Hard-working students of the Slovenian language classes of the "Triglav" Association attended Slovenian language summer schools organized in Slovenia this year as well.
Youth Summer School of Slovenian Language was held in Ljubljana from 29 June to 10 July 2026. Two students from the "Triglav" Association, Milica and Katja, had many activities. On weekdays they had morning classes and in the afternoon workshops, folklore and film evenings or excursions. They went to Bled, to the zoo, to Šmarna gora, and on the weekend they went on an excursion to Velika Planina and to Piran. The participants were from various countries, 120 of them, so, in addition to Bosnia and Herzegovina, there were students from the USA, Canada, Argentina, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria and many others.
It was a great opportunity for our students to make new friends and experiences, and as Milica says, "of course I learned the Slovenian language even better and I'm looking forward to next year and the opportunity to go again, because it was truly unforgettable."
Traditional summer school “Slovenian in a different way” intended for young Slovenians and children of Slovenian origin living outside Slovenia was held from 5 to 11 July 2026 in Murska Sobota. This year's meeting brought together young people aged 10 to 15 from five different countries, giving them the opportunity to get to know Slovenia and their peers from different parts of the world through language, culture, creativity and socializing.
The summer school, traditionally organized by the Slovenian Emigrants' Association from Ljubljana, was held in Murska Sobota, and the participants were accommodated at the Center for School and Extracurricular Activities. During the seven-day stay, they improved their knowledge of the Slovenian language daily through interesting workshops, games and conversations. A special part of the program were art workshops, through which children had the opportunity to express their creativity, develop practical skills and create in a relaxed and stimulating atmosphere.
In addition to learning the Slovenian language, the program was enriched with numerous excursions, visits and activities that allowed the participants to get to know Prekmurje and the area along the Mura River. One of the interesting experiences was a visit to Vulkanija, a theme park that interactively presents the volcanic past of the Goričko region. The participants also visited Grad na Goričkem, the largest castle in Slovenia, where they learned about the rich history and cultural heritage of this region.
A particularly interesting and sweet part of the program was a visit to the Passero chocolate shop, where young people tried their hand at making their own chocolate lollipops. In this way, creativity, socializing and getting to know local traditions are combined, with the inevitable sweet satisfaction.
The participants also visited the Provincial Library in Murska Subota, where they learned about its role in preserving knowledge, culture and literacy. During a walk through the center of Murska Subota, they also learned about the most important city landmarks, the city's history and its cultural heritage.
For Nastja and Marija from the Triglav Association, this was a great opportunity to improve their knowledge of the language of their ancestors, meet new friends, and experience Slovenian culture and everyday life in Slovenia through numerous activities. During their stay in Murska Sobota, our young participants were also visited by their Slovenian language teacher, Metoda Perger, who provided them with additional support and was part of their wonderful experience at this year's summer school.
For the Association of Slovenians of the RS "Triglav" Banja Luka, it is particularly important that our youngest members participate in such programs. Their inclusion represents an important contribution to the preservation of the Slovenian language, culture and tradition among the younger generations of Slovenians in the Republika Srpska.
With gratitude to the Slovenian Emigrant Foundation and the Center for Slovenian as a Second and Foreign Language for the organization and hospitality, we wish that the tradition of summer schools will continue in the coming years and that an even greater number of young members of our Association will participate in it.
Ana Marjanović and Mladen Lunić
