How We Connected Students, Developed Empathy, and Showed That School Can Be Much More Than Just Learning from Books
The For Better Schools project took place during 2016 and 2017, bringing together high school students and students with disabilities from Dušan Dugalić Primary School through art, volunteering, and joint activities. Through theater performances, art workshops, humanitarian actions, and a medieval fair, students had the opportunity to meet, collaborate, and learn from one another, demonstrating that school can be a place for understanding and solidarity.
What did we do?
Theater performance "The Blue Color of Snow" (2017)
Students from the Četrnaesta Belgrade Gymnasium prepared a play for the students of Dušan Dugalić Primary School. They chose the script themselves, held auditions, adapted the script, and, with the help of Professor Zorana Janković, thought of ways to make the story more accessible to students with disabilities. The performance was filled with laughter, applause, and real stage excitement!
Theater performance "How Ugly Words Were Born" (2018)
In an effort to bring the magic of theater closer, we organized the play How Ugly Words Were Born for students from Dušan Dugalić Primary School. This educational and humorous play, created with the support of high school students, explores the origin and meaning of words we use every day in a fun and engaging way.
Art in the Service of Humanity (2017)
How can art help others? We organized a humanitarian exhibition, art workshops at the gymnasium, and film screenings, with all the funds raised going to support students from Dušan Dugalić Primary School.
Medieval Fair (2018)
What was life like for knights, scribes, and scientists in the Middle Ages? In preparation for the Medieval Fair, students brought the spirit of past times to life through various activities. A calligraphy section allowed them to explore the art of medieval writing, while students from the Faculty of Philosophy organized a workshop on Serbian medieval history. Physics teachers prepared scientific experiments inspired by the achievements of the era, and volunteers helped organize the event. A particular highlight of the fair was the display of authentic knight costumes, which further enhanced the atmosphere.
Peer Support and Volunteering
High school students visited the school, got to know the students and their teachers, and through joint activities, they showed that we can all learn from one another.
Humanitarian Packages
In addition to creative activities, we also collected necessary items for the students of Dušan Dugalić Primary School, demonstrating solidarity with the staff and students of this important institution.
This initiative was a powerful demonstration of unity, inclusion, and the desire to make school a better place for everyone.
