Orange Day, observed worldwide on the 25th of each month, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is dedicated to raising awareness and preventing violence against women and girls. For over a decade, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has organized activities that contribute to preventing violence and provide support to victims. In line with this commitment, the Institute launched the #YouthMakingDifference campaign, building on previous successful campaigns about women making a difference in the world. Through this campaign, we encourage young people to continue taking action against violence toward women and girls by learning from the examples of others. We also want to highlight the importance of advocating for gender equality.
In a society still rife with prejudice and inequality, young people like Lamija Sejmenović show that change begins with individuals who have the courage to act. Lamija comes from Hadžići. She is a master’s student at the Faculty of Health Studies, specializing in Medical Imaging, and a member of the Association for Cooperation and Community Building (ASUS), where she says she began her “activism era.”
Determined yet soft-spoken, Lamija says that her activism was sparked by her rural upbringing, where education, especially on gender equality, was rare. Her initiative “Girls are not Targets” was borne out of the need for a safe space where women and girls can gather, talk, and support one another.
“The increase in femicide rates in BiH is the motivation behind my activism. Hearing those stories made me so angry, hurt, and scared because it could happen to any of us. I channeled that sense of powerlessness into strength and motivation to fight for the rights and safety of women and girls.”
Although she initially wasn’t sure whether women would respond to her project, the support she received was overwhelming. The response exceeded all expectations and showed Lamija that she was on the right path. “I realised that women want to speak up, they want the space and opportunities to be heard. My project became a bridge from fear into freedom.”
She says community support means a lot to her. “When others recognise the idea and support me, I find it so motivating. It shows me that the community can recognise genuine intentions.”
Of course, like many other young activists, she faced a lot of hurdles. Her biggest obstacles were insecurity and a lack of faith in her abilities. “Starting from nothing is really hard. We all have our fears and goals, but in time we learn that all that matters is doing your best – hard work will always give you results,” says Lamija.
Dealing with prejudice and negative comments isn’t easy for Lamija, but she learned how to stay focused. “There will always be positive and negative comments. What matters is how we react to them. I choose to hear the voices that support me.”
Most of her efforts are aimed at education because, as she says, education is the foundation of empowerment for women. “In our patriarchal society, education is absolutely crucial for women. It can save us from becoming victims of violence, whether it be economic, physical, or psychological. An educated woman is an empowered woman.
Lamija is humble about her role in these efforts but determined to continue. “Mine is just one voice among many, I’m just one messenger. But I hope I can lead by example and inspire other women to make their voices heard as well. I can’t change the world alone, but we can do so much together.”
Finally, Lamija has a message for young women: Don’t doubt yourself. “The sky is the limit. Every idea can become a reality if we believe in ourselves and overcome our fears. Fight for each other, because together we are so much stronger than we think.”
