Selected schools presented their partnerships, joined direct conversations with institutional partners and signed Partnership Agreements under the 5th Superschools Open Call.
SARAJEVO, November 3, 2026 – Eleven secondary schools from Bosnia and Herzegovina, selected through the 5th Superschools Open Call, presented their regional partnerships and new project ideas at the “Meet the Superschools” event. The event was organized as part of the Superschools programme, an initiative co-funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in cooperation with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
The selected schools are partnering with schools from Kosovo*, North Macedonia and Serbia. Their joint projects use intercultural learning, non-formal education and cooperation between school communities to support dialogue, inclusion, peacebuilding and stronger connections among young people across the Western Balkans.
The 5th Open Call is part of Superschools 3.0, which aims to support 165 bilateral school partnerships involving 330 secondary schools and 660 teachers. These partnerships will facilitate 330 exchanges, engaging approximately 3,960 young people across four open calls. introducing the selected schools to the objectives, implementation approach and opportunities of the new project phase.
Representatives of the selected schools were joined by the representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and other institutional partners.
A conversation focused on schools and partnership
Institutional representatives discussed why the work of schools is important for peacebuilding and regional cooperation, why long-term support for Superschools matters, and what message should be sent to schools beginning the new project cycle.
“Peace does not begin only when agreements are signed or political leaders reach compromises. It also begins in classrooms, when young people learn to question prejudices, listen instead of judge, and recognize a friend in someone they once considered a stranger. Through Superschools, we are not simply connecting educational institutions, but students, teachers, families, and communities. We are creating opportunities for encounters that challenge stereotypes, build trust, and turn differences into opportunities for understanding.” by Nikola Kandić, Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Head of Local Branch Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina
“I believe in the importance of education in shaping the mind-sets of future citizens, leaders – and voters. Education plays an essential role in building peace and trust, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the whole region. This is why the EU fully support the RYCO Superschools programme.” by Aurelie Valtat, Head of European Integration, Political, Press and Information Section, Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina
A central part of the programme was “Coffee with the Superschools,” an informal and facilitated session bringing school representatives into direct conversation with donor, ministry and RYCO representatives. The schools discussed the impact of earlier exchanges, what motivates them to continue, what they have gained through their partnerships and what they expect from the new cycle.
The selected schools presented concise overviews of their new projects and signed their Partnership Agreements during the event. The signing represented a shared commitment to the next cycle of cooperation and connected the schools’ previous experience with their plans for the new exchanges.
Projects involving schools from Bosnia and Herzegovina include “Rebuilding Bridges”, “Ghosts of the Past, Present, and Future”, “Be the Change You Want to See”, “The Same Goal Can Be Accomplished in Different Ways”, “Two Cultures, One Story”, “Growing Connections – Growing Together, Connecting Communities”, “Beyond Sight, Beyond Borders”, “Bridge of Friendship”, “Shared Homes, Shared Stories”, “Building Bridges: Model UN Debate on Hate Speech and Peacebuilding”, and “Sharing Stories, Shaping Futures”.
FULL LIST OF SELECTED SCHOOLS CAN BE FOUND HERE: [SELECTED SCHOOLS]
RYCO congratulates the selected schools and looks forward to supporting them as they transform their project ideas into meaningful learning experiences for students, teachers and school communities.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.