Birthday in Tuzla: Little Star of a Big Day
As part of the time our mentors and mentees share, every moment has the potential to become a lasting memory, and every day can feel special. And if that is true, then a birthday can be something truly extraordinary. In Tuzla, we had the chance to spend one such day with a boy from the Older Brother, Older Sister mentoring program, celebrating a birthday filled with warmth, attention, and joy.
His mentor Hava, his older sister in the program, told us that this was the first time she had ever organized a birthday celebration for a child on her own, and also the first time her mentee experienced a moment where he was the center of a world created just for him. I wanted to show him how important he is, to help him feel seen and celebrated, even if only for one day, says Hava. She prepared a simple celebration with a cake, snacks, juices, and balloons, and invited his school friends to join. As she describes it, Nothing big, nothing expensive, but everything done with care and from the heart.
When the boy walked in and saw what was waiting for him, he stopped, looked around, and quietly asked, Is all of this really for me Hava recalls that in that moment, all the exhaustion, worries, and nervousness disappeared. What remained was pure joy sparked by the surprise and happiness on his face. I couldn’t hide my smile either, and he was overwhelmed by the feeling of being at the center of everything that day.
During the celebration, as his friends sang Happy Birthday, the boy looked at the cake and said, This feels like something from the movies. That moment reminded Hava how rarely children are given the space to truly feel seen. That day, he didn’t just receive candles and gifts. He received attention. He received a space where he could be himself loud, curious, joyful, and full of life, she reflects.
At the end of the day, while they were tidying up and collecting the balloons, the boy softly said, I will remember this forever. Hava smiled and thought to herself, So will I.
That day gave Hava something special as well a realization that small gestures, which we often take for granted, can become someone’s most treasured childhood memories. Seeing his smile and hearing him say he will remember this forever that is priceless.
Every shared moment shows how care and love can transform an ordinary day into something meaningful, and how seemingly small acts create lasting memories and leave a deep impact. Through this day, and through everyday moments within the program, it becomes clear that mentoring is not just about guidance. It is about creating memories, offering presence and support, and discovering the strength each child carries within.
The Older Brother, Older Sister Foundation promotes gender inclusive language. For readability, only one grammatical gender is used in the text, while the context clearly refers to all genders.
Prepared by Asija Muslić
PR Assistant
