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Eid al-Adha in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Eid al-Adha, known as Kurban bajram in the Bosnian language, is one of the two major holidays celebrated in the Islamic tradition, along with Eid al-Fitr, and YES Abroad students had the opportunity this past week to learn all about it in their respective host countries. During this important holiday, Muslims honor the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of submission to God’s command. This was the first Muslim holiday that YES Abroad participants in Bosnia and Herzegovina had the opportunity to observe during their exchange year; so the students attended a special presentation on Eid al-Adha held at the Gazi Husrev-Bey’s Madrasa in Sarajevo. 

The presentation was prepared by a group of students from the madrasa who are also participants of the English Access Program.  The English Access Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides a foundation of English language skills through after-school classes and intensive summer sessions to talented high school students from disadvantaged sectors. The Access program was introduced to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2004 and has been administered by American Councils for International Education since 2006.  Access provides English instruction by native speakers to students from all six state-funded madrasas throughout the country: Sarajevo, Tuzla, Veliko Čajno, Travnik, Cazin, and Mostar.

YES Abroad participants and students at Gazi Husrev-Bey’s Madrasa chat after their presentation.After the presentation, YES Abroad students toured the madrasa, which originally opened its doors in 1537 and is one of the oldest academic institutions in the entire Balkan region.  Following the tour, the two groups of students socialized over delicious tea and Bosnian coffee at the historical café Morića Han, located in the heart of Old Town Sarajevo.