Employment mentors provide key support to mentees in identifying their strengths, motivating them and preparing them for navigating the labor market, finding a job and staying employed. As an innovative approach within the social protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, employment mentoring offers numerous benefits. These include the development of a platform and the creation of a roadmap for further strengthening institutional support and supporting the economic development of local communities.
Enisa Mešetović is an expert advisor on education, youth issues, and the NGO sector in the Municipality of Ilijaš. She is also a certified youth worker, certified youth officer, and Competency Passport advisor. With her dedicated work and expertise, Enisa actively contributes to improving available resources and creating new opportunities in the community. She plays a key role in the development of young people in BiH, encouraging their active involvement in social processes and providing them with tools for successful personal and professional development.
For Enisa, working with young people is both one of the most rewarding and, at the same time, one of the most challenging and responsible roles.
As a firm believer in the importance of community and mutual support, Enisa has had a unique opportunity to make a significant contribution to the progress and development of her community as an employment mentor. She believes that the mentoring process enriches both her mentees and herself by exposing her to new perspectives, diverse life stories, and challenges that have deepened her understanding and broadened her experience.
“While I have always been empathetic and understanding, employment mentoring has further broadened my perspective on human experiences and needs. Through mentoring, you have the opportunity to continuously develop active listening skills, and learn how to formulate questions and statement clearly,” says Enisa.
Enisa described the importance of the mentoring process for employment for our country: “The process of employment mentoring can significantly impact various aspects of society, including the economy and labor market, particularly in countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, where there is a distinct need to support human resource development and improve workforce competencies. It can be crucial in increasing employability, reducing unemployment, and integrating marginalized groups into both society and the economy. Providing support and guidance can help individuals with limited access to education or other resources participate more easily in social and economic life.”
If given the choice again, she would definitely choose to be an employment mentor. This role fulfils her, especially as she watches her mentees grow, achieve their goals, and develop self-confidence, which she finds incredibly inspiring and motivating.
“This experience motivates me to improve in my work and continually seek ways to provide the best support to my mentees,” she says.
She finds extra motivation in the sense of community and belonging with other mentors, all of whom share a common vision and commitment to empowering and developing young people.
Enisa recognizes the importance of being supportive of young people, offering them understanding and guidance as they go through challenging stages in their lives.
“Through working with young people, we have the opportunity to shape their lives and help them become self-reliant and responsible individuals. Every contribution we make can have long-term positive consequences, not only for their lives, but also for our communities. Let our support be the foundation for their prosperous future”, says Enisa.
The message that Enisa wants to send to others working with young people is: “Your support can change someone’s life.”
The Institute for Youth Development KULT is implementing the project “Social Mentoring for Youth in BiH” within a broader regional project “Social Inclusion of Disadvantaged Groups in the Western Balkans (SoRi III)”, which is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Institute is developing a social mentoring approach for work integration, based on the methodology created by the Association for Research, Communication, and Development PUBLIC from Skopje.
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