The Older Brother, Older Sister program is not just a place where children and volunteers create special bonds through individual meetings; it’s also an opportunity for shared adventures that bring them closer to other children and volunteers in the program.

On Sunday, December 22, 2024, one such group activity was held in the beautiful setting of the Sports and Recreation Center Ajdinovići. The children enjoyed various games and sports competitions and even had the chance to visit a mini zoo. Our volunteers, together with their “little brothers and sisters,” spent a day filled with laughter and togetherness. After exciting and tiring activities, everyone relished a shared lunch.

These activities are not just about fun—they are an opportunity to strengthen friendships and connections between children and volunteers. Through these gatherings, our volunteers show children that they are not alone and that they have someone who supports and believes in them.
Beyond having a great time, the volunteers highlight that these activities are important because of the support they provide—not only to the children but also the support they receive in return.

Volunteer Katarina Kastratović shared her thoughts on the importance of such activities:

Group activities and trips are important to us because they allow us to get to know each other better. Not only do we meet all the children, but we also get to know other volunteers. Through such activities, we build stronger bonds with our ‘little brothers and sisters,’ as the children are more relaxed. I think these gatherings will be unforgettable for the children.

One of the “younger sisters” also shared her impressions after the trip:
I loved it here. I enjoyed all the activities. My favorite part was when we wrote about ourselves because that way, we learned about other people too. On trips like this, we can meet new friends and spend time together.

To wrap up the day, we took a group photo to ensure the memory of this perfect day would last forever.

The Older Brother, Older Sister program is carried out with the support of the Foundation for Support and Development of Mentoring Programs Older Brother, Older Sister. It is implemented in other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the same way. This program cycle is implemented in partnership with the Peacebuilding Network as part of USAID’s Local Works/Support for Local Resource Organizations project (LRO/A).

Anisa Čelik Raščić