In the run-up to Earth Day, residents and people on the move came together in Bihać to clean public spaces, turning a simple environmental action into a message of solidarity and inclusion.

Organised on 19 April across several locations in the city, the clean-up brought together communities that do not often meet, showing how joint action can help build understanding and mutual respect. The activity is part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe awareness-raising initiative against hate speech Block the Hatred. Share the Love! 2.0 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Under the slogan “Together for our community”, participants worked side by side to improve their surroundings while promoting solidarity, empathy, and co-existence.

Bihać Mayor Elvedin Sedić thanked the city’s international partners, the European Union and the Council of Europe, for organising this initiative. “I am glad we are doing that this year’s clean-up activity in Bihać with people on the move. Although Bihać is only a temporary stop for them, they have developed consciousness about the need to take care of the environment and today are cleaning three locations with us,” he added.

Paolo Lobba, Programme Manager with the Anti-discrimination and Inclusion Department of the Council of Europe, highlighted that bringing people together sends a strong message that diversity makes a society stronger. “When local residents and people on the move work side by side to care for their shared environment, it reflects the values of dignity and respect for all, regardless of origin,” Lobba said.

Danijela Ramaj from the Institute for Peace, Development and Innovation (IPSIA) underlined the importance of such activities, “both for us and for people on move, because on their way to their desired destination they stay in our city for a short time and thus become part of our community. Through this and similar activities they try to make their contribution and feel accepted.”

Ramaj’s sentiments were echoed by Murad Shukri, a person on the move, who added: “For me this means a lot. It gives me a chance to do something good for the community, and to feel useful.”

This activity is organised under the action “Towards an equal, inclusive and tolerant Bosnia and Herzegovina” as part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, in partnership with the City of Bihać and the Institute for Peace, Development and Innovation (IPSIA), and with the support of Young European Ambassadors, Una-Sana Youth Council, Centre for sustainable development and the National Park Una.