Sarajevo – This year, twenty schools from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been awarded the title “Superschools”, and their proposed projects—which aim to contribute to peacebuilding, reconciliation, intercultural learning, and dialogue within the framework of the Western Balkans School Exchange Scheme.
The event was organized by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
In addition to representatives from the selected schools, the event was attended by:
- Aurelie Valtat, Head of the Section for European Integration, Political and Economic Affairs – EU Delegation;
- Emina Kumrić, Head of the Youth Mobility Department at the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH
Nikola Kandić, Head of RYCO’s Local Branch Office in BiH, emphasized that the Superschools program builds bridges—not just between schools and communities, but above all, between young people, who will shape the future of the Western Balkans through their ideas, openness, and energy.
It was also emphasized that principals and teachers are the pillars of this program, as they mentor and inspire young people to learn, grow, and understand that diversity is not a barrier, but a strength.
Emina Kumrić highlighted that the Superschools exchange program focuses on youth, and its benefits are numerous: it brings young people together, fosters connection, promotes intercultural learning and dialogue between schools and their communities, and supports the development of tolerance, mutual understanding, and peacebuilding processes in the region.
“Superschools is a catalyst for peace in the Western Balkans and represents added value in the process of strengthening education—a topic featured in the EU’s” annual reports on BiH” – stated Aurelie Valtat in her speech.
School and project presentations
In addition to presenting project ideas, the event also provided an opportunity for the selected schools’ representatives to network and engage in discussions with key local and international partners involved in the Superschools program, as well as to learn more about the next steps in the exchange implementation process.
The upcoming exchange activities will take place between November 15, 2025, and April 15, 2026. During this period, school principals and teachers will coordinate and develop these activities with support from RYCO and its mentors.
A list of the 100 selected high schools from the region, including 20 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is available on the RYCO website.
During the implementation phase, each partner school will organize a 6-day exchange with their partner school. Students will travel accompanied by one or two teachers. Through the exchange, students and teachers will have the chance to travel, present themselves, their schools, and customs to their hosts, and learn about local communities throughout the region.
More than 100 exchange proposals were submitted for the 4th Superschools Open Call, which placed special emphasis on the concept of host family accommodation—a unique opportunity for students and schools to engage in bilateral exchanges within their local communities and homes. In this round, 13 partnerships will include host family stays.
Background
About the Superschools program
Superschools is a RYCO program for school exchanges in the region with the objectives to support the peacebuilding and reconciliation process and intercultural learning and dialogue among schools, students and their communities. The program is part of a multi-donor project “Western Balkans School Exchange Scheme” co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) together with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
About RYCO
RYCO is an intergovernmental organization that stewards and promotes regional and intercultural cooperation of young people within and among Western Balkans societies. RYCO’s programs focus on creating opportunities for young people to engage in activities that build mutual understanding and reconciliation in the civic, social, educational, cultural, and sports domains. RYCO initiates and participates in policymaking and advocates for reform. It supports the development of a political and social environment that empowers and facilitates youth exchange.