The first day in high school for young Azerbaijanis

The first day of the new school year was special for all students, but mostly for two students from Azerbaijan who, thanks to the Foundation of the Bosnian Women’s Initiative (BHWI), continued their education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After completing the ninth grade of elementary school in Bosnia and Herzegovina, brothers from Azerbaijan decided to go to the High School of Mechanical Engineering in Sarajevo, the profession “mechanical technician computer designer” and were accepted in the first term. Besides them, another student who is enrolled in a secondary school in Zenica continues his education in Bosnia and Herzegovina thanks to the BHWI Foundation.

The inclusion of boys from Azerbaijan in the education system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, starting from the elementary school, was a long process that required a lot of effort and patience. With the maximum support and understanding of the relevant institutions and the enormous help of the BHWI Foundation, that process was successfully completed. Besides helping the boys to join the education system, BHWI regularly provided them and their parents with the necessary psycho-social support, which included learning the Bosnian language as well as various sports activities in which the boys excelled. The BHWI Foundation implements the project of Providing psycho-social support and assistance in individual protection to recognized refugees and asylum seekers in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the support of the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR.

For two years, BHWI and the Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton have been making efforts to ensure that boys from Azerbaijan continue their education. The process of nostrification of diplomas from Azerbaijan began, and during that period the boys mastered the Bosnian language in order to integrate into society more easily. They completed primary school successfully, with very good results.

Their enrollment in the Secondary Mechanical Technical School in Sarajevo was attended by their mother, as well as the director and pedagogue of the school and members of the BHWI Foundation.

“As for starting high school, it is primarily the success of the boys because they worked hard and were committed, and then also of the BHWI team. Without teamwork, we would not have been able to realize all this. They applied like all the other children without any privileges and were admitted to as many as three schools, but in the end they decided to enroll in the one they wanted the most,” said Danira, BHWI pedagogue.

The first day of high school is the opening of a new life chapter full of changes and adjustments. Secondary Mechanical Technical School will be a place where boys from Azerbaijan will experience the transition from primary school and get the opportunity to integrate even more into the society by meeting their peers who come from other schools. You could see the excitement on the faces of the boys because of meeting the new space, professors and future friends.

The boys are especially grateful to the BHWI Foundation for the support they received. One of the boys from Azerbaijan said “I am looking forward to the start of the new school year, the teachers are excellent, as well as the environment where the school is located.”