“Imagine the Change” explores the young people’s resistance to hateful narratives and illustrates the struggle of youth from different generations who dared to envision a different region. These young individuals are guided by the idea that they are equal members of their societies, and political issues are matters they want to express their opinions on.
Program Coordinator at the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Ivana Jovanović, introduced the exhibition, dedicating the show to young activists.
“Their actions and initiatives brought back hope, hope that a better tomorrow is possible because they are those working towards it. This is a story about those who believed and continue to believe in change”, said Jovanović.
Following Jovanović’s introduction, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, Plamena Halacheva, made a few remarks, reaffirming the EU Commission’s commitment to engaging and empowering youth. Halacheva congratulated YIHR on twenty years of activism and resistance.
The opening also featured the presentation of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights monograph, attempting to tell the story of 20 years of fighting for a peaceful and better region. The monograph highlights people, their memories, changes made in the region, experiences, and struggles. It consists of a collection of stories written based on interviews with those whom many current members of the YIHR teams and activists have never met, with the aim of presenting everything that is often not covered by reports, publications, and media appearances.
Ivana Nikolić, a journalist from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and the editor of the monograph “Moja inicijativa / Nisma ime / My Initiative” reflected on nearly 70 interviews conducted during her work on the monograph, highlighting the courage and fearlessness of the YIHR’s activists who fought and continue to fight against hatred and injustice.
“The work on the monograph has shown us that the Youth Initiative for Human Rights is all its people”, said Nikolić.
*Funded by the European Union.
