ABOUT THE OLDER BROTHER, OLDER SISTER PROGRAM
What is the Older Brother, Older Sister program?
Older Brother, Older Sister is a mentoring program that connects a volunteer (older brother/sister) with a child (younger sister/brother), with the goal of building a meaningful, caring, and supportive relationship. This goal is achieved through two key components: the volunteer’s work with the child, and the professionals’ support for the volunteers.
In the program, volunteers spend one-on-one time with children, serving as role models and providing support in developing life skills and socially acceptable behavior. These meetups often include going to the movies, taking walks, grabbing dessert, bowling, ice skating, or participating in joint trips and creative workshops where they can also socialize with other participants.
Who can be an older brother or sister?
Older brothers and sisters are young people aged 20 to 30 who are willing to dedicate 20 hours per month during the project cycle to brighten the childhood of one child at risk. Volunteers are emotionally and mentally mature individuals with positive values, who are open to personal growth and collaboration with other volunteers and professionals.
How can I apply to become an older brother or sister?
Applications for volunteering open at the beginning of the academic year in local organizations that implement the program.
If you're interested in volunteering, you can contact these organizations directly (listed on this website under "Partner Organizations"), or fill out the contact form in the "Contact" section, or reach out via email at info@mentorstvo.ba or phone at +387 62 959 186.
Who are the children included in the program?
The program serves children aged 6–14 who are either living in children’s homes or come from socially and economically disadvantaged families, which makes it harder for them to grow up into healthy, socially integrated, and capable individuals.
What do the meetups between younger and older siblings look like?
The timing and frequency of meetups are arranged based on the availability of both the volunteer and the child. Ideally, they should meet at least 3 times a month, with at least 5 days between each meetup.
Activities vary based on their mutual preferences, and often include trips to the cinema, theater, museum visits, nature walks, or simply grabbing a juice and a slice of cake.
Once a month, joint activities are organized by the local implementing organizations, mostly fun and creative events where children and volunteers meet peers and share experiences.
Is there a budget for these outings?
Depending on the local community, volunteers receive a monthly allowance of BAM 25–35 to cover the costs of activities, such as movie tickets, drinks, snacks, etc.
How long is a program cycle?
The program usually follows the academic year and lasts 10 months. However, minor deviations are possible. Child-volunteer meetups must last at least 7 months, with the option of continuing during the summer or joining again in the next cycle.
Do volunteers receive professional support?
Before beginning their role, volunteers must complete an introductory training to prepare them for their responsibilities. Throughout the program, coordinators and collaborators organize advisory group and individual sessions, and volunteers are invited to participate in additional workshops and trainings to support their growth and resilience.
FOR ORGANIZATIONS
How can organizations apply for funding to implement the program?
A public call for co-financing the implementation of the Older Brother, Older Sister program is published each August. All interested organizations may apply, and there is no limit to the number of times they can apply.
What are the requirements?
To become a program implementer with the Foundation’s support, your NGO should meet the following criteria:
- Operate steadily for at least 3–5 years
- Have practical project experience in working with children/youth and in social protection
- Organize volunteer work for youth
- Have experience training volunteers, especially in educational and advisory roles
- Maintain partnerships with social welfare institutions in the local community
- Support innovative, participatory learning methods with a focus on skill development
- Be committed to securing part of the funding for the local project and already have at least 30% of the budget secured
- Commit to following quality standards
What is the funding period?
Funding is granted for one program cycle (10 months following the academic year). After this period, organizations may apply again in the next round of public calls.
Is professional support provided along with funding?
The Foundation provides ongoing professional support to local coordinators and collaborators. Before starting the implementation, they must complete a preparatory training. Throughout the program, at least 5 group sessions and additional trainings are organized. Individual advisory meetings are also available when needed.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION OLDER BROTHER, OLDER SISTER
How was the Foundation established?
The process of establishing the Foundation for Support and Development of Mentoring Programs began in 2013, and it was officially registered on December 19, 2013. The Addiction Prevention Association NARKO-NE initiated the process through the "Older Brother, Older Sister Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina," and all Network members at the time supported its creation. The founder of the Foundation is NARKO-NE.
During the 7 years of implementing the program through the Network, around 1,450 children and the same number of volunteers participated. It is now time for the Foundation to carry forward this legacy and promote mentoring for children and youth at risk.
What does the Foundation do?
The Foundation offers financial and advisory support for implementing the program, and organizes fundraising and promotional activities to support the Older Brother, Older Sister Fund. It also develops new mentoring models that will be introduced in future public calls.
How is the Foundation funded?
The Foundation is primarily funded by foreign donors and partially through local fundraising activities. From 2018 to 2021, the main donors were Medicor Foundation (Liechtenstein) and Renovabis (Germany). In Sarajevo, the Foundation has a volunteer team that organizes promotional and fundraising campaigns for the Fund.
Who are the Foundation’s volunteers?
Foundation volunteers are young adults (20–30 years old) who are willing to spend about 15 hours a month helping with fundraising campaigns. While previous experience with the program or similar projects is preferred, it is not mandatory. Volunteers should be interested in learning about fundraising and philanthropy and be team-oriented and responsible.
There are also corporate volunteering opportunities in areas such as translation, content creation for social media, and training and education for staff and volunteers.
What is the Older Brother, Older Sister Alumni Group?
The Alumni Group is an informal network of former volunteers and program participants. Its goals include:
- Sharing stories about the program’s positive impact on children at risk and society at large
- Promoting philanthropy and fundraising to expand access to mentoring
- Staying connected through a closed Facebook group and other Foundation social media channels
How can I become a Foundation volunteer?
Volunteer recruitment for the fundraising team is organized based on project needs and announced on mentorstvo.ba and the Foundation’s social media channels.
If you’re interested in volunteering, you can always fill out the contact form on the website or get in touch via email at info@mentorstvo.ba or phone at +387 62 959 186.