UWC Mostar Peace Conference

UWC Mostar Peace Conference 2025: Stories of the Past, Visions of the Future

UWC Mostar was and is the first United World College with the explicit aim to contribute to the reconstruction of a post-conflict society, and also the first to be housed within an existing national school. Our students come from all over the world, as well as from all nationalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

What are our goals?

• Elevate our understanding of peace related issues by fostering a diverse and inclusive
• Create a dynamic platform of intellectual exchange and profound reflection, allowing us to reflect deeply on the true nature of peace
• Empower and inspire each other to drive positive change within the UWC Mostar community and beyond

The following are the key topics we aim to explore and problematize at the UWC Mostar Peace Conference 2025: Stories and Bridges.

At UWC Mostar, we are fortunate to be part of a community where stories from many different backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together. Our stories are complex and unique; they often reflect conflict, understanding, reconciliation, resilience, and many other experiences that shape who we are. Do we underestimate or overestimate the power of stories in peacebuilding? We invite you to share a story of your own, your community or the one that matters to you.

Belonging & Exclusion

Belonging is an ongoing process that involves membership in a wide variety of social groups throughout our lives. However, in many societies and communities, belonging often comes at the cost of exclusion and division. Is exclusion an inherent condition of belonging, or can we imagine communities where belonging does not require drawing identity boundaries, creating labels, or constructing physical borders?

Each year, UWC Day has a different theme, which helps provide a central focus for the day’s actions and initiatives. UWC Day 2025 will be celebrated under the theme “Voices for Peace,” which honours the UN International Year of Peace and Trust and reflects UWC’s core mission of using education as a powerful force to promote peace and understanding across cultures and communities.