ArtReach in Brcko District, 2004

In 2004, a team of seven Americans joined 12 Bosnian ArtReach-trained trainers and six interpreters to conduct workshops in the Brcko District. Over 120 teachers and 90 students from the surrounding area participated. At the invitation of the Minister of Education, Professor Esad Atic, the community welcomed the ArtReach team.

For this the final, full initiative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the leadership of the program was truly handed over to ArtReach Bosnians trainers. Twelve selected as the first class of trainers worked extremely hard to plan and execute the workshop. Their abilities to keep the ArtReach methods alive in their country were obvious.

Thanks to the strong leadership and expert organization of ArtReach's Project Manager/BiH, Muhamed Odobasic and Brcko 2004's project coordinator Jasna Jovicic, the two week program was an enormous success. ArtReach also appreciated our host school, Second Elementary School of Brcko District and their Director, Branko Milicic.

The transformation we watched in these teachers was truly remarkable. According to a survey administered at the completion of the program over 90% of the participants planned to integrate the ArtReach techniques into their lesson plans for the coming year.

Being the last year of our five year commitment to Bosnia, the trip was definitely bittersweet. The U.S. team members were sad to be leaving Bosnia, as the people of this country had touched their hearts. ArtReach is confident, however, that the 500-plus teachers who were taught the program will continue to help heal and give hope to the children of Bosnia.