From Volunteer to Executive Director
We had the opportunity to speak with Ivana Radić after she completed her master’s studies in Vienna. Ivana Radić is an example of how dedication and humanity can change lives, not only of children but also of volunteers and the entire community. From a volunteer in the mentoring program Older Brother, Older Sister to the Executive Director of the Foundation, Ivana invested her knowledge, energy, and experience in building a program that for years has given young people the opportunity to grow in a safe and supportive environment.
“I came from Jajce to Sarajevo to study economics. I wasn’t really sure if economics was the right choice for me, but I enrolled in something to give it a try,” Ivana recalls, reflecting on her beginnings. She adds that in Sarajevo she found far more opportunities than in her hometown, including scholarships, various learning programs, activities, and events, and it was through these that she discovered the mentoring program Older Brother, Older Sister, which was at the time implemented by the charitable organization Kruh svetog Ante in cooperation with SOS Children’s Villages.
Ivana volunteered in the program for three years and was an older sister to a young girl. “It was really nice. Everything felt like casual socializing, play, talk, laughter. At that moment, you don’t realize how significant it is. You see the real results only after several years,” Ivana told us, emphasizing how this experience had a long-term impact on both her and the girl.
Since she studied economics and was interested in marketing, Ivana later joined the fundraising program Older Brother, Older Sister, where through promotion and campaign organization she had the opportunity to connect her academic knowledge with volunteer work. “It was quite interesting, but also challenging. I met wonderful people there and realized how much you can learn through volunteering and working in an NGO,” says Ivana, emphasizing that it was then that she realized her potential in management and organization.
Through years of work and mentoring, Ivana highlighted how volunteers grow through the Older Brother, Older Sister program. “The first thing they learn is patience, because for children that is the most necessary quality. Then come responsibility, setting boundaries, and the ability to communicate with children. They learn empathy, emotional intelligence, and many encounter administration and finances for the first time. All these skills help them in both private and professional life,” Ivana said, adding inspiring examples: one former volunteer who had volunteered in Sarajevo for years is still in close contact with the girl she mentored. When the girl needed to enroll in university, her mentor provided significant support, even though formally they were no longer part of the program. The girl grew up in a risky environment but managed to find her path, and together with her grew her mentor, now a responsible and mature adult. Their friendship continues to this day, and it is particularly significant that the former volunteer now works in the social sector and initiated the launch of the Older Brother, Older Sister program in her local community.
Another example shows the longevity of bonds created through mentoring. One former volunteer now has a very successful career in Germany, and interestingly, the girl she once volunteered with is also currently in Germany. The two of them still keep in touch and meet there, showing that neither time nor geographic distance can break a relationship built on trust and care.
Ivana also highlights her colleague Nerma, who was part of one of the first generations of volunteers and who, despite changing career directions over the years, eventually returned to the program. “Nerma always says that the Older Brother, Older Sister program is her first love. This shows how strong the program is and how volunteers remain connected to it even after years of work,” says Ivana. “I have a feeling that wherever we go in our country, we have someone who has been involved in the program in some way. Most of my friends, with whom I still socialize, I met through Older Brother, Older Sister.” These examples show that the program not only provides a mentoring experience but also builds a network of lasting connections and a community we continue to nurture.
Ivana also emphasizes the importance of patience and flexibility in running the Foundation, especially when it comes to financial challenges and donor misunderstandings. “The mentoring process is intangible and difficult to measure immediately. We focus on quality because it is better to have a smaller number of mentor-mentee pairs whose relationships truly have an impact. In crisis situations, our volunteers strive to continue meeting with children, even at their own expense. This builds a sense of belonging and connection,” Ivana said.
Between March 2024 and October 2025, Ivana studied at the University of Economics in Vienna, in the MSc (Continued Education) Social Innovation and Management program, implemented in cooperation with NGO Academy and the ERSTE Foundation, from which she received a scholarship. The program is intended for professionals in the field of social management, with a special focus on NGOs from Southeast Europe.
The study was organized as a part-time program, with some lectures in Vienna and some work conducted online, directly within the home organization. “It was extremely challenging to combine studying with a full-time job, but thanks to the support of the Board of Directors and the Foundation team, I succeeded,” says Ivana, with special thanks to her family, friends, and mother, who was a great support during this intensive period. What Ivana particularly emphasizes is the highly practical nature of the study. “Everything we did at the university could be immediately applied in practice, so the Foundation directly benefited from my studies.” Her master’s thesis involved research on mentoring programs across Europe, with a special focus on sustainable funding models. The key conclusions of the research will soon be available on the Foundation’s website.
Completing her studies in Vienna also brought Ivana new international acquaintances and collaborations. “I met people who do the same or similar work in other countries as we do in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are already planning joint projects and experience exchanges.” As she says, the mentoring principle can be applied in management, and today she herself has new mentors who provide support for the development of the Foundation and the Older Brother, Older Sister program.
Looking to the future, Ivana believes that mentoring programs will become increasingly important because digitalization and reduced contact among youth affect the development of empathy and social skills. The Foundation plans to expand the program to more cities, include teenagers and children with difficulties, and strengthen international cooperation with similar programs in the region and Europe. “Personally, I see the Older Brother, Older Sister program as an opportunity to combine volunteering, education, and social responsibility. Our mission is for children and youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina to have equal opportunities to develop life skills and grow up healthily. Mentoring teaches how to build and maintain relationships that last for years, and that is precisely what the Foundation nurtures,” Ivana told us.
Finally, Ivana sends a message to everyone involved in the program: “Let’s be human. Let’s pay attention to each other, show solidarity and empathy. Mentoring is an opportunity to learn how to support each other and build a community.”
It is a great honor for all of us to work with, and learn from, our dear Ivana, who selflessly shares her knowledge, develops our capacities, supports new ideas, and together with us builds our dreams. Soon, Ivana will also publish her professional article, as she devoted her master’s thesis research specifically to the Older Brother, Older Sister program. Stay with us, and in the meantime, perhaps you will sign up and become a volunteer too, because time is the most precious thing we can give to others, and who knows where that volunteer path will lead you.
Asija Muslić
PR Assistant
