Fortune is measured with genuine smile
We are proud to share the fact that the Older brother, older sister program is being successfully realized for 7 years now in Travnik, precisely in the Center for the education of youth(CEM), where we were cordially welcomed by coordinator Amela Mrakic. We had a chance to talk to her and hear her impressions regarding the program, communication with children and volunteers, plans for the future, as well as the means of implementation of the program in Travnik.
“Exquisitely good cooperation with colleagues from the Center for social work Travnik, outstanding communication with the volunteers, children, and their parents, are some of the things we do to try to show to the kids in the program we are there for them and their better tomorrow. By constant support for volunteers and a principle of work in which our aim is the best interest of the children, we plan to show to all the participants the essentialism of this continual work with the children.” These are the words with which Amela started introducing the implementation of the program.
What was the motivation behind the Center for the education of youth joining such a program, i.e. to start the implementation?
As a very successful NGO, the Center for the education of youth Travnik is successfully working with youth since 1998. From the very beginning, that work included standardized methods and certified young workers who adequately provided informal education to youth. As I was a volunteer at CEM myself, I can confirm first-hand that they are indeed a team of professional people. Through a set of quality workshops, they showed to youth their importance in society and “gave them wings” for the development of new skills and various ways how they can make positive social changes by commitment. Thanks to the team of such people, in 2013 we decided to take a step further and make changes regarding the protection of children in need, so we contacted Association for addiction prevention NARKO-NE, and later on the Older brother, older sister Foundation as well, and by cooperation, we have the contemporary successful results.
What did the implementation of the program look like at the beginning?
Foremost, excellent cooperation with colleagues from the Center for social work Travnik, which was present from the very beginning, helped the program to be shown to wider audiences, but most importantly to young people who are today older brothers and sisters. After we had gathered the young people, we held an introductory meeting and education seminar together with colleagues from the Center for social work. At these meetings, we thoroughly informed the young what the role of older brother/sister means, and talked with them about what is expected from them regarding their engagement.
Can you single out for us one special moment in this cycle?
There were numerous moments that made this cycle special, but definitely, the one which I am going to remember for a long time is connected with the girl who, thanks to the hard effort and perseverance of her volunteer, today has healthy and beautiful teeth, decent shoes and most importantly – she has a friend, support and real role-model.
We managed to have no child separated from its parents, to save as many families as it’s possible; we managed to fix the little girl’s teeth and return her genuine smile; we managed to connect a boy whose dream is to become a policeman with a policewoman and secure them a super meetup; we managed to give support to our volunteer/librarian who writes stories for kids and gratify her effort with applause; we managed to come to the play of our two younger brothers and be extremely excited with their every appearance on stage and give them thundering applause… We managed to have a coffee with parents and get rid of all the insecurities and fears they had; we managed to sit down with the volunteers for iftar and enjoy ourselves while we ate Eastern cakes and, what didn’t we manage to do…we transformed and enriched souls…
What are things you would like to change in the next cycle of the implementation?
Considering that we have splendid results behind us, we are planning on working on greater protection of children and youth on local and wider levels. We want to provide long-term positive changes for the children in the rural parts of Travnik also. Through this program, we are making it possible for the children in need to develop their social skills continually, and to actively work on making them (the children) be not just passive bystanders, but active members of their community, and later on to be workable persons with abilities of critical thinking, open approach, want for investment in their selves and to evoke keenness in them to grab every possible chance for better future in life.
Interview done by:
Amila Ibrahimovic, PR assistant of the Foundation
