As part of the Strong Families program, a cycle of activities with families in Ilijaš and Kakanj was carried out during November and December 2023. Through the Strong Families program, the skills of parents/guardians and children are strengthened, and 12 families in Ilijaš and 16 families in Kakanj successfully strengthened their family relationships and mutual interaction.

Program coordinator Alma Hadžiskakić continuously contributes to the quality of program implementation, as evidenced by the parents who participated in the program:

Thank you to the leaders of the Strong Families program, especially to Alma, because after her advice, my children are growing stronger and more resilient. We learned to set clear boundaries for our children without feeling guilty, while the children feel safe and protected with us as parents. We talk more, understand each other much better, and our family priorities, which we set ourselves, are clear, and we know how to respect them. The children play more at home, developing their brains, as Alma says, and I happily and contentedly watch them. I used to think they were naughty, but now I know they are happy. – Parent

The program was implemented at Hašim Spahić Elementary School in Ilijaš in cooperation with the Sarajevo Islamic Community’s Medžlis. Additionally, in Kakanj, the program was carried out in cooperation with the Islamic Community’s Medžlis in their Marriage and Family Counseling Center.

Support for the program’s implementation was provided by the Ministry of Labor, Social Policy, Displaced Persons, and Refugees of Sarajevo Canton, as well as the Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton. Considering the number of trained social protection institution employees who have been empowered through the program for further work with families, the ministries consider the cooperation between relevant institutions working with families and NARKO-NE to be very significant in the effort to strengthen families.

In a conversation with program leaders from the Marriage and Family Counseling Center of the Kakanj Islamic Community, Fatima Talić emphasized that every family is unique and that the completed sessions help them strengthen their resources and strengths.

Zakir Ljubović highlighted that parents become more aware of their role even after the first session: They were eager to comment on each topic and share their life experiences. They were very interested in participating in the implementation of tasks.

This aspect of the program confirms the relevance of the topics covered, highlighting the need for active parental involvement in raising children.

Edina Sokolović Lazović from the Marriage and Family Counseling Center of the Sarajevo Islamic Community shares an inspiring experience of working in the Strong Families program. She emphasizes that the facilitators are the key to the program’s success and that participants, going through a journey from seriousness to relief, have proven that the program has a profound impact on family relationships.

The Strong Families program has achieved significant success, as evidenced by the large turnout of participants and their experiences. The program will continue in 2024 with new families.

Adin Buljubašić