Sabahudin Hadžialić: Guest writer(s) and children with special needs

Guest writer(s) and children with special needs

 

Conference: Улогата и значењето на списанијата, прирачниците и другите визуелни,

аудио и видео изданија и материјали во воспитно-образовниот процес, INAKU, Skopje,

North Macedonia 18.1.2021

Assoc. Prof. Dr. & Dr. Honoris Causa Sabahudin Hadžialić,

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Professor at the Communication Science Faculty of UNINNETUNO University, Rome, Italy

Professor at the Jan Dlugosz University, Czestochowa, Poland

In the status of Prominent Distinguish artist in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Guest writer(s) and children with special needs

Abstract: Interaction between culture and education and within the creation of the innovational

approach make possible involvement the children of special needs and establishment of the

environment that would make them to create even impossible approach to the real creation of

the inner soul. Towards outside society. Through the organization of the presentation of

writings from Guest authors (writers & poets) from the area of former Yugoslavia and Europe.

Through readings (poetry, short stories, picture books, magazines), conversation,

communication between all for one and one for all, making closer to each other, mutual

animation, awakening of the talents.

Keywords: Communication, readings, writings, education, skills, gatherings

Introduction

NGO „LIGHT“ from Sarajevo and DIOGEN pro culture magazine (USA & BiH) have agreed

and signed a contract (2011) about mutual obligations in regards the organization of writers

evenings with the goal to realize the project of the literature evenings. Main aim was targeting

further development of the immediate contacts with the children and youth with special needs:

1. Creating the environment for making closer of different literature forms towards

perception of the children and youth with special needs;

2. Gathering and conversation of the writers from around the region and EU with the

members of the NGO “Light” within the aim of clarifying the position of the writers

within the society today and here;

3. Immediate interaction with the guest spectators and members of NGO “Light” with the

goal of encouragement of the wider social environment to be more included within the

need and plans of the activities of NGO “Light” within the future perception, in other

words, perception of the culture sui generis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

4. All the evenings were unusual shape of the presentation (unless if it was the promotion

of the certain books) where there were not promotors, and where authors themselves

shaped up the space and time during the presentation of the writing reminiscences.

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1. Goals of the achievement

1.1. Creation of assumption of approaching to each other

During the period of activity focused on the interaction of involved people, the creation of assumption

of finding a way of approaching to each other, having in mind all obstacles that might rise:

1. a) Misunderstandings
2. b) Misleading
3. c) Misusing
4. a) When we talk about misunderstanding, the main issue was finding the way of approach

to the children and youth with special needs and it was done through:

1. Pre-talks
2. Pre-explanations
3. Pre-leading
4. b) Misleading was avoided through the:
5. Round tables about writings (what it is it and how we gain from it)
6. Introducing the forth-coming writer through the, eventual, movies about him/her and/or

presentation of his/her Biography

3. Presentation of the country and environment he/she is coming from
4. c) Misusing was avoided by putting on the top of the interest:
5. Equality within the presentation between authors and participants
6. Possibility for the participants/spectators to present their writings, if any
7. Immediate talk between participants/spectators and authors

Educational goal here was mutual understanding of the:

1. Equality
2. Empathy
3. Responsibility

Photo 1: Direct contact between guest writers and children & youth with special needs

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1.2.Humans as cultural beings

Educational communication has been conducted through the creation of the environment where

rights equal responsibility, responsibility equals empathy and empathy equals equality.

During the sessions where were presented 13 authors from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Croatia, Kosovo*, Iraq, Switzerland and Norway the main humanity part was presenting

educational cultural reflection of different cultures but of same humanity. Exchange of

thoughts, writings, books and stories were conducted with the main goal and that was showing

that culture is not only relaxing part of our lives, but one of the main pillows of the society

itself, through interaction, creation and self-sustaining focus.

Photo 2. Children & youth with special needs reads poetry

1.3. Communication as conditio sine qua non

During the period of one year were presented 13 guests writers and 20 children and youth were

present every time within their presentations and more than 200 guests (spectators and guests)

were there as well.

Communication was the tool of success. How? Without the possibility to have anybody who

will be above others in any kind of way. Only moderator was there to interrupt between writers

and children & youth when was notices some kind of disturbance or “noise” within the

communication such as any kind of the issues mentioned as within the Chapter 1.1. above.

Communication was internal and as well external.

Internal communication was:

1. a) Between co-organizers: Diogen pro culture magazine and NGO “Light”
2. b) Between guest writers and children &youth with special needs

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1. c) Between all above among themselves mutually

Photo 3. Visit of the Ambassador of the USA to BiH and local Major

External communication was:

1. a) Between co-organizers and media (was published more than 232 articles within more

than 25 different medias (portals newspapers, TV, Radio, magazines) – (2011-2012)

1. b) Between co-organizers and local community (local Major’s and representatives of the

social care)

1. c) Between children & youth with special needs and their families and relatives

Photo 4. Guest writer & children and youth with special needs (Oslobođenje,10.2.2011)

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1.4.Educational approach through the exchange of ideas

Educational approach within the organizing of the “Guest writer” events was organized through the

exchange of ideas between:

1. a) Co-organizers among themselves (the ways how to organize the events; how to

approach to the guest writers and the children & youth with special needs and how

to communicate with the public)

1. b) Children & youth with special needs among themselves lead by the moderators

(from NGO “Light” and DIOGEN pro culture magazine) and talks about the

writings, organization of the events and readings of the literature and information

about the authors

1. c) Direct contacts with local community and social care to find a ways of mutual future

benefits through the continuance of the same or similar approaches of this kind

Photo 5. From left to right: Family member and children & youth with special needs

The basic assumption was creation of the environment where children and youth of special

needs will feel safe and encouraged to participate within the organized events (DIOGEN pro

culture magazines, 2011-2012).

Main educational part was through:

1. Pre-talks as the presumption of the mutual understandings of the forth-coming events

(answering all the questions raised about the event & authors). Joint and mutual works

on writings.

2. Out of 20 children with special needs, by the end of the period of organizing the events,

4 children & youth were writing poetry (simple, but sincere) and 9 of them were

participating with questions towards guests & authors every event and 7 of them was

shy, but out of those 7, 6 of children & youth with special needs was active within premeetings and hope for the future was that they will be more open as the time come.

3. Readings of the poetry, short stories and listening of the authors (their experiences,

expectations, future planning)

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4. Questions & answers from the children & youth with special needs related to the events,

authors, writings, hopes, expectations

5. Creation of the environment within the premises of the NGO “Light” within which the

children & youth will feel safe and relaxed (open space, relaxed atmosphere with sittings

around with free space in the center for the writers and moderators

During the events direct announcement of the way how to write a short story and/or poem:

1. a) examples by the writers;
2. b) presentation of the children and youth wishes and
3. c) direct talks about outcomes

Outcome as final score – readings of the poems and short stories written by the children and

youth and impression of it by the side of the present writers.

Video recordings of the all events by the side of DIOGEN pro culture magazine and uploading

online plus direct communication with other media – to widen the interest towards population

in BiH that we are all humans. Photos, Press releases, Announcements, contacts with the

schools in Sarajevo and visit of NGO, writers and kids to present outcomes.

1.5. Outcomes as awakening of the communicational skills through writings and

oral presentations

Open talks between moderators of the events with children & youth with special needs

encouraging them to participate within the Pre-events such as meetings and preparation for the

forth-coming events through the:

1. a) communication about when how the event will be organized and
2. b) reading of the poetry/short stories of the forth-coming authors and encouraging them to

participate as well through questions and/or reading of their own literature works

Conversation with the family members of the children & youth with special needs and their

direct involvement between the pre-meetings and actual events for the purpose of better

communication within the events.

Conversation with the authors – guest writers prior to the sessions in a way to organize their

way of presentation of their literature through:

1. a) Open and direct talk with the children & youth with special needs
2. b) Relaxed atmosphere to everybody
3. c) Giving books as a gifts for the children & youth with special needs and making joint

photo with the author-guest writers

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Ten years later, children and youth (now much older) still remember the events, but wider community

did not recognize this yet. The reason for that was probably lack of empathy because of the problems

within the society in general (2nd country in Europe ranked in corruption in 2020).

Although, the goal will continue to meet the aim. Ten years after, the preparation is on its way to reawake the same event, but this time even wider community of writers and children with special needs

to be involved.

Photo 6. A young boy with special needs saying/reciting a poetry he wrote

2. Conclusion

Rights = Responsibility

Responsibility = Empathy

Empathy = Equality

Children and youth with special needs cannot be less human that we are. You just need to spend

short time with them to see the potential – in everything.

Encircling the involvement of all for the benefit of all is the ultimate goal of every society. Only

problem is to find the way how to do it. DIOGEN pro culture magazine and NGO „Light“ from

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina have done it, thorugh:

1. a) Mutual interaction
2. b) Joint efforts
3. c) Focusing on the goals and achievements

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For the future benefits it has to be repeated through the organizing by the societal institutions based on

the achievements of this kind, with improvement through:

1. a) Understanding the needs
2. b) Expecting the interaction of all involved sides
3. c) Foundation built of mutual trust and interaction of creativity of all involved

Photos:

Photo 1: Direct contact between guest writers and children & youth with special needs

Photo 2. Children & youth with special needs reads poetry

Photo 3. Visit of the Ambassador of the USA to BiH and local Major

Photo 4. Guest writer & children and youth with special needs (Oslobođenje,10.2.2011)

Photo 5. From left to right: Family member and children & youth with special needs

Photo 6. A young boy with special needs saying/reciting a poetry he wrote

References:

1. Bljesak.info (2012): https://www.bljesak.info/kultura/flash/jednogodisnji-volonterskiprojekt-knjizevnik-u-gostima-privodi-se-kraju/53730
2. Diogen pro culture magazine (2011) – GUEST WRITER:

http://www.diogenpro.com/knjizevnik-u-gostimaguest-writer.html

3. Diogen pro culture magazine (2012) – GUEST WRITER:

http://www.diogenpro.com/knjizevnik-u-gostima-2012.html

4. Konkursi regiona (2011): https://konkursiregiona.net/knjizevnik-u-gostima/
5. Press kit (2010-2011):

http://www.diogenpro.com/uploads/4/6/8/8/4688084/press_book_04.12.2011.pdf

6. Sutra.ba: http://www.sutra.ba/vijest/knjievnik-u-gostima-ernest-buinski-28453
7. Vares.info (2011): http://www.vares.pp.se/bobovac/boblist/broj195/195_14.htm
8. Video 1: https://vimeo.com/39530449
9. Video 2: https://vimeo.com/17490949
10. Video 3: https://vimeo.com/39496066
11. Video 4: https://vimeo.com/20281517
12. Video 5: https://vimeo.com/17725875
13. Video 6: https://vimeo.com/32700782
14. Video 7: https://vimeo.com/33244307
15. Video 8: https://vimeo.com/23087492
16. Video 9: https://vimeo.com/21253120
17. Video 10: https://vimeo.com/19592031
18. Video 11: https://vimeo.com/19951010
19. Video 12: https://vimeo.com/19381554
20. Video 13: https://vimeo.com/21846174
21. Video 14: https://vimeo.com/38029059