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Together with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, American Councils for International Education administers the Tolerance Through English program, which is designed to connect high school students in a unique classroom setting who do not usually have the chance to study with one another, despite living close together. The students participate in a four-month English language program, a major element of which includes an American-style interactive teaching and learning process.

On Saturday, May 25, YES Abroad participants, YES inbound Alumni Coordinator, Nino Lojpur, and American Councils staff visited the Tolerance Through English program participants at Mješovita srednja škola, a high school located in Žepce.  This school usually operates as a segregated high school, meaning that there are different ethnic groups who attend it, but don’t share classrooms, curricula, or even high school administrations.  In this case the different ethnic groups consist of Bosniak and Croat students. The Tolerance Through English program gives them the opportunity to attend English classes together, interact with one another, and to study the same curriculum.

During their visit, the YES Abroad students shared their exchange experience, while the Tolerance Through English students spoke about what they’ve learned about American culture and history.  After in-class activities, the whole group toured the small town of Žep?e and rode on the bicycle surrey, recently designed by the Tolerance Through English program participants for their school’s anniversary.

Article by Selma Campara, YES Abroad Program Coordinator for Bosnia and Herzegovina