THE SLOGAN
HOW THE MIND GROWS
The slogan for the 55th International Gathering of the Children of Europe is “HOW THE MIND GROWS”. This choice serves to honor the 50th anniversary of the first publication of Budimir Nešić’s renowned book of the same title. The book “How the Mind Grows” depicts the distinctive originality of children’s perspectives through a series of statements, thoughts and answers gathered from his work and interaction with children.
HOW TO ENGAGE WITH THE TOPIC AS A GROUP?
This year, we wonder how children perceive the world, what inspires them, how they grow and develop, what is the world they mature in like, to what extent adults comprehend them and whether a bit of arrogance is what is shown in their assumption of always being always right. The slogan “HOW THE MIND GROWS”, as the guiding inspiration for the “Joy of Europe” performances, can be widely and freely interpreted in accordance with the artistic sensibility of the group.
BUDIMIR NEŠIĆ
Budimir Nešić was a Serbian psychologist and writer who devoted his professional career to children. Alongside his work with children and parents as a psychologist, he excelled as a songwriter, aphorist and author of children’s books and scripts which is why his works were brought to life on stage, screen and as music composed for children. Nešić was a co-author of the renowned books “A Pen Writes with its Heart” and “Greet Someone”. We are proud to say that he spent a significant part of his career at Dom Pionira (today known as the Children’s Cultural Centre Belgrade) and the Center for Social Work in Zemun.
