Bosnia and Herzegovina, like the rest of the world, has been celebrating every 25th day of the month as Orange Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness, preventing violence against women and girls, and sending messages of support to victims. For over a decade, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has been contributing to the fight against violence and sending messages of support to victims. Following the success of two previous campaigns that spotlighted women making a difference, the Institute is launching its new campaign, #YouthMakingDifference, on this month’s Orange Day. The Institute’s goal with this campaign is to encourage youth to follow the lead of others and find the motivation to take part in ending violence against women and girls. The campaign also emphasized the importance of fighting for gender equality.
Jelena Savić, a fifteen-year-old activist, has spent several years courageously advocating for human rights. She says her biggest motivation to speak up for gender equality is the memory of “little Jelena.”
“That’s the girl who always did the best she could, yet her effort was often overlooked by others. I’m motivated by the environment I live in, by all the girls and young women I know or don’t know, but whose effort, work, desire, will, and struggle I feel, as well as their fear of being belittled, held back, and hurt because of it. I feel the weight of that helplessness, and that’s why I decided to confront it and stand up for justice,” Jelena says.
Often exploring the mental state of society in different ways, Jelena believes that before launching any activity or campaign, it is essential to know precisely whom we want to influence. Research helps us plan better and make our actions more effective.
“I’ve raised awareness about peer violence and violence against women in my school, on the streets of Gradiška, and often through social media,” she says.
As a very young person – only 15 – she has faced many obstacles, including discrimination based on age.
“Sometimes young people aren’t taken seriously, and that includes their efforts and contributions. The toxic society we live in often condemns people fighting for basic rights. It’s a sad reflection of the community, and it has become the daily reality for many girls, both here and across the Balkans, and even globally. I think the mentality of this region, our values, and our ways of thinking heavily influence our fight and its effectiveness. And that raises a crucial question: how do we deal with social prejudice?” she asks.
Acknowledging that the answer is complex and the process long, Jelena says that building self-confidence and learning to accept yourself is important, even though it is a lifelong process shaped by many life experiences.
“I especially want to appeal to girls going through puberty not to compare themselves with others. I know it’s hard, but it’s the only way to fully accept yourself. The only thing worth investing in is education, be it formal or non-formal, training, sessions, programs, workshops, whatever you choose. Knowledge is the one thing no one can ever take from you. These few things will help us reach a point where other people’s opinions and comments no longer affect us. And remember, it’s okay to stumble along the way – it’s all part of the process,” she says.
In the future, Jelena wants to support young girls and women, help them learn to accept and love themselves, and empower them to fight for the rights they deserve.
“I’ll teach them not to stay silent and to pass their knowledge on to others because support is the backbone of society!” Jelena says confidently.
Here is her message to her peers: “Believe in yourselves and your dreams because everything is possible. Don’t let ‘shame’ or ‘embarrassment’ control you. Those ideas are socially conditioned, and the only real limits are the ones you set in your own mind. Do whatever makes you happy. Rights are not a privilege, so show the world how strong you are!”
