More than 1,500 students are learning about the dangers of human trafficking through dramatic sketches at rural primary schools near Banja Luka, western Bosnia and Herzegovina. This World Vision-supported pilot project brings together key members of the community in interactive workshops to drive home a vital message of prevention.

The performances, portraying young people who are unwittingly drawn into the dangerous trade, are accompanied by interactive sessions with experts from the state government agency and experienced charities. At least one local police officer attends each presentation, so that students know who to turn to in a risky situation.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country of origin, transit, and destination for women and girls trafficked internationally and internally for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Over the last year, an increased number of Bosnian victims were trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation within the country, according to the United States Department Trafficking Persons Report, 2007.

'Our goal is to raise awareness among primary school students in these vulnerable communities about the realities of trafficking so that they understand how people are recruited, the effects on victims, and where they can go for help,' says Dijana Kremenovic, project coordinator for World Vision's Banja Luka office.


'This workshop achieved its goal. Students were informed, warned and awakened about one of the modern evils facing young people who leave rural areas in search of a better life,' says Bosko Maric, principal of Petar Kocic School in Kola, near Banja Luka.

Boris Ivanovic from the State Investigation and Protection Agency agrees: 'This project is real prevention, not only for trafficking in persons but also for drugs, prostitution and other crimes. It targets the rural schools which are very vulnerable, especially suburbs near the towns.'

The first sketch shows some bored teenagers impulsively pursuing a newspaper ad for workers on a cruise liner. Their exciting chance to 'explore the world,' however, turns out to be 14-hour days of exploitative labour. In the second skit, a student model is flattered into accepting an offer of a 'casting in Milan,' only realising when it is too late that she has been trapped in prostitution.

'We know that mobile theatre is a good method for teaching this kind of topic. It's interactive, not just lecturing. If you use music, games, and a little laughter, it's incredible how much it stays in the children's heads,' says Ljubisa Vasic, the presenter of the mock documentary from the partner organisation, Genesis.

The scripts were written by Lana Jajcevic of the advocacy group, United Women. All aspects of the workshops were carefully designed to be appropriate and memorable for their audience, who range from 11 to 16 years old. The project is receiving enthusiastic feedback from not only students, but also teachers and parents.

Seven schools were involved in the pilot program, which began in November 2007. But with further funding it is hoped that the workshops can be offered to all of the seventh to ninth-grade students in Bosnia and Herzegovina.