“An Introduction to the Social, Economic, and Political Conditions that Affect Children and Families in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Slovenia”
Long Beach College of Health and Human Services – Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Attributed to Churchill, but probably of unknown origin, this quote beautifully explains what to expect when traveling around the Balkans. Each ethnic group in the Balkans has its own understanding of the historical facts and their meanings.
The Funky Tours 27 day short-term study abroad program will open the most pressing issues and challenges related to history in the region and help to envisage its Social, Economic, and Political impact to Children and Families of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia.
This program is created as an abroad course that will focus on firsthand experiences and unique opportunities for better understanding of the complexity of policy-making, political behaviour, conflicts and addressed problems in Balkan which cannot be delivered by traditional means within four walls of classrooms.
Let’s master the Balkans together. This program will take you to four countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
During the course we will make sure to delve deep into the history riddles, unimaginable cultural diversity, intact nature and war impacts on society. We will admire the marks of ancient civilisations, breathtaking architecture, most beautiful tourist attractions and those that are completely off the beaten path and yet to be discovered. All the way through, we will be accompanied by world-wide known Balkan hospitality, local stakeholders, abundance of budget friendly tasty & healthy local food, booming nightlife, and chances for adrenaline pumped experiences.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will offer us a unique chance to understand in depth the effects of the 4 years long war destruction and the impact it had on families still struggling with the war consequences.
We will meet the local families, children and ex soldiers, explore the abandoned sites, learn about the greatest massacre that happened on European soil ever since the WWII, enjoy the Utopia of Sarajevo – European Jerusalem, indulge into winter sports at the grandiose 1984 Olympic mountains and experience the hedonistic environment of Sarajevo nightlife.
14 nights in Croatia will enable us to explore in depth its pearls: Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Sibenik, and Plitvice National park.
We will learn about the Croatian Homeland War from locals, actively participate in the local communities, indulge into lively debates with guest speakers and enjoy spectacular waterfalls, world’s most beautiful beaches, unique UNESCO sites and religious temples defying the time, local products keeping the Croatian economy alive, and world-wide known vibrant nightlife.
National Geographic Traveler ranks Montenegro among the “50 Places of a Lifetime” and we will have a full day to discover the reasons behind it.
Full day in Montenegro will open the door of perfectly preserved ancient old towns of Kotor and Budva and the famous Montenegrin Adriatic coast with some of the most popular beaches. With a little help from the local, we will take a stroll through cobblestone mazes of ancient towns, learn the Montenegrin history, do a ferry to island of Perast and enjoy the famous Budva old town shopping.
Two nights nights in Slovenia will help us discover a wide variety of stunningly beautiful natural and cultural amenities.
We will do a walk with a local in charming Ljubljana, admire the winter sceneries of lake Bled and Vintgar gorge, visit the best preserved medieval city in Ljubljana – Skofja Loka, and enjoy endless shopping possibilities. Additionally, we will learn how did Slovenia, despite the recent war, managed to become the most developed country in the region and a country with one of the lowest rates of income inequality in the world.
During the trip, we will focus our attention on immigration, social, cultural, religious, political, technological, and historical factors that influenced and changed the lives of children and families in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Slovenia.
The different teaching methods that will be used in the course will include lectures, power-point slides and presentations, visits to local museums and tourist attractions, experiential learning activities, service- learning activities, utilisation of guest speakers and founders of non-governmental organisations, visits to NGO offices, orphanages, religious temples, universities, historic sites and other iconic places which will be an integral part of this course.
Destination: Zagreb, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Zagreb
Meals Included: Dinner
Destination: Zagreb, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Zagreb
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Zagreb’s famous Zrinjevac Park, Bogovićeva ulica, Jelacic Square, Zagreb Cathedral The Zagreb, Dolac Market Zagreb oldest green market, Tunel Gric WW2 tunnel Funicular Railway, Lotrscak Tower, Upper Town with the beautiful panoramic views of the city, St. Mark’s Church, Croatian Government Building, Croatian Parliament, Porta di Pietra, and Tkalciceva street, Museum of Broken Relationship and Mimara Museum
Destination: Zagreb, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Zagreb
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Church of St. Donatus, Zadar Cathedral, The Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun (Art installation), The Roman Forum, The Church of St. Chrysogonus, City Walls and Gates, The People’s Square, The Church of St. Mary and the Gold and Silver of Zadar, The Church of St. Chrysogonus
Destination: Zagreb, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Zagreb
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Zagreb City Mosque and The Islamic Secondary School, Zagreb Christmas Market
Destination: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Accommodation: Hotel in Ljubljana
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Ljubljana Castle, Dragon Bridge, Tivoli Park, Central Market, Presern Square and Ljubljana Cathedral
Destination: Skofja Loka and Bled, Slovenia
Accommodation: Hotel in Ljubljana
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Skofja Loka town, Bled Lake
Destination: Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel at Plitvice Lakes
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Plitvice Lakes
Destination: Split, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Split
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Memorial of Nikola Tesla, Split
Destination: Split, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Split
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Diocletian’s Palace, Pjaca and Fruit Square, Marmot Street, St. Duje’s Cathedral, Peristil and Campanile, Klis Fortress and Salona (Roman Empire’s foremost city in the Balkans)
Destination: Split, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Split
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Skradinski Waterfall, Sibenik Cathedral, The Old Town Hall, the Rector’s Palace, the St. Lawrence church, the Greasy Street, St. Nicholas Fortress, Sibenik Christmas Market
Destination: Trogir, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Split
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Trogir old town, Cathedral of St. Lawrence and Tower Kamerlengo
Destination: Ston and Dubrovnik, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Dubrovnik
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Old town of Ston and Dubrovnik
Destination: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Dubrovnik
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Onofrio’s Fountain, Prijeko Street, Old Port – the key to Dubrovnik’s trading and maritime success, St. Saviour’s, the grandiose Franciscan and Dominican church, the wine-producing vines believed to be more than 100 years old, the Cathedral, the Rector’s Palace, Sponza Palace, Orlando’s Column and Kupari beach.
Destination: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Dubrovnik
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Local orphanage, Catholic Church, Mosque, Synagogue and Orthodox church.
Destination: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Accommodation: Hotel in Dubrovnik
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Srdj. Mountain, Dubrovnik War Museum
Destination: Kotor and Budva, Montenegro
Accommodation: Hotel in Dubrovnik
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Kotor: Sea Gate, Clock Tower, Beskuca’s Palace, Pima Palace, St. Tryphon Cathedral, Maritime Museum, Karampana Well, Church of St. Luke, Saint Nicholas Church and the Northern Gate, Budva old town.
Destination: Herzegovina Region, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Accommodation: Hotel in Mostar
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
Locations we will visit: Vjetrenica Cave, Pocitelj, Kravice Waterfalls, Stolac, old town of Vidoski, Radimlja Necropolis
Destination: Mostar and Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Accommodation: Hotel in Mostar
Meals Included: Breakfast and dinner
Locations we will visit: Kriva Cuprija bridge (Crooked bridge, UNESCO protected Old Bridge, Koski Mehmet-Pasha Mosque, Partisan cemetery, Brutalist Cathedral of Mary, Nikola Šubić Zrinski Street, Mostar Gymnasium, Sniper Tower, Mostar City Hall, Blagaj Dervish House and Springs of River Buna, Mostar Rock School.
Destination: Konjic, Jablanica and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Accommodation: Hotel in Sarajevo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Jablanica destroyed bridge and town, Konjic town, Tito’s bunker, Sarajevo suburbs
Destination: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Accommodation: Hotel in Sarajevo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Sarajevo City Hall, House of Spite, Imperial mosque, Latin bridge with a story of assasination of Franz Ferdinard, Gazi Husref-bey’s market – bazaar: Bezistan, Tašlihan, Gazi Husref bey’s mosque, Clock tower: Sahat kula, Jewish Synagogue, Cathedral of Sacred Jesus Heart, Sarajevo roses, The Eternal Flame, Markale market and story about the biggest massacres during the siege of Sarajevo, War Tunnel Museum, notorious Sniper Alley, Hotel Holiday, Jewish cemetery and Olympic Mt. Trebevic with the old Olympic bobsled
Destination: Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Accommodation: Hotel in Sarajevo
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
Locations we will visit: Potocari Memorial Centre complex, gallery and cemetery, Srebrenica town
Destination: Jahorina Olympic Mt.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sarajevo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Sarajevo suburbs, Jahorina Olympic Mt.
Destination: Sarajevo
Accommodation: Hotel in Sarajevo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Central parts of Sarajevo, Association “Women Victims of War”, National Museum, History Museum, War Childhood Museum
Destination: Central Bosnia Region
Accommodation: Zagreb
Meals Included: Breakfast
Locations we will visit: Travnik fort and Blue Water Springs, Jajce fort, Jajce Catacombs, Jajce old town and waterfalls, AVNOJ museum.
Destination: Zagreb
Accommodation: Hotel in Zagreb
Meals Included: Breakfast
Selection of study trip places, themes, topics and experiences we cover is diverse. Our storytelling breaks the prejudice, offers unbiased – factual stories, and offers in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Balkans.
We will open the door to Balkans Narnia, delve into mind bending history riddles and the most pressing issues and challenges the region has been struggling with for centuries. Balkan region knows how to keep your mind intrigued and the themes we will be dealing with during the course will help envisage the hardly comprehensive concepts that have been used as divisive weapons for centuries.
Historical, religious, and cultural factors impacting the contrasts and similarities between the culture and people of the Balkans. Immigration trends in the food, dress, recreational patterns, culture and arts & crafts in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Slovenia.
Yugoslavia as Utopia or Dystopia? Yugoslavia with over 22 million people, was a home to 4 different religions and 5 different nations. Was Tito a hero or dictator? Yugoslavia was considered the most reformed socialist economy and the only Communist regime capable of falling out from the Soviet Union.
Fall of Yugoslavia and 1990s war destruction that left a huge impact on children and families in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Slovenia. The neverending Balkans “war” which still takes place based on discrimination, animosity and denial.
Peace and reconciliation through acceptance. Balkan as a place where Christianity, Judaism and Islam meet and manage to coexist. Beliefs and traditions of Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Needed solutions for the future of Balkan’s families and children highly impacted by the war in 90s.
Balkans youth and brain drain. Due to unemployment, unstable political tensions, ethnic animosity, wounds of the past, fear, possible wars in future, nepotism and corruption Balkan countries have some of the biggest brain drain in the whole World.
The most important thing in the Balkans is not to fall under the trap of relativisation and “biasness”. Funky Tours team will make sure to enable unique experiences and carefully chosen guides and guest speakers who are prominent within a field of their work. Our stories are unbiased and factual.
Take a stroll in the old towns and walk the paths of so far unknown archaic civilisations intertwining and leaving their trademarks and foundations of what today is known as the Balkans. Discover the ancient walls and forts, guardians looming over the Balkan cities. Learn about the arts and crafts and buy some unique souvenirs from local vendors.
Visit the colourful and serene religious sites, admire the tradition that has been dividing, connecting and teaching Balkans people of differences and acceptance for centuries. Enjoy the spiritual conversations and a once in a lifetime opportunity to understand the concept of different religious beliefs from imam, rabbi and priests.
Visit the social service agencies and NGOs that assist low-income families in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Slovenia. Learn about the struggle behind the attempts to help people on the margins and discuss the potential solutions in empowering the people of small local communities.
Understand the Balkans by visiting its homes of art and history. Learn about the “new” museum concept of not only preserving but also an urgent need of encouraging people for a deeper understanding in order to reach so much needed mutual understanding. Have a workshop in the War Childhood Museum and understand the consequences of growing up during the war.
Discover a heart melting stories while visiting the orphanage and schools. Learn about the concept of the two schools under the same roof and participate in a new year’s school celebration in Srebrenica when we will share small presents and bring some smiles on children faces.
Meet the locals and hear their side of the story. Visit their homes, schools, farms and towns and encounter with Balkan families, ex soldiers, single mothers, abandoned children and people who lost their entire families during the war destructions. Have a warm welcome and endless conversations with locals from all around the region. Learn about the Balkans customs, tradition and humour that helped people to keep their spirit.
Enjoy the serenity of intact nature, long walks next to the beach and colourful sunsets reflecting in the sea. Take a boat ride, admire the amazing nature parks and grandiose waterfalls. Jump into a cable car ride, enjoy the amazing views and encounter the massive mountains perfect for some nice and easy walks as well as for winter sports adrenaline junkies. Learn how to ski, or snowboard.
The Balkans know how to party and will use every chance for it, no matter the day of the week. The region has a handful of pubs, bars and cafes that will meet the expectations of even the most demanding ones. No matter how introvert, Balkan will wake up an urge to socialise. Discover the melodies of so far unknown music genres, enjoy the tasty local food and drinks. Hang out with local youth in pubs and bars. Learn how to properly drink Bosnian coffee and how to party like Balkan people do.
To create amazing products, we require that all study tour aspects match our philosophy. Our tour guides & guest speakers, accommodation, transportation, liability, safety, tasty local food or great fun are all mirror of our philosophy too.
The most important asset of our tours and study trips are our people: our staff, our guides and our guest speakers. Funky Tours philosophy is to deliver completely unbiased and factual stories, and to fully engage with our guests.
We always aim to provide transparent, fair and budget friendly service that will exceed our guests expectations.
For our students we will make sure to provide a good 3* centrally located hotel accommodation at each city we will be staying at. Accommodation will be based in shared 1/2 and 1/3 hotel rooms with provided daily linens and towels, internet access and breakfast. All taxes are covered in the overall price of the course.
As a travel and transfer agency with maximum focus on guests safety and satisfaction, at Funky Tours we always chase excellence in our services.
SAFETY PROCEDURES & QUALITY STANDARD
Vehicles
Drivers
Food is an inevitable part of travel experience to Balkans and will surely make you one step closer to understanding the people, its customs and traditions.
FT team will make sure to recommend and provide an amazing assembly of tasty local dishes. Depending on the region we travel together, we always make sure to choose the best of the local food. Balkan will tickle your taste buds and reach your heart through your stomach with mouth watering local food.