The ninth annual Children's Festival Programme was held this year. Sarajevo Canton Minister of Education Naida Hota Muminoviç, Zenica – Doboy Canton Minister of Education Prof. Spahija Kozliç, Republic of Turkey's Ambassador in Sarajevo Sadık Babür Girgin, musician Latif Moçeviç, famous football players and YEI President Prof. Şeref Ateş have participated in the festival which has been organized online by Sarajevo Yunus Emre Institute (YEI).

The 9th Children's Festival Programme, which has been organized by Sarajevo Yunus Emre Institute this year, was held online within the framework of Coronavirus precautions.

Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Şeref Ateş gave a speech at the programme that was attended by the top-ranking officials from both Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina and said that it was a great pleasure for him to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina and participate in the Children's Festival every year and emphasized the importance of carrying out these programmes in digital media in these difficult days. President Ateş completed his speech after expressing his wishes of going back to normal and meeting everyone physically in such programmes as soon as possible to Turkish learning students at the schools of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"THE CHILDREN SHOULD BE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FREE, VIRTUOUS AND THINKING" 

Sarajevo Canton Minister of Education Naida Hota Muminoviç emphasized that the children were our future, and that we must support and protect them in becoming free, virtuous and thinking individuals. She expressed the importance of planting the seeds of love and determination in the hearts of our children, who will influence themselves, their countries and even the world and take long and short term decisions and transferring them the knowledge and skills to help them cope with the difficulties of the 21st century.

"THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN OPTING IN FOR A TURKISH ELECTIVE IS INCREASING"

At the beginning of his speech, Zenica – Doboy Canton Minister of Education Prof. Spahija Kozliç congratulated Republic of Turkey's Ambassador in Sarajevo Sadık Babür Girgin for his new assignment. He thanked Turkey for the support they sent regarding the Coronavirus pandemic and mentioned that the joint educational activities between the two countries would continue the same way after the pandemic. Emphasizing the activities of Yunus Emre Institute regarding the Turkish language education, he highlighted the fact that the number of children opting in for a Turkish elective was increasing. He ended his speech by congratulating the festival of all children.

Republic of Turkey's Ambassador in Sarajevo Sadık Babür emphasized that these intensive activities and works would not stop and that they will continue resume with the same speed and conviction.

MESSAGE FROM FAMOUS FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO CHILDREN

The famous football players of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Dzeko, Edin Vişça and Miralem Pjaniç sent a video message for the children who were learning Turkish. Latif Moçeviç, the famous musician who participated in the event, livened up the programme with his songs.

PAINTING, TURKISH POETRY, RHYME, VIDEO AND ESSAY CONTESTS

The 9th Children's Festival continued with various presentations of the students who were learning Turkish within the scope of My Choice is Turkish Project. The results for the following contests were announced during the programme: Painting Contest, organized for the Central Bosnia Canton My Choice is Turkish Project students, Short Poetry Contest, organized for the Zenitsa Municipality My Choice is Turkish Project students, Short Poetry Contest, organized for the Zavidovići Municipality My Choice is Turkish Project students, Rhymes in Turkish Contest, organized for the Central Bosnia Canton My Choice is Turkish Project students, Short Poetry Contest, organized for the Sarajevo Canton My Choice is Turkish Project students, Short Video Contest, organized for the Tuzla Canton My Choice is Turkish Project students, Short Poetry Contest, organized for the Central Bosnia Canton My Choice is Turkish Project students, Yunus Emre and Ayvaz Dede Painting Contest, organized all across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Yunus Emre and Tolerance themed Essay Contest organized for the high school and university students.