Today, the annual “Denis Mrnjavac” Award for the promotion of tolerance and nonviolence for 2024 was presented at the Parliamentary Assembly building of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In November 2024, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a decision to establish this award, named after the tragically deceased Denis Mrnjavac. The award will be given annually to students and educational institutions whose work contributes to the development of a culture of peace, understanding, and nonviolence.
This year, the award was presented to students Dani Husić from the Center for Blind and Visually Impaired Children and Youth Sarajevo, and Jelena Tošić from the Agricultural and Medical School of Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their schools received special recognitions for fostering and promoting these values through the efforts of their teaching staff and students. Professor Alma Genjac Nakičević accepted the award on behalf of the Center for Blind and Visually Impaired Children and Youth Sarajevo, while teachers Emina Mislimović and Rino Bušatlić accepted the award on behalf of the Agricultural and Medical School of Brčko District.
Ana Mrnjavac, mother of the tragically deceased Denis, addressed the attendees with emotional words and expressed gratitude that Denis’s name lives on through this award and its message of love and tolerance.
Dr. Sevlid Hurtić, Minister of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized in his speech that the “Denis Mrnjavac” Award symbolizes a collective responsibility to build a society where children feel safe, respected, and valued.
The sculpture dedicated to Denis Mrnjavac was created by Adis Elias Fejzić, who explained its symbolism to the audience. He shared that his vision during its creation was to permanently preserve a testimony of injustice and lost youth through this metal and wood artwork, while also serving as a reminder to promote nonviolence and peace among young people.
We remind that the public call for nominations for the “Denis Mrnjavac” Award for 2025, is still open. Besides the sculpture and certificate, each awarded student will receive a monetary prize of 1,500 BAM.
We invite all elementary and high school students, as well as educational institutions, to apply.
