Olivia and Luke have returned from a profoundly moving school trip to Bosnia, awarded through an essay competition organised by the charity Beyond Srebrenica, centered on the theme of ‘reflection’. The charity raises awareness of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide and promotes peace and understanding between communities.

Accompanying the pupils, Mr Fish, Deputy Head - Pastoral, said: “Part of a delegation of school pupils and educators from throughout Scotland, Olivia and Luke’s award recognised the thoughtfulness and reflection in their work, providing a deeply personal insight into remembrance, resilience, and reconciliation. Experiences beyond the classroom give pupils a unique opportunity to develop empathy and understanding in ways that lessons alone cannot provide. During the visit, the pupils experienced history first-hand, from meeting their guide Suvad, who showed them the only ground he could play on as a child during the siege of Sarajevo, to attending a meeting at the UK Embassy and laying flowers the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial.”

Reflecting on the impact of the experience, Olivia shared: “We met the Mothers of Srebrenica, a group of women who united in grief and strength to ensure the suffering of their families is never forgotten, and three survivors of the genocide, including our guide Suvad, who showed us the place he grew up in war-torn Sarajevo, as well as Nedžad and Almasa, whose courage in telling their experiences was deeply moving. We also met schoolchildren from two schools, whose eloquence and hope in a post-conflict country were inspiring.  Visiting the British Embassy gave insight into the efforts being put in to protect Bosnia, tackle corruption, and prevent a return to the horrors of war. Throughout the trip, we discussed the heart-breaking effects of genocide denial, propaganda, extreme nationalism, and hatred, while witnessing the lasting scars on buildings and abandoned homes. It was an experience that has reinforced my passion for studying International Relations.”

Luke commented: "The trip to Bosnia with the charity Beyond Srebrenica was an amazing experience. Hearing the stories from survivors and visiting the memorial centre really put things into perspective. Meeting everyone made the history feel very personal and reinforced how important it is to remember and keep these stories alive. The visit helped me understand the true impact of the genocide and how it continues to shape society today. It was humbling to witness the resilience of those affected, and it has inspired me to continue learning about global history and the importance of remembrance. I especially found it interesting hearing Mr Fish’s perspective as a history teacher and discussing how such events are taught and remembered.”