Svitac (Firefly in Bosnia) Project Report – March 2026

ON-GOING PROGRAMME

  • Culture and Art Diversity around the World – Includes Language, Art&Crafts, Music, Drama, and Sports workshops from Monday to Friday (4-14)
    • Standard and Conversational Language workshops – English, German
      • I love English – English workshops for 15-30
      • “Lasstuns Deutsch sprechen!/Pričajmo njemački!“ (Let’s speak German) – German workshops for 15-30
    • Music workshops – samba, guitar for 15-30
         

       

      HIGHLIGHTS ON THE MONTH’S ACTIVITIES

      • This month, creative workshops for children served as spaces where imagination flourished. Our participants painted, built, and explored ideas using simple materials. The activities were filled with laughter as participants shared ideas and supported one another.

        As part of the Mind Over Screens project, Svitac (Firefly in Bosnia) conducted Modules 4, 5, and 6 of the Local Training for Trainers, focusing on Digital Footprint Management, Digital Wellness and Self-Care, and Empowerment and Advocacy, with the aim of strengthening digital and media literacy.
        Module 4: Digital Footprint Management focused on helping young people understand the lasting traces they leave online and how to proactively manage their digital identity. Participants learned the difference between active footprints (such as social media posts and online purchases) and passive footprints (like browsing history, IP addresses, and tracking data collected without direct input). Through interactive exercises, they categorized various data points and discussed how these elements collectively shape one’s digital identity. The training emphasized that a digital footprint can have real-world consequences for personal safety, professional opportunities, and reputation. A “Reputation Rescue” scenario game challenged attendees to respond to situations such as resurfacing old offensive posts or being tagged in inappropriate photos, developing strategies for immediate action and long-term recovery. The session concluded with practical tips for building a positive online presence, including securing accounts, managing privacy settings, and thinking before sharing. Psychologist Dragana Grbic also contributed insights on responsible student behaviour in digital environments.
        Module 5: Digital Wellness and Self-Care involved participants analysing their screen time and discussing the applications they use most frequently. This reflection encouraged them to consider their digital habits and the amount of time they spend online. Participants also engaged in a productive group discussion about the positives and negatives of technology.
        Module 6: Empowerment and advocacy provided participants with the confidence and tools to express their ideas and stand up for their rights. Through interactive activities, they built strong connections and learned from one another. The session concluded with a fun raffle game, which created excitement and laughter, allowing everyone to enjoy a pleasant time together in a positive and supportive atmosphere.

        Svitac’s (Firefly in Bosnia) international volunteers engaged in various daily activities, focusing on different initiatives such as supporting online events and promoting the organization through social media.

        In March, approximately 167 participants regularly took part in Svitac’s (Firefly in Bosnia) activities. Participants were aged between 4 and 45 years old. The youngest and the oldest participants attended training and workshops on Local Training for Trainers, Culture and Art Diversity around the World workshops and English/German conversational workshops.
        • Younger group – They talked about the Masai tribe and their jewellery, and learned about otters, ladybugs, chickens and chicks, rabbits, and crossbreeding animals. Creative workshops included making various decorations and ornaments, learning about table manners and etiquette, cutlery, hydrocycles, and playing motor games with glasses and recognizing colours and shapes. Participants continued to learn and write numbers; this month, they learned to write numbers from 22-25. They performed warm-up exercises and children’s yoga, and every Thursday, they danced, participated in sports, and worked on maintaining focus and concentration while reading and listening to stories (Princess on a Pea, The Bee and the Flower, The Hungry Caterpillar). In the English, German, and Turkish language workshops, they learned vocabulary related to spring, nature, clothes, animals, and dairy products. All workshops employ an educational visual method utilizing pictures and videos; these informal educational sessions aim to foster creativity, memory, motor skills, empathy, socialization, and tolerance for diversity. The highlight with the younger group was a workshop on International Day of Happiness, during which they engaged in discussions about joy, kindness, and well-being. This fostered a positive mindset and encouraged participants to reflect on the role of happiness in their lives. In the creative part of the workshop, they created personal reminders of happiness.
        • Older group –They covered the following topics: happiness (a feeling, a mindset, or a life condition; do different cultures define happiness differently; are friends and family the most important sources of happiness; does using social media make people happier or more stressed; does technology improve quality of life or create more stress;), Tolerance and Racial Discrimination (where should the line be drawn between respecting and exploiting another culture; are students of different racial backgrounds given equal opportunities; what is the role of diversity and inclusion policies in the workplace; how do stereotypes influence public opinion) and Paralympic Olympics (how the Paralympic Games promote inclusivity and representation of athletes with disabilities). In this way, we aim to offer young people a safe and neutral environment where they can share their opinions and express both positive and negative emotions without fear of judgment. During the Language Workshops, the group focused on practicing everyday communication, reading and translating short texts and phrases, working on grammar, completing school assignments, and engaging in projects. The highlight for the older group was a workshop for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, discussing the ongoing relevance of this day, emphasizing the importance of actively opposing racism. Discussions also addressed contemporary issues, including movements such as Black Lives Matter, discrimination faced by Roma communities in the Balkans, and tensions between Turks and Kurds. Insights into the latter were shared by international volunteers from Turkey.

MUSIC PROJECTS

  • The guitar participants continued with the planned program and schedule, practicing classical and pop compositions adapted to various skill levels. The material was tailored to align with each participant’s knowledge and abilities. Rhythmic exercises incorporated both treble and bass clefs, covering selected pieces of music for the guitar. Continuous rhythm practice, along with the performance of shorter and longer classical and popular compositions, as well as fingering exercises, were maintained.
  • A special focus remained on reinforcing music theory, including reading notes, performing scales in both major and minor keys, and recognizing and applying theoretical notation.

VOLUNTEERS

  • In March, Svitac (Firefly in Bosnia) greatly appreciated the collaboration with four international volunteers from Germany and Turkey.
  • Three volunteers from Bosnia are doing their service in Germany, and Italy (11-12 months).
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