On 5 September 2007, the newly-renovated primary school in Hadzici-Binjezevo hosted a ceremony marking the completion of the rehabilitation and upgrading works carried out by EUFOR’s Italian CIMIC Unit with EU funding.

A year ago this school was in a precarious state, without heating and with some rooms unusable because of their state of dilapidation. As of today, the approximately 80 children who attend the school can enjoy appropriate conditions for learning.

The EU provided 127,250 Euro with which EUFOR’s Italian CIMIC unit set up a new heating system; redid the electrical system; redid the roof covering and all facades; restored and recovered the unused space, building another classroom, a bathroom and two dressing-rooms. Internal works throughout the building included floor tiling, joinery and painting of walls. The surface of the exterior area was asphalted, a new fence with an automatically-controlled gate was mounted and a video surveillance system installed.

Mrs. Dzenana Alispahic, Director of the primary school, thanked Italian CIMIC and the EC for the assistance, noting that the improved conditions will reflect positively on the work and health of the children who attend it.

Mr. Hamdo Ljubojevic, Major of Hadzici, stated that the importance and the results of the project speak for themselves and wished students and teachers all the best in their new surroundings.

Mr. Michael Docherty, Head of Section for Democracy and Social Development of the Delegation of the European Commission to BiH stressed the importance of schools in a community, stating that democracy is not handed-down by the government but, rather, grows up in communities, homes and schools. He added that this school marks the end of a long relationship working with EUFOR and its predecessor SFOR:  the EU has funded some 131 small projects worth a total of around 20 million Euro which were implemented by CIMIC units.

Brigadier-General Sebastiano Giangrave, Vice-commander of EUFOR, noted that EUFOR will soon stop such rehabilitation activities in communities, which is a positive sign that BiH has the capacity to take over and there is no longer a need for such assistance. The military force is scaling down and he urged the children to remember the foreign soldiers with kindness, but especially, to hold the European flag dear, as that is their future.

The schoolchildren then presented a selection of songs, dances and poetry-reading to entertain their guests.