Students from the Sports High School in Belgrade are preparing to take the stage for a humanitarian cause with their play “Putovanje kroz obrazovanje” (“Journey Through Education”). Scheduled for November 23 at the Dadov Theater, the play is part of the regional Festival of Creativity “Anita Savatović” and aims to raise funds for “Dečje srce,” a charity supporting children and young people with developmental disabilities.

The production involves 35 students who will blend drama with sports and stage skills to deliver messages about education and humanity. The students, guided by their teachers, Verica Đoković and Ivana Marinko, aim to showcase their diverse talents through acting, music, dance, and sports performances. “Education is a path to enlightenment, with humanity and kindness as its most important guides,” said Verica Đoković, a Serbian language and literature teacher at the school. She emphasized that the most significant victories are not always achieved in sports arenas and that the most valuable lessons are not found solely in textbooks.

The Drama Section of the Sports High School has a history of using theater as a platform for humanitarian efforts. Previous performances have raised substantial funds for various causes, such as the “Igraj i pobedi” play, which collected 750,000 dinars for the Center for Protection of Infants, Children, and Youth “Zvečanska.” Another play, “Zamislite,” raised approximately 1.5 million dinars for a history teacher, Tatjana Stevanović.

The regional Festival of Creativity “Anita Savatović” connects Serbia with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia. The festival was initiated by Sanja Hajder, director of the General Gymnasium of the Catholic School Center “Bl. Ivan Merc” in Banja Luka. Hajder, the founder of the Team for Gifted and Talented, has been instrumental in bringing together young talents and educators to foster creativity and collaboration across borders. Verica Đoković highlighted Hajder’s dedication to supporting young people’s creativity, noting the festival’s role in creating new values through unity, enthusiasm, and cooperation.

Through their participation in the festival, the students of the Sports High School continue to demonstrate the power of theater as a means of promoting solidarity and support for those in need. Their efforts not only highlight the importance of education and creativity but also underscore the potential for young people to make a significant impact on their communities.