultaneously using the storytelling method to promote reconciliation among young people. The project is financially supported by the Embassy of the United States of America in BiH.
