Imagine a world where every child has equal opportunities for growth, development, and protection. A world where children receive the necessary support and love. Symbolically, on International Children’s Day, the Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE celebrated twenty years of the mentoring program Older Brother, Older Sister, a program that provides children with a happier and more carefree childhood.

At the conference Twenty Years of Inspiration and Growth, held on November 20, 2024, at the Children’s House Novo Sarajevo in Sarajevo, attendees could not hide their emotions after seeing the results achieved by the program. Especially moving were the inspirational testimonials from the heart and soul of the program—the children and the volunteers, the “big” and “little” brothers and sisters.

The importance of mentoring programs and their impact was discussed in a panel featuring practitioners who have witnessed how the program has changed many lives: Mirsada Poturković, Cantonal Center for Social Work, Miroslav Jurešić, Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Saudin Đurđević, Public Institution Home for Children without Parental Care, Elmedin Muratbegović, Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology, and Security Studies, Ivana Radić, Older Brother, Older Sister Foundation

The panelists unanimously concluded that mentorship is one of the best forms of prevention against addiction and risky behaviors in children. They emphasized the need for systematic support for the Older Brother, Older Sister program beyond the current reliance on non-governmental organizations and foreign donors. Incorporating mentoring programs into the Law on Social Services of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, currently under development, would provide financial support for their implementation. This would ensure that only verified, accredited programs with proven positive impacts on children and youth could operate. Such measures would secure the sustainability of the Older Brother, Older Sister program and the positive outcomes it delivers.

Although the program has left an indelible mark on many hearts over the past 20 years, the conference highlighted a pressing issue: many children who need mentoring support are not included in the program. Therefore, the conference was not only a reflection on two decades of work and success but also a call to action—a call for continuous support for at-risk children and youth. Only through collective action can we ensure that this program continues to grow and provide support to those who need it most.

Azra Halilović