STUTTGART – On the occasion of February 21st – International Mother Language Day, the Association of Supplementary Schools of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Diaspora, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, sends its congratulations and expresses its gratitude to all volunteers, teachers, coordinators, cultural and educational workers and activists of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the diaspora, especially in the Federal Republic of Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Italy, Turkey, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Canada, Australia and the USA, who are making enormous efforts to ensure that young people and children of BiH citizens around the world do not forget their mother tongue. At the same time, the Association once again appeals to the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to regulate the area of supplementary education in the mother tongue for children of BiH citizens in the diaspora who are exposed to accelerated assimilation. 
-The assimilation of BiH citizens in the diaspora into foreign societies, especially youth and children, is well underway and threatens to lose entire generations of young people. In order to survive as a people and preserve ties with our homeland – Bosnia and Herzegovina, no matter where we live in the world, it is our moral obligation to preserve our native language, religion, customs and culture.
One way to do this is through supplementary schools in the Bosnian mother tongue in the world and the cultural activities of Bosnian associations, which we will continue to support, within our capabilities, but without adequate state involvement in regulating this area, it is not possible to achieve better results. Especially in countries where supplementary education in the mother tongue is not integrated into the domestic education system and where everything depends on the self-organization of our citizens – say the Association of Supplementary Schools of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Teaching in BiH supplementary schools in the Federal Republic of Germany and most other European countries is carried out according to the plan, program and textbooks of the MCP BiH. Teaching is carried out by teaching staff who already live in Germany, and is coordinated primarily by the Association of Supplementary Schools of BiH, in cooperation with the Consulates General of BiH in Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt and the Embassy of BiH in Berlin. 
– Today, on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, we appeal to our citizens in the diaspora, do not stay aside, do not close your eyes to assimilation, do not justify yourself with the poor attitude of the state towards the diaspora, do not brag about being a bad translator in the conversation of your children and your parents, do what is in your power – enroll your children in Bosnian supplementary schools, get involved in the project of preserving the mother tongue and identity of BiH citizens in the diaspora through supplementary schools of BiH and cultural activities! Because, if our language disappears – our people will disappear too – say the Association of Supplementary Schools of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Haris Halilovic
