Although they have vastly different high school experiences, plans, and aspirations, Hana Salkić and Emina Sarajčić, who joined the Institute as volunteers a month ago, share the same youthful energy. Hana’s interest in learning new things and meeting new people through volunteering made Emina curious about it as well. She didn’t think volunteering would be for her, and she says it’s a completely new experience.
These two girls, with completely different personalities, created memories with the staff of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, made new friends, learned and worked hard on completing their tasks. They speak highly of the Institute’s staff and are grateful for all the help, support, and useful advice.
Our volunteers participated in the organization of multiple Institute events – Young People Are the Heartbeat of Sarajevo: Dialogue between youth and the government, First Convention on Youth Work, and multiple training courses for partner organizations.
“When you attend an event or training as a participant, you don’t see and can’t know how much effort and work was put in behind the scenes. The participants are provided with accommodation, food, an excellent program, and free knowledge, but behind all that, there is a whole team of people who work hard for weeks to make sure everything goes smoothly. I’m glad that we had the opportunity to see events from this other perspective”, says Hana.
Unlike Hana, who came to us with prior volunteer experience and love for volunteering, this was Emina’s first foray into volunteering in any form: “This was my first experience with volunteering. I couldn’t even imagine that I would be spending my free time volunteering and that I would really enjoy it. In this short period, I’ve learned a great deal about communicating with people, improved my listening skills, and gained valuable knowledge and information that will benefit me in the future,” says Emina. Although at the beginning she was very quiet and had little interest in having her voice heard, she now doesn’t hesitate to share her views and opinions.
Thanks to our many years of experience working with young people, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has once again demonstrated that providing opportunities to youth leads to significant positive changes for both them and their communities. Recognizing the importance of hearing young people’s voices, the staff at the Institute offers opportunities to those who are ready to seize them and work towards change, which always begins with the individual.
Both volunteers agree that they gained valuable skills that will be useful for their future education, such as writing reports and using various online tools. They are grateful for the opportunity to seek solutions and navigate different situations, noting that experiential learning like this differs significantly from what is offered in formal education. Hana’s primary interest is in visual arts, whereas Emina is focused on programming. They intend to continue their formal education, while complementing it with informal education as well.
Hana has learned a lot, demonstrated motivation and determination, and made valuable new connections. Emina got the opportunity to show what she is capable of and how hardworking, creative, and inspiring she is. She is planning on continuing to volunteer in similar activities.
They said goodbye to us with a cute little rhyme, sharing their intention to work with the Institute again in the future: “Working with you has been a blast; we hope this time won’t be our last!”.
The Institute’s team wishes Hana and Emina the best of luck in their continued education and future endeavors. The Institute will always be there for these ambitious young women who contributed so much to our work.
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