This year for the first time we took our sessions outdoors , giving a space for members of our group not only to participate in the debate but also bring their own expertise: tackling questions of Putin’s Russia, threat of authoritarianism in Poland and the violence of genocide. Young leaders had a chance to share their culture and experiences with people of Sarajevo.

Program was also designed to understand the richness and complexity of the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina and how the lessons learned and not learned are still very relevant for the European society. City tour of Sarajevo as well as visit to Srebrenica memorial served not only as a way to raise awareness on the events which took place in 1995 and to pay respect to the victims of genocide and war but also to understand the legacy of these places and the symbolic meaning which they have for contemporary Balkan and European history.

In parallel to the European Young Leaders Summer Training Seminar, city of Sarajevo for the 23rd time was hosting the Sarajevo Film Festival (SSF) with the best documentaries from the region and across the world. As in previous years, our group had a chance to participate in the event and get a better insight into the socio-political situation in Balkans and beyond. This year`s choice, dealing with various issues, including women’s rights in “The Divine Order” humanitarian crisis merged with the struggle for LGBT+ rights in  “Mr. Gay Syria” went to the viewers` vote who selected best documentaries of SSF 2017 to be presented at Sarajevo-sur-Seine Film Festival next year in Paris.

We want to thank all who actively participated in the Training Seminar and contributed to its success, namely the co-organisers, participants and special guests who shared their expertise during the sessions. We are very much looking forwards to welcome you at the 3rd Sarajevo-sur-Seine Film Festival and Young European Leaders Training Seminar in March 2018 in Paris.

The full activity report will be published shortly.