Within the organization of the Bosnian Ethnic School NSW and Radio Most Sydney, an online panel discussion titled “After the Witnesses – Who Will Carry the Truth” was organized. The discussion gathered young Bosnians and Herzegovinians from Australia and prominent guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the diaspora.
This event showed that among the young generations growing up far away from the homeland, there is a deep understanding of the significance of the culture of remembrance, preservation of historical truth, and responsibility towards future generations. The young participants – Haris Hurić, Lejla Sinanović, Sofija Špijodić, Tarik Begić, Merjem Požegić, Sana Klančević, and Adna Helać – shared their experiences of participating in this year’s commemorative activities devoted to the Srebrenica Genocide in Australia. Their thoughts, emotions, and messages showed that the culture of remembrance lives among the young born and raised thousands of kilometers away from Bosnia and Herzegovina. When witnesses are silenced, the youth continues to speak up – in a dignified, brave, and truthful manner, they said.
The panel guests included the Minister of Education of the Sarajevo Canton, Naida Hota-Muminović; the Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in New South Wales, Amir Šahinović; Selma Musić; Jasmina Bajraktarević Hayward, coordinator of STARTTS and one of the pioneers of the Bosnian Ethnic School NSW; Senada Suljagić, a genocide survivor and co-founder of the Children of Srebrenica association; and Mirela Muratović, who, through their testimonies and experiences, sent powerful messages about the importance of education, truth, and responsibility toward the past. A large number of participants followed the event via the Zoom platform, and numerous messages of support received during the discussion confirmed once again how important it is to build bridges between Bosnia and Herzegovina and its diaspora, as well as involving young people in the process of preserving collective memory.
Organizers confirmed that the full video recording of the panel will soon be available on the social media pages of the Bosnian Ethnic School NSW and Radio Most Sydney, while the most significant parts of the conversation will be broadcast on Radio Most Sydney, Avaz writes.
