Participating in the O’Visor project and Karl Popper debates held in Sarajevo exceeded all my expectations. This was my first project of that kind and my first international debate competition. I didn’t know what to expect but, nontheless, I came back home full of memories and new skills.

Not only did I meet great people from all over Europe and made new friends, this experience was also very valuable for my own personal development because it forced me to come out of my comfort zone. I learned how to be a better listener, how to communicate better, debate ethically and respectfully, see things from other perspectives and learn to appreciate opposing attitudes more, and it also helped me overcome my fear of public speaking. 

 

The debates were interesting and I find that the themes of the debates that we tackled are very important and not talked enough in the society. It was wonderful to see the variety of oppinions and arguments presented during the debates, which reassured me that reality is seldom either black or white – the truth often lies somewhere in the middle. 

 

This was also my first ever trip to the beutiful city of Sarajevo. Our free time was dedicated to sightseeing, trying local food and exploring the city’s multicultural background. Thanks to the hospitality of our Bosnian hosts and the general good atmosphere during our stay, I think that this project was a huge success and hopefully we’ll get a chance to hang out again – maybe in Sarajevo, or maybe somewhere else.

-Jana Marković

I have to point out that this is one of my favorite projects I’ve been on so far. I am delighted with the quick agreement with the organizers, the concept of the activity and the sale. A good team of students contributed to the atmosphere as in the pleasant ambience of the hotel. The most important thing for me was the debate in which I really enjoyed and managed to show my skills, but also to listen to other teams and learn many new things. This project is especially dear to me because I was in Sarajevo for the first time. Thanks to the great mood of the team and the hosts, I had the opportunity to enjoy the beauties of Sarajevo in addition to working on the project. The hosts conveyed the spirit of this place in the right way, but they also did their job professionally. A visit to the museum and the final debate are the crown of this project. I am grateful for this opportunity and I hope that there will be more opportunities like this soon.

-Strahinja Poledica

Before leaving Uzice, I was excited. For the first time, I have the opportunity to visit Sarajevo and participate in the debate. During arrival in Sarajevo, the organizers waited for us and drove us to the hotel, which was in a great location, it was clean and tidy. I had a couple of hours to rest along good food and interior. The next day we started debating, I was a little scared because our team was the first, the whole team gave its best, but unfortunately we didn’t go any further. I’m sorry about that because I wanted to show my full potential in the debate, since I couldn’t in the first one. After the debate, I started getting to know other participants and organizers. I was delighted with the schedule of activities and the organization of the event, but also with the company. I also had a pleasant time touring the Bas Carsija together with new friends I’m thankful for this opportunity to meet new people, visit Sarajevo and open new vistas.

-Maja Kovacevic