Last weekend, on October 16 and 17, 2021, members of the Association of Citizens of Slovenian Origin Tuzla hosted students of supply teaching lessons of Slovenian from Banja Luka, Kakanj, Sarajevo and Zenica. Having in mind the life values that we want to promote among young people, this year we focused on physical activity and sports.
We started on Saturday with a ride on the promotional bus "I feel Slovenia". The implementation of the project on the occasion of marking the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Slovenia and the second presidency of the Republic of Slovenia in the Council of the European Union began in our city on October 1 and will last until the end of the year. The ride was so special because we had a special passenger, the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia H. E. Damijan Sedar. The enthusiasm, we believe, was mutual, because opposite the Ambassador was a bus full of children and youth with smiling cheeks and curious eyes.
We additionally reddened our cheeks with sports activities coordinated by experienced coaches and professors at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports in Tuzla. For a short time, the children tried out in several sports, after which they listened to a lecture on top athletes from the Republic of Slovenia, and their great influence on the origin and development of certain sports in BiH. It is necessary to mention Leon Štukelj, a top gymnast, the most successful Olympian in our wider region, but do not forget Miroslav Cerar, Stanko Bloudek, Rajmond Debevec, Mitja Petkovšek, Tina Maze, Iztok Čop ... After the lecture, students had the opportunity to hear about Tuzla top athletes, ambassadors of our country to the world. We must certainly mention Razija Mujanović, Mirza Delibašić, Kada Delić, Dževad Šećerbegović and many others.
After sports and lectures, we ended the day with sports and entertainment - bowling! The mixed teams of trained young bowlers and students who tried their hand at bowling for the first time achieved great results and created moments worth remembering.
Sunday was dedicated to sightseeing. The inevitable Pannonian lakes were our starting point, our meeting place. Salt lakes and a beautiful sunny day enhanced the experience of the place, and with a tour of the geological setting and the archaeological park, we held a short lesson in history. The sights of the city we visited, the stories we told the guests, made us proud of our city and the rich history that we faithfully preserve.
Gatherings of this type have multiple positive effects on children and youth. Above all, they teach them to be connected by positive values, friendship, knowledge, sports. Children establish contacts based on common interests, and if we teach them from an early age to look for these positive values in other children, as well as in adults, we believe that they will grow into happy people.
The gathering was financially supported by the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad, and we thank the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Tuzla for their wholehearted support in the organization.
(Taken from the FB page of the Association of Citizens of Slovenian Origin Tuzla).
Translation: Ana Marjanović
