CERV – ‘Shaping the future of Europe – My image of peace’ – WORKSHOP

At the very beginning of the project, PCO presented the project “My Image of Peace” (PEACE) regionally at schools. In the 2024/25 school year, the project was again intensively promoted – this time systematically in two phases (by phone and in writing).
Five schools expressed concrete interest, contacted her, and scheduled workshop dates. The workshops were implemented by an interdisciplinary team consisting of the project coordinator, a peace activist, and two academic painters. On-site, the team worked closely with art or history teachers and school psychologists, who also supported the students’ follow-up work after the workshops.

A total of 12 workshops were held at 5 schools. Each workshop was divided into two parts:

• Discussion group: Reflections on war, peace, and personal visions of the future
• Creative expression: Artistic implementation of individual messages using collages, drawings, or printmaking techniques
• February 7, 2025 – SEPŠ Koper (Erasmus+): Two mixed groups of Erasmus+ students from SI, SE, ES, and PL. Main topics in each group: war in Ukraine, nuclear threat, longing for normalcy.
• February 7, 2025 – OŠ Vojke Šmuc Izola: Sensitive approach due to refugee students from Ukraine. Products demonstrated astonishing media literacy and empathy. Children reported on parental fears and uncertainty.
• February 11–21, 2025 – OŠ Marezige: Several parallel classes from grades 7 to 9. Little direct contact with the topic war, but growing interest after the UNESCO film. Concern about the possible escalation of the war; emphasis that peace cannot be taken for granted.
• March 7 & 11, 2025 – SŠ Pietro Coppo Izola: Italian-speaking vocational and technical school. Older students (> 15 years) demand “coexistence & respect”; point to successful bilingual coexistence as a model here in the region.
• March 12, 2025 – OŠ Srečka Kosovela Sežana: Volunteers from three classes have a lively discussion about migration, the environmental consequences of war, and local World War II relics (Isonzo Front, unexploded bombs). The core message: shared responsibility for the planet.

Over 200 graphic works and several smaller group projects were created. At two schools, students also wrote personal texts about their thoughts on war, peace, and their wishes for the future.

Vernissage exhibition ‘My image of PEACE’

On the day of the international panel discussion, PCO, in collaboration with the municipality of Izola, prepared a one-day exhibition opening. This opening was a continuation of the previous work at five elementary and secondary schools, where over 230 students created over 200 graphic works and other peace-related products.

The aim of the exhibition, together with the closing event at the Izola Generation Center, was to send a strong message for peace and raise awareness among the local population.

Location and Time

The exhibition took place at Lonka Square in the center of Izola on May 21, 2025. Three booths were provided by the municipality and decorated with student work.

• 8:00–10:00 a.m.: Setup
• 10:00 a.m.: Opening by Mag. Sergeja Brglez (local project coordinator) and Bernd Werner (Project Coordinator, PEACE)
• 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.: Exhibition opens

The exhibition was extensively promoted – especially locally. This was evident even before the vernissage, but also during and after the opening. The opening attracted a fairly wide audience, and the conversations with visitors demonstrated how important peace actually is to people. Therefore, two PCO employees were present throughout, supervising the exhibition and conducting conversations with passersby. Many visitors expressed their emotion – especially at the realization of how deeply children engage with war and peace. Tourists also praised the project and expressed a desire for similar initiatives in their home countries.

The presentation in the heart of public space enabled high visibility and informed a broad audience about the project and the importance of peace. Collaboration with the municipality of Izola was a key success factor.

The exhibition is currently on display at the PCO Center and will continue to be shown in September:

• Sežana Elementary School (one week)
• Izola Generation Center (one week)

Network of Towns ‘Shaping the future of Europe – My image of peace’ International panel discussion

As part of the project, PCO – Poklicni center Obala organized a panel discussion on the topic of peace. This took place on May 21, 2025. The event took place in the large hall of the Izola Multigenerational Center and was part of the project’s final activities. The aim of the event was to shed light on current challenges in times of war and crisis and to discuss solutions, prevention, and social responsibility.

The discussion was part of PCO – Poklicni center Obala’s long-term peace-building work. Numerous personalities and institutions were invited and informed about the project, including the President of the Republic of Slovenia, all Slovenian members of the European Parliament, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amnesty International, the Red Cross, the Peace Institute, political parties, and other experts. On this day, the Slovenian President delivered her famous speech in Brussels, where she actively advocated for peace and opposed the genocide in Gaza.

The following speakers shared their experiences with us:

• Jadranka Šturm Kocjan, former Consul General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in South America
• Tjaša Pečarič, Slovenian Red Cross
• Olena Korovina, resident of Ukraine and a citizen of a country at war

The event began with a musical piece and a welcome address by Mag. Sergeja Brglez, the project coordinator. The three speakers shared their perspectives: on diplomatic challenges, humanitarian aid, and personal experiences from everyday life in war-torn Ukraine. Two thematic films were shown (one from UNESCO about war and one about #GiveToGivin). The focus was a moderated roundtable discussion with prepared questions on topics such as:

• Why does diplomacy often fail at crucial moments?
• What happens to missing children in war zones?
• How do you talk to children about war and insecurity?
• How real is the fear that war could “come to us too”?

The event lasted from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and was attended by over 50 guests from 8 countries. Schools with which PCO had previously conducted workshops were specifically invited. The event was promoted regionally with posters, flyers, emails, and personal invitations.

Outlook:
Due to the invitation and the high profile of the event, we were contacted by Ms. Tatjana Bobnar (advisor to the President’s Office). PCO received an invitation to participate in another project of the President and thus contribute to future projects on the topic of peace.