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The first of a series of cross-border initiatives
for the Gjilan/Gnjilane-Presevo-Kumanovo (GPK) micro-region, the
Schools ‘Competition Day’ was held for school children across the
micro-region.
Over 140 school children aged between 10 and 15
years old were hosted by the Presevo 15 Nentori Primary School on 20
November 2003. Organised by GPK Municipal Co-ordinators, Education
Officers and Directors, School Teachers and EWI staff, the event
involved friendly competition between the children of the three
municipalities in basketball, football, athletics and art, followed
by cultural performances.
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With the objectives of offering the children a fun
and effective way of meeting and communicating with their peers from
across the border, and of proving the value of and potential for
grass-roots co-operation in the micro-region, the GPK Schools
Competition Day provided the first contact and exchange of its kind
among both students and teachers since the conflict in the region.
Students from five schools participated, including multi-ethnic
delegations from Gjilan/Gnjilane and Kumanovo: 15 Nentori, the host
school in Presevo, welcomed students and teachers from Abaz Ajeti, Petar
Petrovic Njegos and Vuk Karadic schools in Gjilan/Gnjilane, and Koco
Racin in Kumanovo
A morning of competition in sport and art was
accompanied by musical welcomes from the Presevo School Choir and Dance
Group, and in the afternoon the participants enjoyed performances from
the Gjilan/Gnjilane Dance Group ‘Dasma e Karadakut’ and the Kumanovo
Multi-ethnic Choir. Diplomas were awarded to all participants, with
first prizes in art, basketball and athletics going to students from
Gjilan/Gnjilane, and in football to the Presevo team.
The entries for the morning’s art competition,
paintings on the theme ‘Cross-border Co-operation –
Gjilan/Gnjilane-Presevo-Kumanovo’, were kept on display as an exhibition
in the host school for the afternoon and evening.
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