Older Brother, Older Sister (OBOS) is a mentoring program in which volunteers are
empowered and develop competencies for the role of mentors to children at risk between the
ages of 6 and 14. The primary goal of the program is for mentors to contribute to the better

social inclusion of children who face challenges in growing up into a healthy, socially
integrated individuals, while simultaneously working on themselves and developing their
capacities. Volunteers, as mentors, support children in developing life skills, become their
role models and people they can rely on. Mentorship involves friendship, helping with
schoolwork, building positive models of behavior, all through learning, socializing and having
fun.
Young people aged 20 to 35 can apply for volunteering in the OBOS program. All registered
volunteers undrego an introductory interview, and those who pass the interview participate in
mandatory preparatory education. During the cycle, volunteers have group counseling
meetings with program coordinators twice a month (if necessary, individual counseling
meetings can also be organized). Volunteers socialize with children for eight months, at least
20 hours per month – once a week they organize individual socializing with children (with
their  “younger” brother or “sister” in accordance with their wishes and needs. They are
provided with pocket money for socializing. For additional socialization, group activities and
excursions are organized for all children and volunteers.
In addition to professional support from NARKO-NE, volunteers are accompanied and
supported in their work with children by professional associates, social workers, pedagogues
and psychologists from the Cantonal Center for Social Work and the Children's Home.
without parental care.
Applications for young people are opened in September every year. The volunteer
engagement lasts from October to June. All questions regarding the OBOS program can be
sent to e-mail sbss@prevencija.ba

The Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE has been implementing the Older
Brother, Older Sister program since 2004, first in cooperation with the Cantonal Center for
Social Work, Sarajevo, and since 2010 with the Home for Children Without Parental Care,
Sarajevo. From 2023, the Give Us a Chance Association will also be included in the
program. The implementation of the program is primarily financially supported by the Old
Brother, Older Sister Foundation.