That there are people whose dedication and open arms mean so much to the community. EKO EHO – Center for Education and Promotion of Healthy Living is a perfect example. Almost six years ago, a group of hard-working women in Banja Luka decided to dedicate their lives to helping others. Thinking about the problems in their community, they saw a potential solution in founding a non-governmental organization.
One year ago, EKO EHO – Center for Education and Promotion of Healthy Living started strengthening organizational capacities. This service, offered by the Institute for Youth Development KULT, provided this organization with numerous opportunities for progress and growth. In a conversation with three staff members, women who have been instrumental in all the successes and achievements so far, even after six years, we can sense their motivation, determination, and passion for everything they do.
“When we started this process, we felt that we needed absolutely everything; everything was important to us, even things that were taken for granted by others. We started this process out of need, without knowing anything about running an organization. Now we know that something you really love can also be your job“, said one staff member.
“I think what we needed most was a teacher, someone who would show us what to do and how to do it. We were dependent on projects, although we were driven by enthusiasm and determination. However, strengthening the organizational structure is crucial because relying solely on one project after another doesn’t really let you change much,” explains another member.
When it comes to initial expectations, they say that they started this process with a bit of mistrust: “When we got the first email, it all seemed very useful and interesting, but we didn’t really know that the process would look like this – we went to the workshops not knowing how much we would actually get out of them. After that, we attended a series of training sessions, and they were all extremely important for us. We learned a lot of new information, including how to structure everything that we didn’t even know we needed.”
They have nothing but praise when it comes to their Job Shadowing visit. They agreed that it was a great experience and that they returned to Banja Luka asking themselves, “Will we ever be able to work like that?”
“It’s like when you go somewhere nice and tidy, and you feel bad about not living there and having to go back home instead,” says one of the women with a laugh.
Encouraged by the realization that there are still organizations where everything functions smoothly and people maintain friendly relations, they persevered in building their own organization. They always kept in mind that achieving their goals is possible and that nothing is unattainable with sufficient dedication and commitment.
Remembering what they had done together, they were adamant: “We’ve come this far; we can do this!” Motivating each other, the hard-working EKO EHO team embarked on a journey to strengthen their organizational capacities, focusing on areas that needed their attention the most.
They never once lacked motivation, and the staff of the Institute for Youth Development KULT tried to provide additional support. The most important lesson for them was the awareness of how important support is at the organizational and individual levels: “This is true for life in general, but this program once again reminded me that you can’t do anything without support, you can’t do it alone. You always need someone to give you a chance so that later you can do it yourself.”
“You know, when you tell someone “You can do it!”, people start to believe they really can. What particularly motivated us in this process was the sentence: “You will receive what you ask for.” That’s what led us to ask, and asking is part of what led us to the success we have achieved,” says one EKO EHO staff member.
The support the Association received from the Institute for Youth Development KULT through this program was very important for their success. “The support we got in building our organizational capacities was actually essential; it’s necessary because we’ve seen organizations shut down, despite doing great work, simply because they lacked support or failed to recognize its importance. We often wondered if we would succeed.”
One problem they’re currently facing is finding permanent premises for the organization. Until then, they have to keep all the materials and documents in their own homes. However, nothing is too big of a hurdle for them as long as what they do has purpose and meaning.
When asked if they would do anything differently today, they unanimously replied that they would not. Everything they went through in this program strengthened them both individually and as an organization.
Their biggest achievement is the fact that they have been working for years and that their work brings real change to their community: “Today, what we are most proud of is ourselves because we are now in our sixth year of helping others while balancing our jobs, children, and everything else that life brings our way. Every woman who reaches out to us and receives support matters to us – it makes us feel that we are fulfilling the mission of the organization. There have been obstacles, and it’s been challenging, but I am incredibly proud because, despite everything, we’ve managed to make a difference, and things are changing. Introducing screening for postpartum depression has been an activist endeavor and our contribution to society. Thanks to our work, screening has been integrated into the healthcare system.”
They say people seek them out on their own nowadays. Their organization became known in the community: “We feel a bit sad when we finish an activity, but right after that, we start something new. Currently, we’re working extensively with healthcare professionals. Screening is mandatory throughout Republika Srpska, and we have become the go-to association for that. We are making changes in an area that wasn’t discussed much until recently.”
Based on their experience, they believe there are many people in Banja Luka who are ready for activism. They want to involve these individuals more actively in their future activities and be a guiding star for those in need, motivating them just as they were motivated by the Institute’s staff.
They advise other organizations to take advantage of this program for their growth and development if they have the opportunity, assuring them that they will receive excellent support.
“This is a process that will definitely leave you stronger and more organized!“
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