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A Historical Contribution to the Understanding of Genocidal Intent | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
January 20th, 2023
On January 9th of this year, a book launch was held in Sarajevo for Intercepted Conversations: Preparations for War, by Hikmet Karčić, Emir Suljagić, and Sead Turčalo. The book contains the written transcripts of a series of intercepted telephone conversations which took place between May 1991 and March 1992 among members of the Serbian political and intellectual elite. These conversations were recorded by the State Security Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was monitoring the preparations for the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Sarajevo, the authors noted that the documents, intercepted conversations, audio and written transcripts in this book feature almost all participants in the joint criminal enterprise that later resulted in the formation of the entity of the Republika Srpska.
“The promotion of the book Intercepted Conversations: Preparations for War on today’s date [January 9th] is not accidental. Only 14 kilometers from us, the preparations for war, the institutionalization of ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and genocide is being celebrated. The unconstitutional day of the Republika Srpska is being celebrated,” said Sead Turčalo, one of the authors of the book and Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo.
Emir Suljagić, an author of the book and the director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center, thanked the members of the State Security Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina who did their job by recording the conversations of the Department of State Security of Serbia (today’s Security Intelligence Agency). These patriots showed that the instruments of the state can be used for its protection. He added that this was the first time in history that a head of state security was recorded while organizing an attack on another country.
As a continuation of this project, the Srebrenica Memorial Center is to publish an online platform where all transcripts will be available in Bosnian and English.
“All the leaders of the joint criminal enterprise that eventually resulted in the formation of the Republika Srpska entity were recorded. I think there are many people, from Jojo Tintor and Koprivica to Milošević, Karadžić, Jovica Stanišić, Gojko Đoga who passionately fantasized with Karadžić that Sarajevo will be a karakazan [Turkish: black cauldron] where 300,000 Muslims will be killed and so on. Dobrica Ćosić is recorded also,” said Suljagić. He stressed out that these people actively advised and encouraged Karadžić’s belief that would be remembered as the historical figure who realized the idea of the unification of the Serbs after the unification of the South Slavs failed.
Suljagić emphasized that these conversations offer the best insight into the mindset of the Serbian political and intellectual class, as they believed them to be private, and thus openly discussed their plans to attack another country and destroy its non-Serb population.
These intercepted conversations, he added, allow for the mapping of Serbian politics in time and space as well as the identification of its actors and their intentions.
Edina Bećirović, a professor at the Faculty of Criminal Sciences of the University of Sarajevo and a genocide expert, said that the book is an invaluable historical contribution to the understanding of genocidal intent and the dynamics of the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The analysis of these conversations conducted for us by Suljagić, Karčić, and Turčalo from the period between May 1991 and March 1992, together with the selection of transcripts, is a unique document that provides unprecedented insight into the detailed and thorough planning of the a country’s disintegration and of genocide,” said Bećirović. She noted that the conversations also constitute a major contribution to the comparative study of genocide, especially as concerns the analysis of perpetrators’ perspectives.
Hikmet Karčić, an author of the book and a genocide expert, said that not all intercepted conversations were included in this work, because to do so would have resulted in an enormous book. He also thanked his colleagues from the Srebrenica Memorial Center who provided technical and research assistance.
He explained that the conversations also reveal the influence of the international community in their considerations of what to do and the terminology to use and so on. This project will continue in the future, and all transcripts will be translated into English.
The second book featured at the promotional event, Torture, Humiliate, Kill: Inside the Bosnian Serb Camp System, by Hikmet Karčić, represents the first comprehensive research into concentration camps during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The book describes the camps in Bijeljina, Prijedor, Bileća and Višegrad – namely, the circumstances of their establishment, their command structure, and the conditions in which the detainees lived.
“This book presents research on the camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina that existed from 1992 to 1995. We promoted these two books today and it is actually our response to provocations. Our answer is science,” said Karčić.
Professor Bećirović pointed out that both books are an invaluable historical contribution to tracking the development of genocidal intent in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in a context where war criminals are still celebrated as heroes. “We can’t say that it’s a lie, but rather a massive self-deception about heroism being the motive of the genocide, which costs certain people the most. Only what is known can be denied,” Bećirović remarked.
Professor Jasmin Medić said that prior to the publication of Torture, Humiliate, Kill, former detainees had written about the camps, describing the torture they endured during their imprisonment. He went on to say the camps were not created spontaneously, but rather were a result of several months of preparations, and that the only differences between the camps were the death tolls and the extent of brutality inflicted upon detainees. When asked about the purpose of the camps, Medić said that their primary function was collective traumatization.
“The collective traumatization of detainees aimed to ensure that returning to their homes brought back memories of the brutal torture they experienced, so that this would be a main reason that they would never decide to return,” said Medić, adding that the same traumatic memories are associated with their places of capture. This collective traumatization is compounded by the high probability that returnees will encounter those who abused them or their loved ones.
Hariz Halilovich, a professor from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), also spoke about the importance of these books. “What once seemed trivial, casual, banal, is today institutionalized – I mean the evil that started with preparations and conversations,” explained Halilovich.  He added that while reading the transcripts, he was struck by the casualness of the conversations which were to result in extreme brutality.
The promotion of both books on January 9th was symbolic. While some still celebrate the idea of an ethnically pure Serbian state, there are also those who are trying their hardest to stand in the way of this evil.
“When someone celebrates genocide and its consequences, it tells us that violence is okay. That also increases the likelihood of new violence. When violence and genocide are celebrated, the victims suffer. That is why we need to raise awareness. Remembering the consequences of genocide is the only way we can prevent it. Memory is limited because we remember less and less of what was before. Without memory, we lose knowledge of everything. Let’s live looking toward the future while trying to deal with what has passed,” said Professor Turčalo.

created: January 20th, 2023


text:
Geography with A+ “Prof” Vedran Zubić | Balkan Diskurs
Amina Sejfić
January 23rd, 2023
Although every award he has received is meaningful to him, one is especially significant. “My favorite award is the one I got from the kids in 2016, but I prefer the smile or the hug of a child even more – that’s a real reward. It’s nice to receive any kind of recognition, but I would also like these awards to encourage a conversation about reforms in the education system.”
In May 2016, Zubić was awarded the title Professor za pet [A+ Professor] by the Student Council of the Canton of Sarajevo, and a year later, the Network of Student Councils of BiH also selected him as the best high school teacher. He also received the prestigious Global Teacher Award in India in 2022, which is awarded to distinguished teachers from all over the world, and during the Covid-19 pandemic, was named a “Hero of 2022” by Večernjakov pečat, as well as chosen as the best teacher in the former Yugoslav territory. He is also the recipient of the Safet Hadžić Award for his special contribution to the education system. These are just some of the awards earned by this high school geography in the Sarajevo neighbourhood of Dobrinja.
Growing up with globes and atlases, he inherited his love for nature from his parents, who are also geography teachers.
“I didn’t imagine myself as a geography teacher, as someone who would teach others. I started doing it more for myself, to understand nature, to learn something and to travel,” said Zubić. He added that he started working as a teacher quite by accident because one school had a shortage of teachers.
He believes that as the community develops, so should education, which for him is a continuous process. “The education system is in crisis, and it’s clear that some changes are needed if we want it to survive. Investing in people and their education is the best investment,” Zubić remarked.
Aware of the importance of innovation in teaching, he believes that textbooks are inadequate for modern education.
“You can’t expect today’s kids to have a 45 minute attention span. If you observe, for example, how long videos on YouTube last, you will see that they are very short,” explains Zubić. He pointed out that modern technology in teaching must be used with caution so as not to “turn homo-digitalis into homo-asapiens.”
The Sarajevo geography professor is also known for various activities that he carries out with the help of his students which enable him to educate a wider audience about geography basics and interesting phenomena in an interesting way.
In addition to the Facebook page “Učimo s profom” [Learn with the prof], the quiz Sveznalica” [Smarties], four years ago, he started a YouTube channel called “Vedra geografija” [Bright Geography]. Together with his students, he records teaching units, as well as current events related to geography and similar disciplines. In addition to partially following the curriculum, on his channel you can also find episodes that talk about current interesting events as well as interesting things from his travels.
“I extracted only the most interesting information from the teaching lessons, and these videos last a maximum of five minutes. But the whole idea of “Vedra Geografija” is [the students’]. I’m just an actor,” said Zubić.
During the pandemic, while classes were held exclusively online, Zubić became very popular with students who were learning geography through screens.
He has been working at the Dobrinja high school almost since its establishment, sending off generations with good memories from geography classes. Students also remember him for the heartfelt notes of congratulations he writes for graduates, which he gives them during their last class, along with a bouquet of flowers.
“Working with children is not just lectures. A machine can do that. Nor is it about paperwork – that too, with typing, can be done by a machine. Being a teacher does not mean merely imparting knowledge. It is much more. Don’t forget that children don’t remember plans, programs, lessons, educational reforms, textbooks, scientific lectures, etc. They only remember your smile when you look at them,” Professor Zubić pointed out.

source: news-balkandiskurs

created: January 23rd, 2023

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Amina Sejfić


text:
EKO ZH: Youth Environmental Activism for the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage | Balkan Diskurs
Kristina Gadže
January 27th, 2023
EKO ZH, the Association for Development, Environment, and Culture, based in Široki Brijeg, is working towards the conservation of nature and preservation of cultural heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Through their environmental activism, educational workshops and exhibitions, campaigns, and field work, they bring together young artists and activists with the aim of improving the quality of life in the country.
EKO ZH is a part of the Široki Brijeg City Youth Council, and is actively engaged in the council’s leadership. They bring together large numbers of young people as well as a wide range of experts with various activities for the preservation of both the natural environment and cultural heritage, thereby giving young people the opportunity to make significant contributions to their community.
“Young people are interested in change and innovation, in the recycling program, the promotion of projects in the field of culture as well as concrete environmental protection,” says Kristina Ćavar, Cultural Advisor of EKO ZH. She pointed out that the Association’s projects usually lead to the launching of other initiatives within the local communities where the young participants come from.
EKO ZH is particularly focused on connecting young students from art academies in the region through the project “Eko kolonija” [Eco Colony] which, as Ćavar explains, allows them to receive education and field lessons at the Blidinje Nature Park.
“Art has always been a bridge that connects two sides, whether it is about protecting nature, reconciliation, or bringing new things to society,” Ćavar points out, adding that this is the reason they want to educate the community in a special way, through a combination of “eco-art” activities.
In addition to art workshops and exhibitions, EKO ZH has also undertaken a series of campaigns, such as locating and raising public awareness about illegal landfills. Their “Youth Drive” project is another notable example, which assesses current levels of water pollution as well as evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of the existing systems, policies, and plans related to waste management in the program area.
The association EKO ZH  has carried out 192 educational sessions in schools and four social media campaigns, and authored a publication on locating and removing illegal landfills. They have also donated 320 bins for waste collection and tested the water quality in the area of the West Herzegovina Canton. As Ćavar states, local authorities also support their work and the implementation of individual projects.
Since its founding in 2017, the Association EKO ZH has worked together with young experts from various fields and members of the former Society for the Protection of the Environment and Cultural and Historical Heritage of Western Herzegovina, whose work they inherited from 2006 to 2017 as an Association. They plan to continue raising awareness about nature conservation in local communities, and are preparing a number of upcoming projects which will develop their approach which merges ecology, development, and art.
This article is part of a series of texts within the #EmployMe project of the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. The series aims to raise awareness about the problems that young people face in the field of education and employment in BiH and highlight some good practices in battling these obstacles. This series is part of the “Youth Retention Program in BiH – Opšta Mobilizacija,” implemented by the Nešto Više Association and PRONI Center for Youth Development, with support from the Delegation of the European Union to BiH.

created: January 27th, 2023

author: Kristina Gadže


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On Holocaust Memorial Institutions and the Bosnian Genocide | Balkan Diskurs
Adrian Feinberg
January 30th, 2023
Polish-born Jewish legal theorist Raphael Lemkin first coined the term ‘genocide’ in his 1944 work ‘Axis Rule in Occupied Europe: Laws of Occupation, Analysis of Government, Proposals for Redress.’ Lemkin’s description of genocide as entailing “criminal intent to destroy or to cripple permanently a human group” laid the foundations for the Genocide Convention and genocide studies as a sociological discipline.
Lemkin’s model of genocide derived its form and exigence from the unfolding Holocaust and still recent Armenian genocide. The Holocaust particularly continued to shape the fundamental vocabulary of genocide studies as the twentieth century marched on. As cries of “never again” proved futile in Cambodia, Bosnia, and Rwanda, genocide scholars and media pundits alike cast ongoing mass atrocities in the mold of the Holocaust. Slobodan Milošević became the “Balkan Hitler,” Hutu extremism became “Rwandan Nazism” (Jinks, 2018).
Just as the Holocaust became the paradigmatic example of genocide, so too did Holocaust memorialization strategies for genocide memorialization initiatives at large. The “modes and aesthetics of Holocaust memorialization” have long influenced genocide memorials globally — sites of collective trauma have been repurposed as memorial centers where exhibitions highlight individual stories and big-picture narratives (Radonić, 2018).
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the site of the first genocide on European soil since the Holocaust, is no exception. In BiH’s Republika Srpska entity, where genocide denialism has practically become institutionalized, the UNPROFOR Dutch Battalion’s former Potočari headquarters houses the Srebrenica Memorial Center (SMC).
Alongside Holocaust memory’s emergence on a global scale, debates have erupted in academia about the rhetorical implications of Holocaust referentialism. Can we draw parallels between the Shoah and other mass atrocities for the “articulation of [these] other histories,” as Holocaust scholar Michael Rothberg argues in Multidirectional Memory?
Or, does indulging Holocaust comparisons for understanding disconnected genocides erode the “uniqueness” of each history – a phenomenon which historian David B. MacDonald describes as ‘historical plagiarism’? How can we respectfully acknowledge and identify similarities between disparate mass atrocities? Does referentialism inherently dwell on a crude understanding of the comparative – a numbers game which degrades Holocaust memory to a yardstick of suffering?
Amidst these debates, genocide memorial institutions around the world have successfully cultivated relationships with Holocaust memorial initiatives which navigate the wrinkles of Holocaust referentialism. In BiH, one such collaboration between the USC Shoah Foundation and the SMC lays out a productive model for connecting Holocaust memory with those of other genocides.
Earlier this year, a pilot collection of twenty survivor and witness testimonials from the SMC’s testimonial initiative was added to the USC Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive (VHA). This recent step strengthens a groundbreaking partnership between an internationally-renowned Holocaust memorial institution and BiH’s foremost mnemonic institution dedicated to the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.
Each of the twenty testimonials are now being indexed with the USC Shoah Foundation’s 60,000+ keyword thesaurus before being incorporated into educational activities on war and genocide in BiH. Once complete, all resources developed with the SMC will be made available worldwide on the USC Shoah Foundation’s online educational platform, IWitness. As formal schooling around the globe continues to neglect adequate curricula on genocide, students will now have access to free learning materials on the Srebrenica Genocide alongside the USC Shoah Foundation’s lessons on the Holocaust and other cases of mass violence.
With this powerful material impact, the USC Shoah Foundation and SMC’s partnership follows several collaborations between the Foundation and other memorial institutions to shine new light on mass atrocities committed in Rwanda, Myanmar, Guatemala, the Ottoman Empire, and China.
As Dr. Badema Pitić, Acting Head of Research Services at the USC Shoah Foundation, points out, “Well-established Holocaust memorial institutions, like the USC Shoah Foundation, have much to offer to memorial initiatives focused on other genocides.”
In addition to “extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of genocide commemoration, research, and education,” Pitić notes the global audiences and government partnerships touted by Holocaust memorial institutions.
While Holocaust memorial institutions present large platforms to help smaller genocide memorial initiatives expand their audiences, institutions like the SMC themselves offer invaluable knowledge and research. Helmed largely by survivors of the Srebrenica genocide, the SMC maintains deep networks of trust within communities of survivors and their descendants. Such social capital has lent the SMC and  similar locally-oriented mnemonic institutions the means to study and preserve traumatic histories.
As Sarajevo-based genocide scholar Dr. Hikmet Karčić explains, “Though every genocide is unique, certain shared concepts can be compared for a fuller understanding of genocide as a sociological phenomenon.” As researchers and students navigating the IWitness and VHA websites encounter testimonials from both Nazi-controlled Europe and Bosnian War-era Srebrenica, they can explore the social conditions – similar and not – which allowed for largely assimilated populations to be marked for extermination.

created: January 30th, 2023

author: Adrian Feinberg


text:
The National Museum of B&H: Historic Fight for Survival | Balkan Diskurs
Amira Banjić
February 1st, 2023
Since February 1st, 1888, the National Museum has struggled with financial problems. However, that has not stopped it from becoming one of the most important scientific, educational, and cultural institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Many intellectuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina petitioned for a national museum for decades, finally leading to its establishment in 1888. Historian Semir Hadžimusić says that the political, strategic, and economic goals set by the Austro-Hungarian administration for Bosnia and Herzegovina required European literacy levels and mass education. BiH was also a poorly explored Balkan country at the end of the 19th century, and it attracted many scientists’ curiosity, particularly those from Austria-Hungary. Unfortunately, there were also several “quasi-scientists” interested in the region, and they removed or destroyed many cultural monuments during the first years of the occupation. As a result, more concrete measures were implemented in establishing the museum and preserving BiH’s rich culture. The museum’s first director was Kosta Herman.
“The state supported the museum in numerous ways, including providing material resources and collecting objects and research material for even the lowest-level state agencies. Within a year after its founding, the museum launched a publication entitled The Herald of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina (‘Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja BiH’), which collected curators’ and associates’ research for public consumption. Following the Herald’s publication, it became clear that there also needed to be a German-language museum publication to make the results of the work known to the wider scientific community. This is how a parallel museum publication was launched under the title Scientific Communiqué of Bosnia and Herzegovina (‘Wissenschaftliche Mitteilungen aus Bosnien und der Herzegovina’),” says Hadžimusić.
Today, the National Museum consists of the Library, the Department of Archaeology, the Department of Ethnology, and the Department of Natural Sciences. In addition, a significant area of the museum is occupied by a Botanical Garden, which was a very important element of European museums at the time of its opening.
Hadžimusić explains how the development of the museum in the Austro-Hungarian state took place: “It was necessary that the space for the museum be adequate, not only to ensure further fruitful work but also because it would be representative of the Austro-Hungarian mission in BiH. According to the famous Karl Paržik, a new National Museum building was built between 1909 and 1913. It was a complex with four pavilions interconnected by terraces, with an inner atrium for the Botanical Garden. Constructing the new museum facility cost nearly two million Austro-Hungarian Krones (equivalent to about 18 million Bosnian marks today). It was among the first, and most important buildings in Southeast Europe built specifically as a museum.”
Ana Marić, Head of the Department of Archaeology, says the basic task of the museum is to collect, care for, and present both cultural and natural artifacts. She also highlights the museum’s pedagogical and social roles in society. In addition to permanent exhibitions in three departments, they also organize thematic collections and exhibition tours. Every year, International Museum Day and the National Museum’s birthday are celebrated with lectures, children’s activities, and similar special events. Since its founding, the museum has been publishing its own magazine entitled Glasnik ZMBiH.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has meant the suspension of almost all museum activities that involve inter-personal contact, some activities have been able to continue. This includes work on collections and exhibitions and scientific and research work.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Prehistoric Period is the name of a permanent exhibition that has been underway for the last few years and is probably the largest museum project since the last war. The last exhibition of its kind was opened to the public in 1988 to celebrate the museum’s centenary. In addition to the two existing permanent exhibitions (covering BiH in the Ancient period and the Middle Ages), the completion of this exhibition will complete the picture of the cultural development of BiH from prehistory to the present day. World-famous material from the sites such as Butmir, Badanj, Donja Dolina, Glasinac, and others will finally be available to the public,” explains Marić.
Exhibits Available Only at the National Museum
One of the most significant exhibits kept in the National Museum is a copy of the Passover Haggadah, a Jewish illuminated codex known worldwide as the Sarajevo Haggadah (Haggadah in Hebrew meaning “story’ or “narration”).
There are invaluable exhibits about art and culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina in each department, covering a wide historical range. The Department of Ethnology, which is in its own separate building, contains two permanent exhibitions: Dioramas with Models and The Life and Culture of the Urban Populace in 19th Century Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the ground floor of the building is the thematic exhibition Sarajevan Fragments of Safavid Carpets from the 17th century. The first drawing from the Paleolithic period – an engraving on a rock from Badanj cave near Stolac – can be found in the National Museum. One can also find the 1380 Charter of King Tvrtko I Kotromanić addressed to Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić and the Charter of King Stjepan Tomaš from 1459. It is also important to mention the large collections of flora and fauna, consisting of half a million insects and nearly 130,000 plants. The National Museum also houses the richest collection of meteorites in the former Yugoslavia, while the Botanical Garden contains several thousand endemic, indigenous, and exotic plants.
I Am the Museum!
Arguments over funding caused the museum’s closure from 2012-2015. Civic action contributed most significantly to resolving this situation. Through the “Ja sam Muzej” (“I am the Museum”) campaign, both Bosnians and internationals were reminded of the difficult situation in which the museum finds itself. The campaign was aimed at changing the public image of the National Museum, principally by pointing out the difficult situation in which the museum workers had found themselves.
The campaign’s webpage says, “Through a series of philanthropic, symbolic and artistic actions, the public in BiH and beyond was sensitized to the value and multicultural character of the collection that the museum preserves and, most importantly, we managed to get the National Museum back on political decision makers’ agendas. The ‘Ja sam Muzej’ project consisted of artistic interventions such as a series of portraits of the Museum workers with insights into their work and life and a set of literary pieces about the museum by prominent BiH and regional authors, writers, and essayists. It was a campaign that involved all the relevant social actors and public figures, and all citizens, sending a message about the urgency of resolving the status of the National Museum.”
After three years, the museum reopened. With all the richness of its diversity, the fight for the museum mirrors the struggle for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future.
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This article was initially published within the first edition of MIR Magazine. MIR, which means ‘peace’ in Bosnian is an annual publication and platform for young inventive people developed by the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. It is dedicated to individuals and organizations that left us a legacy of strongly built foundations to continue our fight for peace and justice.

created: February 1st, 2023

author: Amira Banjić


text:
SOS Bihać: Humanity without Borders | Balkan Diskurs
Redžo Efendić
February 3rd, 2023
Zlatan Kovačević, the founder of SOS Bihać, has been gathering volunteers from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as well as abroad for the past four years to help people from the Una-Sana Canton who are in need. As a boy, he became one of the first civilian victims of war in BiH, and Kovačević’s many years of work on various projects demonstrate an ordinary man’s struggle and willingness to help others.
In the first year of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kovačević, who was 14 years old at the time, was seriously wounded and had to be transferred to Croatia for treatment. Kovačević explains that because his papers were stolen, he was staying in Zagreb illegally and went through many of the experiences that migrants and refugees face today in Bihać, that is, the Una-Sana Canton.
Kovačević describes his journey from Bihać to Zagreb, and later to Germany, the inhumane conditions in the camps, and his return to BiH, as a great trial. “I wouldn’t be who I am had I not had trials that opened my eyes. I would like people to understand that the hand that gives is always kinder than the hand that receives,” Kovačević added.
Together with other civilian victims of the war, Kovačević founded the Citizens’ Association Sportsko-rekreativni centar Una [Sports and Recreational Center Una], where young people gather, socialize and play various sports (paintball, airsoft, etc.) as well as do humanitarian work. He is especially proud, he says, of projects they worked in foster care. “One of these projects was in Bosanski Novi, and two were in Bihać,” explained Kovačević.
They have also provided help to people with disabilities, the socially disadvantaged, women without paid maternity leave, as well as cancer patients, for whom they collected money through the kolačijada [cookie fundraiser].
During the migrant crisis, Kovačević and other members of the Una Sports and Recreational Center came to the aid of refugees and migrants, since the Bihać Red Cross initially did not have the capacity to help the large numbers of those seeking their assistance. In 2019, he recalls, they changed the name of their organization SOS Bihać.
“We fought for human rights in such a way that we brought a commission from Strasbourg that consisted of forensic experts, doctors, lawyers. We took them right to the Croatian border and showed them what illegal deportation means and what consequences it brings in terms of both physical and psychological harm,” said Kovačević, elaborating on their fight against the European policy towards migrants at the time.
He notes that one of the most common problems was the return of migrants who had reached Italy and were caught by the police.
SOS Bihać, which is financed exclusively from donations, asked others to donate money transparently to help as many people as possible, particularly migrants who were not in the camps. Kovačević believes that the situation is much better now.
SOS Bihać, which has about 50 volunteers, has provided assistance for people undergoing cancer treatment and eye operations, helped with the rebuilding of houses after fires, and provided medical transport. Because part of the city of Bihać is cut off every year due to the high water levels of the Una River, they also own a boat which this allows them to help people in flooded areas with everything from getting food to going to the doctor.
There are also foreigners among the members of the SOS Bihać Association. Tobias, from Germany, and his wife Melani, from Austria, have been volunteering for the Association for a long time.
“We came here at the end of December 2021 and hope to stay here for at least a year, and longer, if possible. It has been my intention for a long time to do this kind of volunteering and help people in that way. I learned about SOS Bihać from a friend from Bosnia named Ismar who gave me Zlatan’s contact information, and I decided to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina after a conversation with him,” said Tobias. He and his wife have already applied for a one-year volunteer visa and will try to request residency for the two of them.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is a beautiful country with a beautiful landscape and I like it very much. People are very kind, so that makes it easier for us to stay here,” said Melani.
While volunteering, Tobias changed his religious beliefs and converted to Islam. He describes volunteering as a treasure of good deeds that he does in the name of Allah.
“They say that they are criticized by their friends because they came to volunteer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving a warm home and an orderly country like Germany. However, for them, this is about calm consciousness, because there isn’t anything more important than a human being,” concludes Kovačević.

created: February 3rd, 2023

author: Redžo Efendić


text:
The Mali Svijet Center: Helping Children for a Brighter Future | Balkan Diskurs
Selmir Smajić
February 6th, 2023
Using modern approaches and therapeutic techniques, the Citizens’ Association Center for Early Intervention for Children with Developmental Disabilities, Mali Svijet [Small World], has been trying for more than 12 years to enable children aged 18 months to six years to more easily overcome the everyday obstacles and difficulties they face. Their assistance helps children reach their full potential at a young age to ensure a brighter future.
The Center is home to 170 children, 110 of whom are in the Center in Bistrac (Lukavac) and 60 in the branch in Dubrava (Živinice). Twenty-three experts work with them with the aim to provide every child the help they need at an early stage and thus the opportunity to reach their full potential.
“The Center provides systemic rehabilitation for children with developmental disabilities at an early age. Through our work, we strive to help children with developmental disabilities and their families, with a special focus on children with autism,” says Almedin Imširović, executive director of Mali Svijet.
In the past 12 years, the Center has engaged dozens of therapists in providing support for hundreds of children and their parents. As Imširović says, the Center’s employees have many happy as well as sad stories of giving their maximum to enable these children to have a happier childhood and a brighter future.
Imširović explains that they are financed from the budget of the city of Lukavac as well as partly from the Austrian organization Red Charity and various grants and donations. “The Center is equipped with modern and didactic equipment, with highly professional but also young staff,” Imširović points out.
In their work, he says they encounter children with various developmental difficulties – most commonly autism, but also speech and language problems and ADHD. “There are more and more children who have some developmental difficulties, as more and more time is spent in front of some media – televisions, mobile phones, tablets – which automatically affects their development process,” adds Imširović.
In cooperation with the international humanitarian organization World Vision, the Center launched the “Be a Small World” campaign, through which, in the course of 360 days, they collected all the necessary funding to restore the Bistrac Donji district school building. The school was handed over for the work of the Center by the local community of Bistrac Donji and the then Municipality of Lukavac. All private companies from the Lukavac area were involved in the campaign, some of which continue to support the Center’s work.
After undergoing a series of trainings, the employees of Mali Svijet signed a collaboration agreement with the Austrian ProMente Academy which will give them the opportunity to complete nine additional training modules aimed at improving their work.
The Center provides neurofeedback and sensory integration treatment as well as other treatments by special education and speech therapists, initial examinations, and Applied Behavioral Analysis services.
“Last year, the number of individual treatments and services provided at the Center was 43,000,” recalls Imširović, adding that the Center provides support to those who need it most with the help of friends from Rotary clubs, including the Rotary Club of Lukavac.
The implementation of a project aimed at the successful rehabilitation and sustainability of the Center, financed by the Rotary Club Wien Donau and Rotary International, should soon begin.
Generally speaking, Imširović tells parents to let kids be kids – to fall down, get dirty, climb a tree, throw a stone, hang out with friends and the like. “Set modern technology aside. Don’t let your child be brought up by some form of media. It will pay off later,” Imširović pointed out.

created: February 6th, 2023

author: Selmir Smajić


text:
The American Corner in Banja Luka: Education and Help for Young People | Balkan Diskurs
Dunja Rujević
February 10th, 2023
The American Corner in Banja Luka is a space where workshops are held from September to June with the maximum number of participants of all ages. There, young people have the opportunity to learn and read books in English, as well as to volunteer, after which they receive a certificate that can be used to apply for a job. The American Corner in Banja Luka was founded 18 years ago as a result of cooperation between the National University Library of the Republic of Srpska and the American Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As explained in the American Corner in Banja Luka, the space is designed as a “smart space,” where everything can be assembled and disassembled, in accordance with the workshops that are held. It contains a library with books in English, drones, iPads, 3D printers, and more. Also, it offers many resources for information about the United States of America. All workshops and seminars are free of charge and there is no age limit for participants.
“As for the workshops, the calendar is different for each month. From September to the end of June, the workshops are not repeated, and the only one held during the school year is the English language workshop,” said Bojana Lekić, General Director of the American Corner.
As she pointed out, they offer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) workshops that vary from month to month, as well as other workshops from different fields such as entrepreneurship, economics, career guidance for high school students, online business, and soon, nutrition, volunteer programs, and the like. “Our trainings are designed to help young people find a job after their completion,” Lekić added.
It’s difficult to say which workshop is the most popular because, according to Lekić, “they are all booked and go really well, so registrations often close earlier than planned.” In the course of one month, the American Corner in Banja Luka is visited by about 1,000 – 1,200 people.
The Corner started a volunteer program before COVID-19 in order to help young people understand their abilities and wants, and thus more easily express themselves and find different opportunities. Lekić explains that this program teaches them how to contribute to the community, what the community is, and how they can help as individuals or as a group.
In general, Lekić believes that young people are disappointed by the system in Bosnia and Herzegovina and have no one to talk to. “We have teenagers, aged 15 to 18, who have brilliant ideas, but there is no one to listen to them. That’s where the biggest problem arises, and that’s where my volunteer team originates,” said Lekić, noting that volunteers also receive certificates from the American Embassy which verifies their volunteer work at the American Corner in Banja Luka.
Rade Milaković, a long-term volunteer, states that he liked the principle of the work and the themes of the workshops, which is why he decided to become part of the American Corner in Banja Luka.
“I would definitely single out a series of ‘STEAM Experts Talks’ where experts from these fields talked to young people about their professions and the life paths that led them there. As a high school senior who is considering different fields for undergraduate studies, this was very helpful. I would also like to mention the TOEFL test, which helped me get a reference point for my current knowledge of the English language and made it easier to prepare for it, which I need for further studies,” said Milaković. He pointed out that he also attended two professional orientation workshops for high school students to help him decide about his field of study.
The calendar of the American Corner in Banja Luka is filled until May 2023. The plan for the next period is to prepare for and hold the upcoming workshops.
“I would tell young people to come to us because there are ten Corners in BiH and each of them offers something of its own. What we can certainly offer here is safety and the implementation of their ideas, so that they can express their opinions, that we are here to educate, help and provide information,” Lekić concluded.

created: February 10th, 2023

author: Dunja Rujević


text:
The Secret of Samra and Dražen’s Love: Understanding and Compromise | Balkan Diskurs
Kristina Gadže
February 14th, 2023
Their relationship started when Samra asked Dražen to be her boyfriend at a graduation party, and has persisted despite various challenges, including social pressure because of their religious difference, fears of not being accepted by family, and physical distance. None of this could destroy the enduring love, and eventually marriage, of Samra and Dražen Prgić.  Today, the two thirty-year-olds live in Orašje and are the parents of a little girl. They maintain that the secret to love is understanding and compromise.
Dražen and Samra work with volunteers at Nela Orašje, a citizens’ association co-founded by Samra, which deals with interreligious cooperation and dialogue, with a special focus on children.
Dražen explains that he first saw Samra in their high school and he “liked her immediately,” but their first official meeting was in a cafe where they went out together with their classmates. Samra recalls that she went to Dražen’s classroom to ask him to be her prom date, but his friends said that he had moved to Austria. However, the information that a girl had been looking for him was passed on to Dražen.
Samra and Dražen started talking on social media and saw each other when he would visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, that is, Orašje. Dražen remarks that it was love that brought him back to Bosnia.
Describing what she likes most about Dražen, Samra says “He’s a good soul, an honest man, and a friend who always helps everyone. He’s cheerful, funny, and can always make me laugh at any moment, even at my saddest and angriest.” Dražen, describing Samra, says that she is kind, funny, and he can talk to her about everything because she understands him – simply put, “She’s the best.”
Although they have different personalities, Samra believes that this was an advantage for them. “Maybe it brought us together. Opposites attract, as they say. It was like that with us.”
Samra and her family come from Velika Kladuša, where Bosnian Muslims are the majority. Therefore, it was difficult for her to explain to her family that she loved someone who was Catholic.
“People judged us, but we didn’t pay attention to it. I didn’t see him in terms of his religion. That didn’t matter to me, but it did to those around us,” notes Samra. Dražen wasn’t interested in anyone else’s opinion. As he says, “I did my own thing.”
“I think that at the very beginning, our parents may have thought that we would grow out of our love – like, that it would be temporary. But we were in a relationship for ten years, and then we got married. So, it never passed,” Samra points out.
Samra and Dražen felt a kind of fear throughout their relationship, especially when they were supposed to have their wedding. Samra explains that they did not have a single religious ceremony performed at their wedding. They agreed that “we would either have everything or we would have nothing,” and ultimately decided not to have anything related to religion. They had two flag bearers at the wedding, one carrying the Croatian flag and the other, the Bosnian flag.
Samra believes that wedding parties are not about customs, but rather, “the people who love each other and the people who come to support them.”
According to Samra, people made a lot of comments, and many asked Dražen why he wasn’t getting married in the church, saying that this would be condemned by God. They also made comments about the children they would have, their baptism, names, and so on.
The community also had comments on the relationship between Samra and Dražen, that is, they were not happy that Samra was moving from her religious community to another. “But they didn’t understand that I didn’t actually convert to another religion, and that is very difficult to prove, because people are full of prejudices and just have these stereotypes that something must be as they say,” added Samra.
They are often called a “mixed couple,” but Samra believes that better words can be found to describe their relationship, such as “multi-ethnic.” Dražen, on the other hand, doesn’t see the term as negative, noting “there are a lot of people who call it by worse and more derogatory names”.
They celebrate all holidays with their families. As Samra explains, “We celebrate Eid just like it would be celebrated in a relationship where the two people were of the Islamic faith. That’s also how we celebrate Christmas, like a married Catholic couple. So, we don’t make any distinctions. We celebrate all holidays. Since I was a child, even before I met him, I actually loved and looked forward to Easter and painting eggs, and Christmas presents, decorating Christmas trees…My family never kept me from doing that.”
They have both holy books in their home, the Bible and the Koran. “I’m also interested in customs during Eid. When the time of All Saints comes, we visit our cemetery, my deceased relatives, and so on. We practice everything,” Dražen says, describing their religious practices.
They agree that they see God as love, not as religion. “We are really devoted to our faith, but through that kind of love, through helping others, through our personal development. So, we don’t need to go to churches and mosques to show that we are believers and to create that kind of relationship with God. We certainly do it within our four walls, privately, without having to prove ourselves to anyone,” says Samra.
The secret their relationship’s success, they believe, lies in understanding and compromise. “From the beginning, we had some different views on life, so we had to make a lot of compromises in order to get to where we are today. Today, we run the Association together and have the same goals, views on life, and dreams that we will achieve together. We grew up together, side by side. I know him like the back of my hand,” Samra continues.
Dražen believes that a big problem for young multiethnic couples today is the older generation that experienced the war. At the Association, he says, “We work to ensure that children at least respect each other, to expand their knowledge of other religions, not only Islam and Catholicism, but also Orthodoxy and Judaism, so that national minorities and absolutely everyone is included. We are working to open people’s eyes, so that they are more relaxed about these things and meet new people, in every way possible – through sports, cultural events, and so on,” explains Dražen.
Samra points out that in most multi-ethnic marriages, someone ‘converts’ to the other’s religion, and she knows a lot of young couples who hide their multi-ethnic relationships.
“Whatever we think, none of us want to feel judged and rejected by our family, so that’s unfortunate. The problem is with the parents, they need to understand that they can forbid this to their children, but later, their children will be unhappy with someone of their own faith. It has nothing to do with love,” says Samra.
According to her, the societal view of multiethnic couples is a result of the patriarchal environment, as well as the state of the country. “As a feminist and a person who believes in feminist movements and ideologies, I see how dull our society is, and how much they only look in one direction and don’t want to change. As [Dražen] said, it’s much better now that it was eleven years ago.”
When asked what love means to her, Samra replies that it’s the whole world and part of every relationship “with a partner, with family, with other people, with animals, with nature.” She continues, “I believe that no one can live without love, regardless of whether they have different inclinations, whether they live for their career or to achieve something else in life. If there’s no love, I’m sure that person will be an unhappy person. It doesn’t matter what kind of love it is. It doesn’t have to be a romantic partnership – we don’t all have to get married or have romantic partners of any kind. All that matters is that we have love inside of us, no matter what. As long as love grows and lives.”
Dražen describes love as the engine of everything, as fuel for people, without which nothing can function. “If I had to describe love in two or three words,” he says, “I think they would be: understanding, compromise, patience, and of course, respect.”
He tells young people not to be afraid and to accept the diversity of religions and customs. “Customs, as such, are a very beautiful thing, both national and ethnic. But we need to find some sort of compromise for everyone, and we just need not to be afraid. If you love someone, if you appreciate and respect someone and want something more with them, then you just shouldn’t be afraid of anything,” Dražen advises.
Samra tells young people to read a lot and travel because “if they don’t move out of their environment, their place, they will never learn anything new, encounter new people or new customs.”
“I would recommend that they talk a lot with their parents if they find themselves in this situation, not to fight, not to run away, not to make any drama. Every parent will understand it. A parent who loves their child will see that the child is in love and will support that child no matter what. So I advise young people to talk to their parents and to continue to love those they love and not to run away from it, because without love, there’s really nothing,” Samra concludes.

created: February 14th, 2023


text:
The Need to Limit Internet Use for Children and Young People | Balkan Diskurs
Muamer Zukanović
February 17th, 2023
The use of the internet, that is, social media, has become an everyday thing. According to research, this can lead to addiction and have other negative consequences on mental health, especially in young people and children. Experts recommend that parents find the line between positive and negative internet use, set boundaries, talk to their children, and if necessary, seek professional help to solve serious problems.
According to the Public Health Institute of Dubrovačko-Neretva County, some signs that suggest problems related to internet usage in children and young people are poor grades, falling behind on school assignments, decreased interest in hanging out with friends and other social activities, secrecy and lying about the time spent online, and abnormal sleep patterns as a result of late-night internet use.
Amela Memić, a family therapist at the Sensus Center for Psychological Support in Mostar, explains that social media can negatively impact the mental health of children and young people. “Some research shows that there is a link between the use of social media and symptoms of depression in children and young people,” said Memić.
A mother of two girls in Mostar, notes that she limits her children’s internet use, but that raising children today poses specific challenges. A teacher in the Čapljina school district, agrees with her, pointing out that modern technology has advantages as well as disadvantages, including the promotion of bullying and violence.
Experts advise parents to talk to their children and destigmatize the conversation about mental health or seek professional help if they notice any signs that point to the existence of a problem.
Studies show that among teenagers who use social media for more than five hours a day, there is a 50 percent increase in depressive symptoms among girls and 35 percent increase among boys compared to those who use social media for only one to three hours a day.
“The use of social media is associated with harassment on the internet, sleep disorders, and dissatisfaction with appearance and body weight,” said Memić.
As a teacher, Šaldo notes that modern technology enables access to a wide range of information, so it is necessary to include them in educational practices. At the same time, he adds, this creates preconditions for their proper and successful application in all forms of learning.
“There are great opportunities to improve the quality of the teaching process by using modern technology, with an emphasis on faster and greater transmission of information, which is also geographically limitless like never before in the history of mankind. In addition to the classics – speech, writing, and observation – various audio and multimedia technologies are being used more and more,” Šaldo said.
According to him, the biggest drawback of modern technologies is that parents and educators often struggle to keep up with its rapid development, meaning children are likely to be exposed to inappropriate information and content for which they lack the maturity to filter out or interpret.
Ena Pudar, mother of two girls aged three and one, said that her children exclusively use television to watch cartoons and other programs of an educational and entertaining nature.
“For us, raising girls today is a challenge. We don’t want our children to spend time in the virtual world and we try to limit screen time, but the problem arises if there is a child in their company who uses technology to a greater extent,” said Pudar.
Amina Martinović, mother of a six-year-old girl, believes that while this is a difficult time to raise girls, but it isn’t impossible. “By talking and paying attention to their child every day, all parents can achieve their goal – bringing up their child properly,” said Martinović.
She points out that children and parents can learn many things through TV and social media content.
To protect their children, Memić explained that parents need to discuss mental health with them, including talking about the symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as how to build coping skills, self-awareness, and self-care. Although it can sometimes be uncomfortable to talk about these topics, Memić noted that parents should try to destigmatize discussions about mental health.
“Raising children in the modern age is a challenge for parents. In any upbringing, it is important to show children compassion and understanding. Open, direct communication is key, and without it, there’s no building a healthy relationship or true understanding, which is important in the upbringing and education of every child,” said Memić.
The task of every parent, she added, is to set clear boundaries for children, who today, have “everything within reach.” This means setting out clear rules and expectations for children and implementing these rules consistently.
Memić says that rules which can help set boundaries might be no using the phone while eating (which includes all meals and snacks), turning off internet access to create technology-free time in your home, and creating a list of tasks kids have to do before turning on the television, gaming device, tablet, or phone. This helps enforce the idea that screen time is a privilege.
Šaldo reiterated that these are uniquely difficult times to raise children.
“In hard times, when the average family in Bosnia and Herzegovina has to struggle just to survive, parents don’t have the opportunity to devote enough time to their children. Often, one parent is absent and sometimes, they are semi-literate or illiterate when it comes to information technology. The resulting inadequate monitoring of the content children are exposed to allows children to live in a parallel (unreal) world, which can lead to emotional problems,” Šaldo explained.
He emphasized that the use of social media can be a cause of bullying and violence because numerous encounters with such content can act as a trigger. “Being a bully is often popular behavior in society. In addition, the search for idols begins on social media,” Šaldo asserted.
If parents notice warning signs that can lead to problems, such as lying about time spent on the internet, disordered sleeping, decreased socializing with friends, and the like, the Institute for Public Health of the Dubrovačko-Neretva County states that “bringing the child to a specialist earlier can speed up the resolution of the problem.”

created: February 17th, 2023

author: Muamer Zukanović


text:
Innovation Lab: A Place for Youth Personal and Business Development | Balkan Diskurs
Adelisa Mašić
February 20th, 2023
Instead of leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), several young people together with their professors started developing and making innovative technologies, starting their own businesses. They created the SSST (Sarajevo School Science and Technology) Innovation Lab for the development of ideas, located in the premises SSST of the University of Sarajevo.
Professor Nedim Čelebić, coordinator of the Innovation Lab, explained that its purpose is to provide comprehensive support to students in the process of starting their own businesses or developing their entrepreneurial and creative skills.
With the support of other actors within the entrepreneurial ecosystem at the University, Professor Čelebić says that SSST Innovation Lab seeks to become a generator of a new generation of green, digital, and other innovative and sustainable businesses and jobs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In addition to the physical infrastructure, which includes a co-working space, meeting rooms, and workshops, Innovation Lab also offers mentoring and professional support for the development and launch of business ideas as well as legal consulting, accounting, and marketing services.
“Young entrepreneurs have the opportunity to first acquire new knowledge about the process of developing and starting a business and then, with the mentoring of academic staff and industry experts, to turn that knowledge into real solutions and actions. Networking with other young and enterprising people as well as business leaders is a bonus for the participants of SSST Innovation Lab,” Professor Čelebić pointed out.
In addition to support for starting new businesses, the SSST Innovation Lab develops and strengthens the capacities of young people to develop and create new solutions in various sectors, from environmental protection to health and education.
“Working in multidisciplinary teams, students from different faculties develop new solutions and products in the fields of medtech, cleantech, agritech, web 3.0, artificial intelligence, fintech, and many more,” explained Professor Čelebić.
The SSST Innovation Lab currently provides support for thirty student teams that develop new ideas to resolve problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One such team created a web and mobile app called BHealth.
Student Adna Salković describes BHealth as a web and mobile application that consists of two types of users – patients and private laboratories in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“This application allows users to efficiently search, compare, and schedule laboratory services, as well as to save all findings in one place. For laboratories it offers a unique way of maintaining the entire workflow in one place, with the storage of all previous and future examinations,” explained Salković, who, together with her colleague Azra Kurtić, came up with the idea and developed the BHealth application.
As she pointed out, the idea emerged as a result of the complicated health system, the increased use of private health services, and the lack of an application that unites all private health institutions.
“The initial goal is to offer an effective solution so that patients can easily search and schedule their examinations in order to simplify the process of performing the examination itself, and finally, hopefully, to raise awareness about regular health examinations,” said Salković.
In addition to already existing government grants, international donors, and individual investors, SSST University has provided special funds for the most promising business ideas.
“This initiative comes at the right time, when international organizations working to strengthen the Western Balkans region recognize the importance and potential of developing such skills as early as possible in gifted young people,” noted Professor Čelebić.
Despite these opportunities, young people leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina is still among the country’s most serious problems. Salković says that traveling can be good for young people when it comes to studying and gaining professional experience, however, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, their departure is a result of the lack of opportunities for young and educated people.
“The quality of life, dismal outlook, and the dissatisfied and frustrated society play a big role, making it easier for many to leave the country because there are little to no changes in these factors, which unfortunately justifies their departure,” asserted Salković.
Professor Čelebić believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina has numerous comparative and competitive advantages that are not adequately used. With the synergy and joint vision of the government, business, and academic sectors, he says that it is possible to create a business and social environment that will not only deter the departure of young people, but will also make Bosnia and Herzegovina desirable and attractive for foreign citizens to live and work in.
Students Adna Salković and Azra Kurtić advise young people to find a part of themselves – something they are passionate about, that they love – and to let it  guide them. This is sure to lead to positive results.
According to global research, nine out of ten start-up businesses launched at universities even live up to five years of business. Start-up businesses founded in other systems tend to last much less.
SSST University has a vision of fostering a better environment for life in Bosnia and Herzegovina through creating new and more attractive jobs that will contribute to retaining young people in the country.
This article is part of a series of texts within the #EmployMe project of the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. The series aims to raise awareness about the problems that young people face in the field of education and employment in BiH and highlight some good practices in battling these obstacles. This series is part of the “Youth Retention Program in BiH – Opšta Mobilizacija,” implemented by the Nešto Više Association and PRONI Center for Youth Development, with support from the Delegation of the European Union to BiH.

created: February 20th, 2023

author: Adelisa Mašić


text:
Peace Festival ‘23: Preserving Peace and Mutual Respect | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
February 21st, 2023
More than 40 young people from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will take part in Peace Festival ‘23 from February 23 to 26 this year.
The Festival will be held in Vitez, in Central BiH. This is the second Festival organized by the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs, with the aim of contributing to the preservation of peace by focusing on art, diversity, and human rights.
Velma Šarić, president and founder of the Post-Conflict Research Center, says that for the second year in a row, they will be bringing together young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina and helping them to appreciate important values, such as multiculturalism, diversity, and human rights through art and other activities that appeal to young people. In the course of this event, participants will have the opportunity to learn about and contribute to the preservation of peace.
One special feature of this year’s program is a visit to Žepče to honor civilian victims of war at a unique monument that stands as a testament to the past and an assurance of the future, representing the mutual respect and understanding of the suffering of all citizens.
The Festival will open with the screening of the documentary film “Colorless” by Aida Gavrić, which focuses on the ‘non-aligned’ members of Bosnian society – that is, those who come from mixed marriages and thus do not belong to any of the three constitutive peoples and are labeled as “Others.” They were born out of love between different peoples and are often considered remnants of the principles of brotherhood and unity which collapsed with the previous system.
The PCRC documentary “Ordinary Heroes” will also be screened at the Festival, shedding light on the real-life stores of Bosnian citizens who became heroes by choosing to save the “other” during the war and genocide of the 1990s. In addition, young people will have the opportunity to watch the documentary film “The Little Prince,” by Jasmina Đikoli and Muris Beglerović, which was shown at the AJB Doc Film Festival. It tells the story of ten-year-old Ante from the Bosnian town of Vareš who is the only student attending school in the village of Oćevija at the foot of the Zvijezda mountain.
The musical part of the program will include Bosnian hip-hop artist Kontra, who ahs been working in the rap music industry for 19 years and is a member of Dlanbeatz and FM JAM collective. During “NEVER THE SAME FOREVER with Kontra,” young participants will have the opportunity to listen to several independent releases and mixtapes of this star. They will also talk with Amra Pindžo, a human rights activist, about the importance and impact of music on peace building processes for individuals and communities.
Ordinary Heroes Awards for Moral Courage will be given to Robert Decešin, whose short tourist film was chosen as the best and is entitled “Why Bosnia and Herzegovina can be the number one tourist destination in the world”, as well as Katheryne Bomberger, the Director General of the International Commission on Missing Persons, and Branka Vierda, Director of the Croatian Youth Initiative for Human Rights.
The program will also include a panel discussion, where young people from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina will discuss and share their perspectives on peace, as well as the presentation of MIR Magazine, authored by the youth correspondents of the multimedia platform Balkan Diskurs.
“On the Margins,” an educational multimedia program developed by PCRC and the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina which confronts negative stereotypes about the country’s Roma community, will also be launched as part of the Festival.
As a partner of the Festival, the Vitez City Youth Theater will perform the play “Contract,” directed by Marko Mirković and produced by Ivan Sajević. The play stars Emin Šahdan, Leo Lukić, Ivan Žuljević, Iva Šakić, Hanka Salkić and Pavla Plavči.
Peace Festival ‘23 is being held in the Čardaci Ethno Village, with the support of the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (Slovak Aid), the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Rockefeller Brother Foundation, and the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The partners of the Festival are Ethno village Čardaci, Al Jazeera Balkans, and the Delegation of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

created: February 21st, 2023

author: Balkan Diskurs


text:
Nataša Perković: The Courage, Freshness, and Productivity of Our Designers | Balkan Diskurs
Irma Ahmetspahić
February 27th, 2023
Nataša Perković is a designer, aesthete, and nature lover who strives to make eye-catching products that are also sustainable and have a positive effect on the environment.
Nataša Perković is a graduate of the Department of Product Design at the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Sarajevo. Towards the end of her studies, she took part in an exchange at the Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto creative and cultural center in Italy, which, she says, really enriched her knowledge. After that, she interned at The Partners graphic design agency in London. There, she tells us, she learned how a design agency should be structured and about the important connections between design and business.
After this myriad of experiences, she returned to Sarajevo and started working with local companies. Her return to Sarajevo also marked the beginning of her academic career as an assistant to professors Zlatko Ugljen and Ognjenka Finci.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to learn how to encourage students to discover their aesthetic affinities and to realize their ability as creators. I am privileged to have the opportunity to lead the course, work with talented young people, and influence them,” says Nataša.
Her academic career helps her to set the bar high for her practical work. She wants her projects to contribute to the profession. Therefore, she turned to local furniture manufacturers when searching for partnerships.
“At that time, the furniture industry was maturing. For the first time after the war, it was ready to develop its own products, mostly for the international market. To do that, they needed designers. It is precisely those companies that have the potential to develop a product that can contribute to the profession. Several companies have emerged that have realized the advantage of their own product and created the market conditions to follow that path. This is even more complex than it sounds. It’s like heading out across the sea in the dark, in a small boat with a small engine, instead of staying on the shore. I think every Bosnian businessperson who develops their own brand is a brave adventurer. It is extremely interesting to be a part of that adventure,” she tells us.
Nataša believes that furniture design in BiH has high standards, but only for individual product design work. According to her, the product design scene as a whole is almost non-existent.
“As far as I know, we do not have a single studio that deals exclusively with product design or furniture design. Designers are not professionally united; there is no culture of exhibiting designs in galleries or museums. There is no criticism. It would be good if more designers had the opportunity to work with more industries, not just the furniture industry, which is currently our most active. All this would be important for building a stable, sustainable market and from which the Bosnian brand can be built. All of that is possible. It just needs to be a strategic priority, and important actors would need to work towards the same goal,” she points out.
She hastens to emphasize the brilliance of individuals who are creating excellent products, which she says can be seen in the designer exhibitions at ImmCologne, the International Fair in Cologne.
“I can’t help but feel that our designers are brave, fresh, and extremely productive. For years, products in BiH have made up about half of my list of the ten most interesting products from the entire fair. My assessment is completely subjective, but experts from all over the world objectively recognize BiH design and production as innovative. Perhaps this emerging industry does not have much to lose, which allows for experimentation. It will be very important to continue to develop the industry and maintain its penchant for bold moves. And of course, to strategically develop all its elements,” says Nataša.
She recalls that large state-owned companies would hire designers and architects to oversee product design during the eighties. After the war and privatization, the newly formed small private companies did not develop their own product design, but worked as subcontractors for other companies. Now, the domestic furniture industry is being reborn.
“People who gained experience before the war in companies that developed their own products, like managers, engineers, and designers, are playing a very important role. They are the link – the transmitters of knowledge and experience. They have enabled us to reach such high quality in all aspects of the product. Of course, the role of the Product Design Department at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo is significant in that sense, too,” says Nataša.
The term “designer furniture” came into use with the appearance of entrepreneurs who wanted to develop their own products and be competitive in the market.
“These entrepreneurs have recognized the strategic role of design in business development – that the investment pays off many times over. In the absence of large teams to assess the conceptual design and product development, these entrepreneurs give designers the freedom to work independently. As a result, the final product is honest, alive, and fresh – elements that the market values. This is not always the case in developed industrial systems, where the product goes through many levels of decision-making and sometimes loses its immediacy and freshness,” she says.
A newly-dressed traditional style is now developing completely unbounded and unfettered. It is a combination style, what one might call “retro mahala,” representing the kind of progress for which humanity is always striving. Among these ideas, minimalism is the key to survival. It represents both beauty and sophistication in all fields of development and innovation. One such product marketed in recent times is the “Elle” collection, created by Nataša Perković herself. It was conceived of as the embodiment of sophisticated beauty.
“Elle is both sculptural and a fruit of the modernist approach to design. Each piece in this line is characterized by a complex shape developed through round curves and sharp edges but with simple silhouettes. In the aesthetic sense, Elle is on the border between personality and neutrality. It may be in the foreground. Its shapes vary when viewed from different perspectives, and any change in lighting reveals a wealth of detail. On the other hand, it is not too overbearing and can be an everyday item that responds to functional requirements. Parts of the collection can fit well in different interiors or in one home whose style changes over the years,” explains Nataša.
She developed the design by hand-making many scale models from cardboard, paperboard, and Styrofoam materials. She believes that this approach makes it easier to understand different aspects of the product: shape, function, ergonomics, and proportion of parts in relation to the whole.
“I check the technical aspects of each new solution through the drafts and principles of the golden ratio. In the case of Elle, the biggest challenge was to physically thin the solid wood elements as much as possible while leaving enough space for solid joints. This meant I had to lighten the elements that had to remain thicker visually. After that, the engineers in the factory start working on the technical development,” Nataša tells us.
As she points out, her dream is for the Elle collection to be presented in homes and for people to enjoy it for a long time. In addition, she hopes that MS & Wood, the company that produces this collection, will use it to provide jobs for many workers.
This article was initially published within the first edition of MIR Magazine. MIR, which means ‘peace’ in Bosnian is an annual publication and platform for young inventive people developed by the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. It is dedicated to individuals and organizations that left us a legacy of strongly built foundations to continue our fight for peace and justice.

created: February 27th, 2023

author: Irma Ahmetspahić


text:
Peace Festival ‘23: Peace is Accepting Diversity | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
March 1st, 2023
Peace Festival ‘23 ended with a musical performance by DJ Kontra, reinforcing the message of this year’s Festival participants’ commitment to building sustainable peace and coexistence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
More than 40 young people attended Peace Festival ’23, which included the play “Contract” by the Vitez Youth Theater, the documentaries “Colorless” by Aida Gavrić, “Little Prince” by Jasmina Đikoli and director Muris Beglerović, “Ordinary Heroes” by PCRC, the exhibition “On the Margins” by PCRC and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the presentation of PCRC’s MIR magazine and the publication “Peace as Seen by Young People in BiH” by the OSCE Mission to BiH. During different panel sessions and workshops, they discussed how they see peace, as well as the connection between music and peace – i.e. how can music contribute to promoting peace.
“What I liked most about the Peace Festival was that all the young people who attended shared the view that peace is about accepting peoples’ differences. I believe that this Festival has taught us that it does not diminish us to allow other people around us to have the same freedom to think and express their characteristics and their belonging,” said Lejla Karović from Sarajevo.
Karović added that what she liked most about the Festival was the fact that many young people with a common goal and vision were present in one place, proving that there is hope for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ivana Ševarika from Banja Luka pointed out that her favorite part of the program was the OSCE panel discussion, because it addressed the concrete problems that young people are facing. “We realized that only by respecting others and respecting mutual differences can we contribute to lasting and sustainable peace.”
“This Peace Festival was important and an effective way of encouraging more work in the community and beyond. I met a lot of people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds, and nobody cared about these differences. We got the opportunity to share our opinions, give each other advice, and draw lessons from everything that was said,” describes Dženisa Joldić from Hadžići.
The participants came from more than 20 communities, including Gračanica, Donji Vakuf, Foča, Milići, Tuzla, Vitez, Bugojno, Banja Luka, Zenica, Velika Kladuša, Mostar, Uskoplje, and Kakanj.
A new addition to this year’s Peace Festival program was the visit to Žepče and the memorial to all civilian victims of the war, where, together with Mayor Mata Zovko and other representatives of the municipality, participants laid flowers and paid tribute to the civilian victims of the war.
“A joint memorial to all of the victims of war promotes trust and peaceful coexistence,” Žepč Mayor MatoZovko said, explaining to the young participants how the memorial for all civilian victims of the war was built.
Peace Festival ‘23 was organized by the Post-Conflict Research Center. Its project manager, Amina Sejfić, said that programs like this are needed to encourage young people to take on an active role in their communities and connect with others from all around Bosnia and Herzegovina. She added that in this way, it helps them to appreciate and respect diversity, but also the idea of a united future.
“Peace Festival ‘23 sends a clear message that even though we are all different, we must strive towards the same goal, which is building trust and peace,” said Sejfić.
This year’s Peace Festival was held in the Čardaci Ethno Village with the support of the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (Slovak Aid), the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Rockefeller Brother Foundation, and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and in partnership with the Čardaci Ethno Village, Al Jazeera Balkans, the Vitez Youth Theater, and the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

created: March 1st, 2023


text:
The Opening of Peace Festival ‘23: Peace, Tolerance, and Inter-Ethnic Dialogue | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
March 1st, 2023
More than 40 young people from 20 cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the opening of the second edition of the Peace Festival in the Čardaci Ethno Village in Vitez, organized by the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC).
The four-day Festival officially began with the screening of Aida Gavrić’s documentary film “Colorless,” which focuses on the ‘non-aligned’ members of Bosnian society – those who do not belong to any of the country’s constitutive ethnic groups, and were born from a time of the love between different peoples.
“The most challenging thing for me was including children in the documentary because of the stigma that these children are bastards,” said Gavrić, adding that the inspiration for the film came from her own family, because she is also a child of a mixed marriage.
Robert Dacešin was awarded the Ordinary Heroes Award for his video promoting Bosnia and Herzegovina as a tourist destination. Dacešin expressed his satisfaction, stressing that he will continue to promote the natural beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that he hopes to become the first Bosnian and Herzegovinian to travel around the world.
Velma Šarić, founder and president of PCRC, said that for more than ten years, the Center has been working to promote peace so that young people and future generations will never have to experience the horrors of conflict.
“We’ve created a lot of multimedia content. Each project basically deals with and promotes peace. I won’t say it’s about reconciliation among young people because you weren’t responsible for the past conflict, so you don’t need to reconcile here,” said Šarić. She pointed out that Peace Festival ‘23 is part of the Peace Museum umbrella project, which aims to promote peace, tolerance, and inter-ethnic dialogue through various programs and activities, thereby enabling young people to socialize, talk, and come to certain kinds of conclusions on their own.
Patrik Turosik, Deputy Ambassador at the Slovak Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who is supporting the Peace Festival for the second year in a row, said that last year, he saw many young people with a lot of ideas and optimism, and that he sees the same at this Festival.
“A year ago, we may not have thought about peace as we do now. I come from Slovakia, from a town on the border with Ukraine, and my family lives there. I also live with the fear of what is happening there. Refugees often pass through my town, and what we see is that these people may be broken and exhausted, but they are also ready to continue their future and to fight for it,” said Turosik, encouraging Festival participants to be brave, even when the going gets tough.
Will Richard, from the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that he was pleased to be able to attend the opening of the Festival, and that young people have a significant role to play in challenging negative rhetoric.
“You young people were treated unfairly in terms of the structural changes in which you grew up, but it’s encouraging that many of you have overcome these ideas,” said Richard.
He reiterated that despite setback and incendiary rhetoric at the higher levels, at the local level, things are much better than people think. “The number of incidents resulting from prejudice is relatively small, and violent crimes committed out of hatred are extremely rare. This shows that people in Bosnia and Herzegovina want to separate themselves from the dark past and the legacy of the war and to live together, but this should not be taken for granted. I’m proud that events like this draw the attention of many young individuals and organizations that promote social connection,” said Richard.
Fermin Cordoba, senior political adviser to the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized that inter-ethnic dialogue and trust is very important not only declaratively, but also in terms of European integration. He explained to the participants of the Festival the 14 European priorities that Bosnia and Herzegovina must fulfill on the way to EU membership, stressing that priority five is reconciliation.
The Festival is supported by the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (Slovak Aid), the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Rockefeller Brother Foundation, and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Festival is held in partnership with the Čardaci Ethno Village, Al Jazeera Balkans, the Vitez Youth Theater, and the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina.


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Emir Avdić: Preserving an Old Craft with A Modern Method | Balkan Diskurs
Ramo Tučić
March 3rd, 2023
Twenty-eight-year-old Emir Avdić from Dubrava, near Tuzla, replaced ladles, pots, knives, and pans with wool, a tufting gun, and canvas.
While most of his peers are searching for happiness far from Bosnia and Herzegovina, he decided to stay and nurture one Bosnian-Herzegovinian tradition to the best of his ability. He transfers his imagination, the wishes of customers, as well as traditional Bosnian-Herzegovinian motifs onto carpets in a modern way, for which he is recognized not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also outside its borders.
When making carpets, he uses a modern method of tufting which involves pressing wool onto canvas with a tool such as a tufting gun.  Avdić discovered this method on the internet and mastered the stops through social media and online research. The unavailability of materials was his biggest obstacle. It took him a year to buy the necessary materials and start making carpets.
“People from Bosnia are known to have been engaged in handicrafts since ancient times. For this reason, there is a large selection of colored wool in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, something I couldn’t find here and could only buy online was a tufting gun,” Avdić said.
Making carpets requires not only wool and a tufting gun but also the right canvas. Avdić bought jute canvas, which is readily available in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to the tufting gun that imprints the wool, he noted that he also uses a projector to transfer certain illustrations onto the previously stretched canvas.
“I copy the illustration onto the stretched canvas and calculate the dimensions that are needed. After that, I draw the wool into the tufting gun and trace the canvas with the wool, that is, I transfer the wool to the canvas,” explained Avdić.
After transferring the wool to the canvas, he cuts the carpet and affixes the backing with glue. Avdić said that it takes about seven days to make one carpet.
The combination of modern and old crafting actually awakened his desire to start making carpets. The first order was a carpet in the shape of a cat, and as he states, he wants to weave Bosnian tradition through this modern way.
“I know how much making carpets keeps tradition alive. Knowing how our grandmothers and great-grandmothers attached great importance to the handcrafting of all household items, especially Bosnian carpets [ćilim], I realized that in this way, I can also make carpets that will have ćilim motifs,” explained Avdić.
His efforts have been recognized by many, and he receives orders for his carpets from many European countries.
“People mostly order some motifs from TV shows, movies, famous brands. Regardless of the orders, I plan to make several series of carpets that I will offer to customers,” added Avdić.
Staying in Bosnia and Herzegovina and starting a business is a huge risk, but this twenty-eight-year-old is aware that there is no progress without risk.
“I could have left the country, but I’m aware of everything that comes with entering into something new. In fact, the desire to start something of my own prevailed,” Avdić pointed out.
This positive story shows that there is no lack of ideas and talented people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, proving that with effort and will, it is possible to succeed here and be recognized not only in the country, but also outside its borders.
This article is part of a series of texts within the #EmployMe project of the Post-Conflict Research Center and Balkan Diskurs. The series aims to raise awareness about the problems that young people face in the field of education and employment in BiH and highlight some good practices in battling these obstacles. This series is part of the “Youth Retention Program in BiH – Opšta Mobilizacija,” implemented by the Nešto Više Association and PRONI Center for Youth Development, with support from the Delegation of the European Union to BiH.

created: March 3rd, 2023

author: Ramo Tučić


text:
Bosnian Women Pushing Boundaries | Balkan Diskurs
Amina Sejfić | Kristina Gadže
March 8th, 2023
Women and girls in Bosnia and Herzegovina are increasingly pushing the boundaries that have been imposed on them, often opting to pursue careers long “reserved” for men and considered exclusively male occupations.
As taxi drivers, mechanical engineers, driving instructors, pilots, firefighters, and much more, women today are working diligently alongside their male colleagues. These women advise young girls who still haven’t chosen their profession to believe in themselves, study, be disciplined, and not worry about prejudices, because having a job you like is most important.
Amra Beha is a young female taxi driver from Sarajevo. She became a taxi driver quite by accident and has received tremendous support from her colleagues. “Everything I know, I know thanks to them,” said Amra, who describes taxi driving as “a beautiful adventure.”
Her passengers are often surprised to see a young woman driving a taxi, but Amra claims that she has never experienced any form of discrimination. She says that customers are delighted with her personality, friendliness, and attitude towards work. She advises young girls to do what they love what fulfills them because then they will value themselves more.
Nikolina Rebac has been working as a driving instructor for nine years, and even co-owns her own driving school in Čapljina. Like Amra, her interest in her profession came about by chance. “A cousin who had been a driving instructor for many years suggested this job to me after I’d been working in the hospitality industry for years, and I liked the idea,” said Nikolina.
As a private sector job, she points out that it hasn’t been easy, especially since it’s a male-dominated profession. However, with the support of her husband and family, she was able to overcome the difficulties shed faced early-on. Over time, she came to love her job, which she says she enjoys because “it’s very dynamic,” and allows her to “meet people and make new friends.”
She doesn’t have any colleagues in or outside of Čapljina, but her driving students are mostly women and girls. “Overall, I’m very relaxed and able to work with people who are afraid, and so on. And I work with many students, especially women, who haven’t driven in years since they first passed their driving test. Many of them loved driving and weren’t afraid of it when they started,” said Nikolina, noting that she gets great satisfaction from seeing her students driving later on.
Her message to women and girls who want to follow in her footsteps is that as females, they have the power to turn their lives into whatever kind of adventure they want. “Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams and reach your true potential, to release your inner strength. The stereotype that women are bad drivers is gradually disappearing.  The ability to drive a car does not depend on gender, hair color, or anything else. Today, you see women behind the wheel more and more. Women have decided to prove that they can drive like men,” Nikolina concluded.
Biljana Abula from Pale, who currently resides in Qatar, is proof that for women, not even the sky is the limit. She is employed by Qatar Airways as a flight attendant, but she also completed training as a passenger plane pilot, which makes her the first female in Bosnia and Herzegovina with this profession. She is on the waiting list for the first officer-copilot.
For Biljana, aviation was love at first sight, and she knew immediately that she wanted to pursue a career in this industry.
“My first flight as a pilot was at the beginning of my training. Even though I had so many mixed emotions and there was so much information that I had to process, coming from instructor and air traffic control, it was an unforgettable experience, and that flight will forever be one of my favorites,” said Biljana.
Biljana says she hasn’t encountered discrimination from her fellow aviators, but there have been some inappropriate questions that she wouldn’t have been asked if she was a man. Most of these questions have come from people from the Balkan region. “Some examples are questions about my ability to maintain a family and a marriage, or my age in relation to my marital status, or who helped me get my license in the first place, and so on,” Biljana explained.
In addition to dedication, discipline, and love for the job, she believes that in order to be successful, you have to believe in yourself and never doubt your abilities.
“One of the very important conditions for success is the wind at your back that those closest to you provide, whether it’s family, friends, or the people around you, it doesn’t matter,” she added, telling girls that no dream is too big, no dream is crazy or impossible, and that they don’t have to meet anyone’s expectations but their own.
According to some unwritten rule, firefighting is a male profession because it requires strength and endurance. Although in much of the world, this career is not exclusively for men, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is rare to find a female firefighter. One such rarity is Martina Milanović, who is the only female firefighter in the Čapljina Fire Department.
“I don’t know why there aren’t many girls and women in this job in our country, unlike in more developed countries, where this isn’t the case,” Martina mused. She explained that her interest in this job arose incidentally during her internship at the Čapljina Fire Department, and at the persuasion of her colleagues, she took the professional firefighting exam and passed it. From the very beginning, she had the support of her family and loved ones.
Martina’s shifts are from seven in the morning to three in the afternoon, and sometimes she also works on weekends. She is aware that every job has stressful situations, including hers. She tells young girls that if they are passionate about firefighting or any other job, they shouldn’t let any obstacles stand in their way. “Just be brave and move forward,” advises Martina, adding that any prejudices you might encounter don’t last long, and “you end up doing something  you love.”
The prejudice that technical sciences are intended mainly for men is being destroyed by female students, who are enrolling in and graduating from mechanical engineering departments in increasing numbers. Mersiha Halimanović is a mechanical engineer and says that women are still less represented in mechanical engineering than men, but their number is increasing year by year.
“Mechanical engineering is often considered a typically male job, but this is not true. Women can be just as capable and successful in this field as men,” explained Mersiha. She noted that there are several reasons why girls show less interest in this area, such as a lack of female role models, prejudices, and a lack of understanding.
Women in mechanical engineering, as she pointed out, bring certain advantages to this field. “They are usually thorough, careful, and precise, which are qualities that are important in this job. Also, women bring different perspectives, experiences, and ideas, which can help in innovation and solving problems in new ways,” said Mersiha.
She says that she encountered difficulties while looking for a job, recalling that on several occasions, she was explicitly told at a job interview that while she met all the qualifications, she should reconsider whether or not she really wanted the job. When she said that she did want the job, it was often given to a male candidate anyway, because they believed that a man would be better able to handle the professional challenges.
Mersiha emphasizes that a great deal of time and effort are needed in order to be successful, because nothing just happens overnight. She advises young girls to ignore discouraging comments and keep working towards their goals because “only with knowledge can we change things.”

created: March 8th, 2023

author: Amina Sejfić | Kristina Gadže