Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE has been successfully implementing the Older Brother, Old Sister (OBOS) mentoring program in Sarajevo for 20 years, cooperating with institutions that share common goals such as protecting children and creating a happier childhood. Due to the need to provide additional support to the families of children with developmental disabilities, we started cooperation with the Association of Families of Children and Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Give Us a Chance, whose work is based on raising awareness of society, recognizing the needs of families, children and adults with developmental disabilities and systemic solution respecting their dignity, differences and possibilities.
Coordinator of the Older Brother, Older Sister program Izanela Mahmutovic revealed additional benefits of cooperation for children and families: Dealing with a family member’s developmental difficulties can be challenging even for typical siblings. They may feel the burden of responsibility or lack of attention, but also love for their sibling. Through socializing with volunteers, children get the opportunity to create new friendships, develop skills, support and positive experiences that contribute to their emotional and social development.
The reasons for establishing cooperation with the Association Give us a chance are the heavy workload of parents with the care and care of children with developmental disabilities, which can lead to other children being denied the desired attention. OBOS volunteers hang out with typical children once a week, and in this way additional support is provided to parents, so that they can devote themselves to children with developmental difficulties, but also to themselves without the guilt of neglecting other children. Through various SBSS activities such as games, visits to cultural events, nature trips, workshops and sports events, children have the opportunity to develop friendships and expand their social network. It is not only the children who benefit from the program, the volunteers also have the opportunity to develop empathy, understanding and compassion. They learn to value each unique person and to see the beauty in differences.
Volunteer Amina Polovina shared her new volunteering experience We help each other, we are never bored. We have a lot of topics to talk about because she is a very smart girl. This relationship with her is very important to me, not only for the sake of cooperation with the Association Give us a chance and her parents, but especially for her sake. I can see that hanging out has a positive effect on her and that she can’t wait for our reunion, which makes me very happy because I know that I managed to get her attention and give her my time and love.
The Older Brother, Older Sister program opens the door for support and inclusion of children growing up in different circumstances. Through mutual understanding and friendship, we build bridges of empathy and support that are of key importance for creating a sense of belonging and togetherness for families of children with disabilities. In this way, we contribute to the creation of conditions so that every child can grow, flourish and realize their full potential.
Ajsela Kučinar
