Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

Author: Nadežda Satarić (Social Inclusion Blog)

The International Day of Tolerance has been celebrated on 16 November across the world ever since UNESCO, the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization, established it in 1995. The day is meant to remind people worldwide of the importance of respect and consideration for those different from us.

We also celebrate this day through various events at the national, regional and local level. This year, the municipality of Novi Beograd, i.e. the Centre for Care for the Elderly, Children and Persons with Disabilities “Novi Beograd”, organized a discussion with the participation of three generations – students of the VII and VIII grade of PS “Branko Radičević” from Novi Beograd, students of the Pharmaceutical-Physiotherapy School “Zvezdara”, professionals from the field of social protection and education, and elderly citizens. The main goal of the discussion was to increase the sensitivity of children, the young and the elderly, professionals and the broader public for the importance of tolerant behaviour among all members of society.

The audience consisted of nearly 200 participants from all three generations mentioned above. Through the introductory presentations, providing practical experiences and positive practice examples, the participants were able to familiarize themselves with the approach to be employed towards psychologically divergent persons, towards persons with a disability, towards children with development impairments and towards the elderly.

The students were reminded that tolerance is the recognition, acceptance and respect for diversity. The key characteristics that need to be nurtured to be tolerant were presented. (…)

Tolerance is not only the moral duty of all of us, but also a political and legal requirement and condition for peace among people. It involves much more than just compliance – it must be based on openness, communication, freedom of thought and belief, as well as knowledge.

The significance of the intergenerational dialog for increased tolerance towards the elderly was also pointed out. (…)

Perhaps, even as you read this, you are thinking of an elderly person that “really gets on your nerves” or frequently “nags at you”. Put aside the things that annoy you, and think of one good characteristic of that person. Just one, for starters. (…)

Let us improve intergenerational dialogue, because it makes all of us richer, better and more tolerant people on the one hand, and on the other, it contributes to reducing stereotypes and prejudice towards others, which cause discrimination, intolerance, or even violence. This way, we make people different from us or belonging to a vulnerable social group included in the community, able to live a more dignified and better quality life.

The text in its entirety can be found on the Social Inclusion Blog.