EUFOR Schools’ Competition Award of Prizes

Written by Major Bruce Foster

On 5th May 2010 in Camp Butmir, near Sarajevo, the winners of the EUFOR Schools’ Competition collected their prizes from the Commander of EUFOR Major General Bernhard Bair. More than 2500 Children from 350 schools all over BiH entered paintings and poster designs with the theme of “My European Neighbours”. Main prizes of holidays in European countries were donated by Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Turkey. Other prizes included iPods, laptops, Playstations and cameras donated by France, United Kingdom, NATO HQ Sarajevo and EUFOR.

Igor Stevic, (14), from Bratunac, explained why the competition was fun to enter: “I spent a long time thinking about what to paint and discussing the theme with my friends. It seems to me that our European neighbours get along together very well – my picture shows a team of rowers pulling together. I am pleased that I was picked as a winner and cannot wait to try out my MP3 player prize.”

Said General Bair:

“This is the third year of the EUFOR Schools’ Competition and the standard of entries were particularly high. I hope that all of the children enjoyed their art even if they did not receive a major prize today. For me the real prize will be for all of the citizens of BiH to join the family of European Union nations and EUFOR will continue to work tirelessly to provide a safe and secure environment so that this can happen.”