Societies in Southeast Europe remain divided by conflicting stories about the past, perpetrators, and victims, especially since the wars of the 1990s. These narratives are repeated in schools, politics, and the media, and are used to strengthen nationalisms instead of fostering understanding for others and building a common future. The program “Shared Future: Youth for Dialogic and Inclusive Memory,” implemented by the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory of the University of Belgrade (IFDT) with the support of the British Council, aims to encourage dialogue about the past from different perspectives and thus contribute to reducing divisions..
The program focuses on collecting personal stories and visual materials with a specific focus on:
- The experiences of women during the war
- Positive stories of interethnic and interreligious cooperation and solidarity during conflicts, and in peace
- Marginalized communities and victims of lesser-known crimes whose stories and suffering have not been sufficiently visible in the public until now
Participants will undergo training in memory studies and field research methodology. They will receive mentoring support during their research, the writing of texts for a joint monograph, and during the preparation of materials for the final exhibition. Additionally, participants will contribute to the creation of the Digital Archive “Memory through Inclusion and Dialogue” (SID-ARH IFDT), and will present their work at the Summer School in Novi Pazar through a regional cooperation network in the field of cultural memory.
Who can apply
Students of all levels of study (undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies), aged 18–30, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo*, and Serbia.
Participation in the program
The program lasts from March to June. During this period, selected participants will:
- Participate in the Spring Online School “Memory through Dialogue and Inclusion in the Digital Age,” from March 23 to April 2, 2026, and the Summer School “Youth Voices: Dialogic Memory and a Shared Future” in Novi Pazar, from June 17 to 21, 2026;
- Conduct field research, prepare papers/essays/short texts, as well as visual materials (photographs, video content, etc.) on project topics with mentoring assistance, as well as financial aid (travel costs) and technical support (equipment).
Participation in the educational and research program is free. All travel costs, accommodation, and materials are covered by the organizer. All programs will be held in Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian and English.
After successfully completing the program, participants will receive certificates of participation in the program and the project “Common Future: Youth for Dialogic and Inclusive Remembrance” from IFDT.
Applying
Your application should contain:
- CV of the candidate
- Motivation letter (one page)
Applications are submitted by filling out the form.
Candidates are kindly requested not to use artificial intelligence when writing the motivation letter.
Important dates
The deadline for applications is March 9, 2026.
Notification of results will be on March 15, 2026.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the student coordinator and project assistant, Ivana Milićević: dialogicmemory.ifdt@gmail.com