Experiences of Informal Groups from the 2024/2025 Cycle

The Older Brother, Older Sister program cycle was implemented for the first time through informal groups in several cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The beginning was challenging and uncertain, but thanks to outstanding partners and our informal groups in Tuzla, Bijeljina, Banja Luka, and Pale, the 2024/2025 cycle achieved remarkable results. A total of 36 mentees and 35 mentors participated in the informal groups, arranged into 8 pairs in Bijeljina, 8 pairs in Pale, 9 pairs in Tuzla, and 10 pairs in Banja Luka. During the program, 580 individual meetings, 38 group activities, and 7 excursions were held. Unbreakable bonds were formed between mentors and mentees, creating numerous precious moments and memories that everyone will carry with them for a lifetime.

Mentoring activities included visits to playrooms, confectioneries, ethnographic villages, and museums, horseback riding, outdoor gatherings, long walks with conversations, and creative workshops where frames, necklaces, and bracelets were made. Through these activities, mentees learned from their mentors not only how to use cutlery or make bracelets but also how to behave, communicate, and grow into better individuals. Volunteer Azra Tupkušić from Tuzla emphasizes, "The greatest lesson for me was realizing that children absorb adult behavior even when we are not directly teaching them. That is when I truly understood the importance of personal example. That moment gave me a sense of responsibility that I carry beyond our shared time."

Reflecting on the completed cycle, coordinator Jelena from Pale shared her observation, "The children began to confide in the volunteers, sharing feelings, fears, and personal stories they had not shared with anyone else. Some did so openly, while others opened up gradually, but the trust they developed with the volunteers became an important support in their lives."

The cycle was particularly valuable in Banja Luka, where the mentees were children with developmental challenges. It meant a great deal to them to have someone just for themselves, someone who listened, understood, and dedicated time to them. These gatherings were full of new experiences: kayaking on the Vrbas River, encounters with animals (for one boy, it was even his first walk with a dog), and swimming lessons during which mentees overcame fears and courageously learned to swim. The mother of one mentee from this program shared, "It meant so much to me that the volunteer was truly someone who listened, heard, and accepted my child as they are, with great patience, understanding, and warmth. The Older Brother, Older Sister program was not just about spending time together and having fun; it was a great support for me as a parent. Thank you to the volunteers and the foundation; it was a wonderful experience! I would warmly recommend this program to every family because it makes a difference for both children and parents. We look forward to continuing these gatherings."

Although the cycle has ended, parents, mentors, mentees, and coordinators alike are looking forward to its continuation and eagerly anticipate the start of the new season. One mentee spoke about their volunteer, "She is like a real sister to me. I have two brothers, but I never talk to them. With her, I felt for the first time what it is like to have someone close. I really enjoy being with her and I wish this could continue."

*The Older Brother, Older Sister Foundation promotes gender-inclusive language. In texts, only one gender is used for readability purposes, but it is clear from the context that it refers to all genders.

Prepared by Asija Muslić, PR assistant