All those learning Slovenian in BiH socialised on 21 and 22 May in Laktaši near Banja Luka. Gathering of students and pupils have already become traditional and this year it was held for the 17th time.
Organiser of the gathering was the Association of Slovenians RS “Triglav” Banja Luka, and there participated students and pupils of Sarajevo, Kakanj, Zenica, Tuzla, Prijedor and Teslić. There joined also pupils of Elementary School Kašelj of Ljubljana.
Participants were greeted by Darko Mijatović, president of Union of Slovenian Associations “Europe Now”. Our guests were Marjan Cukrov and Suzana Martinez of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad, and Eva Jurman of Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Education. At the opening ceremony they stressed the importance of the preservation of the Slovenian language and culture. Pupils and students had sufficient time for leisure, they watched the second part of the Slovenian youth movie “Going Our Way” and they also participated in creative activities. Animators of Novo mesto who arrived with Branka Bukovec of the Association for the Development of Voluntary Work Novo mesto and Klavdija Kotar of Public Fund of the Republic of Slovenia for Cultural Activities, prepared an interesting workshop. Students and pupils made colourful collage and rather beautiful objects. On Sunday morning they presented their works at the final event.
Gathering of pupils and students is the opportunity to preserve old friendships and make new ones. Or, as our pupil Aleksandar Zrnić wrote prior to the gathering: »I look forward to the gathering because I always have a good time. In the past several years we have socialised with our peers in different places and we already became good friends. We have got great teachers who always prepare something new and different.«
Barbara Hanuš
