College education for 10 talented students in BiH

Executive Summary:

As we celebrate the holiday season, I hope you and your family are able to take some time to recharge. At the beginning of the new year, I want to take a moment to share silver linings from the last quarter of 2020. We've all had to change our way of life, how we work and learn. This hasn't been easy, and we would like to recognize the genuine strength and resilience our community has shown throughout this year.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the ongoing support of Bosana donors and volunteers. We look forward to continuing to develop our relationships with our supporters in 2021.

Students and Program Update:

These last months of the year are generally not very eventful when it comes university obligations. Our students were attending classes and preparing for the exam season. This semester was still mostly online, although some of the classes were offered in the classroom, generally for smaller groups. Overall, universities have found a way to cover all classes and support online learning. Due to remote learning, our students were able to find time for additional community engagement. We are also happy to share with you the news about several students who graduated this year and were recognized for their exceptional academic achievements.

Highlights of the quarter:

We are thrilled to share all these inspiring news about our students:

• The Special Olympics "Parallel" is a project in which many of our students have participated over the years. Special Olympics offers children and adults with disabilities year-round training and participation in (29) different winter and summer sports. Previous years, our student Saima organized these events and was heavily involved in this project. Our student Pelka participated in this year's program.  This year, Pelka met Ilma, another Bosana student through this program. Ilma joined Bosana this September.

• The month of October is considered the Month of Oral Health. Our former student Mediha organized two lectures on her own initiative in her town of Gracanica to teach local population on the topic of "Proper dental and gum care". The lecture was held in the Social Center in Gracanica where many children attended the lecture. Mediha graduated from Dental School in Sarajevo last year and then she moved back to her hometown of Gracanica where she works as a Dentist at a local hospital.

• Bosana’s former student Edin who grew up at the Tuzla orphanage did not forget his childhood spent there. Edin contacted Bosana at the beginning of the month asking if we would join him and help organize an outing for children from the Tuzla orphanage who have not been able to leave the orphanage since March. Edin, together with the support from the Director of the orphanage organized buses that took the kids to the Zoo, then to a Fair and then out for lunch. They even ordered a cake to celebrate a 12 year old girl's birthday who never before had a cake or celebration for her birthday. The next day, Edin also ordered pizzas and visited the children at the orphanage because some of the children told him that they never had pizzas.

• Milica, our medical student from Srebrenica, entered an essay competition in November. The organizer was Museum of Alija Izetbegovic, as an extension of the Museum of Sarajevo, and all students were eligible to participate in this essay competition. One of the themes was: “It is not enough to say: We want a better world, we need to build it ourselves!”. Milica chose this theme and we are proud to report that Milica won second place in this competition.

• Bosana students are very active in their communities and not only because they are required to complete their voluntary hours every month. Our new student Sandra is the president of the anti-fascist association "UABNOR" in Bihac. In October, UABNOR organized a round table discussion on the topic of human rights and freedoms of individuals with disabilities and national minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our student Sandra directly participated as an organizer and speaker. Sandra begins her studies at the University of Bihac pursuing her Law degree. Prior to joining the Bosana family, Sandra received a scholarship from our former student Selma Selman who started her own NGO four years ago helping Roma girls stay in school.

• Nejra combined her hobby and love for nature with her social activism. An association "Ruke", where Nejra has volunteered for over 7 years, organized planting of over 10,000 trees throughout BiH as a part of the global environmental project "Let's do it". Nejra was selected as a Coordinator of all the activities. The action was financed by the European Union in BiH. Nejra was also chosen to work on the project financed by the American Embassy in BiH, the eco-challenge "Let's make the country even more beautiful", where she will lead workshops with organizations and companies through BiH on how to eliminate our current environmental problems.

• Bosana received amazing news from several students during the month of December.  At the end of the year universities reward best students of the generation. Four Bosana students were selected for these prestigious awards. Three students received the 'Gold Plaque' as the best students of Generation - Benjamin from Tuzla, Sanel from Travnik, and Adi from Mostar.

• Bosana's student Stipan graduated from the Medical School, University of Mostar in July. In December Stipan was awarded the Dean’s Award for Best Student of the Generation! Aside from this most recent recognition, Stipan has already received two Dean's Awards for his academic excellence and he was also named Bosana’s Best Student of the Year four time during his six years as our scholarship recipient.

• Anela, Bosana’s former student and a graduate of a master’s degree in genetics, became a student at the prestigious Harvard University. Anela was accepted to attend a professional development program at Harvard and she will start in January 2021.

• Sava, our medical student from Foca, collaborated with his faculty and academic hospital where he is studying, in order to surprise children at the pediatric unit for the holidays. Sava’s idea was to bring the kids in the hospital a little joy for the holidays, as well as to help them overcome their fear of doctors through this little celebration.

Additional noteworthy updates:

In December, we have fully funded our new Women Empowermnt project in less than 24hrs on GivingTuesday. This project will enable 5 young women to have access to professional development, additional certification and mentoring in order to find employment.

The project will provide holistic approach to helping adolescent orphaned and/or impoverished young women find first career opportunities or have access to small business grants to conquer their own business ideas. The program will provide beneficiaries tailored and close monitored support to find suitable vocational course/trainings, help cover training fees; support in securing industry placements; access to an in-industry mentors and support with CV writing and job applications.

We are proud that our students are not only dedicated to their studies, but are also making a difference through their volunteer work.

“Students for Humanity” project is still going strong.  Bosana students are all setting aside a part of their monthly scholarship funds for their own humanitarian projects.  Bosana’s former students are also part of this project.  The project is funded with their personal donations which Bosana also matches each month. Students vote each month on what projects they want to support based on the funds available.

In December, one of Bosana students from Tuzla suggested that part of the funds be used for the purchase of pajamas for children residing in orphanages.

Bosana students decided to support this initiative with their „Bosana Students for Humanity“ project. Salih worked with his friends and a few other companies to make sure children in the orphanage all get new pajamas, holiday gifts – sweets, and a cake to celebrate together.

Scholarship and Personal Development Program

Quarterly Report

July - September 2020

Over the last few months, it has been inspiring to see the Bosana community respond to challenges with astounding compassion. Your investment in our shared vision of a better future continues to transform our students’ lives. On behalf of our students and staff, thank you!

Historically, this quarter is the busiest time of the year for our staff. It is the end of the academic year and time to select new students for our Scholarship and Professional Development Program. It is also the time for graduations and graduate school enrollment.  Please read more about all our graduates, new students, and remarkable voluntary work our students have been doing during this past quarter.

Students and Program Update:

This has been an incredible quarter for Bosana students. We are richer for having 3 new Doctor of Medicine. Ivana, Saima and Stipan passed all their requirements and officially became doctors. All three of them also passed their state exams in this same quarter.  Our doctors, however, are not the only new Bosana graduates.  Additional students who received their bachelor’s degrees during the past few months are: Senita, Ahmedina, Benjamin, Salih, Suncica and Zenajda. Josip and Sanela received their master’s degree.

In September, we also welcomed 13 new students into our Scholarship Program and additional 5 students into our Professional Development Program.

With record number of scholarship applications received this year – 219! - selection process was not an easy task. We were impressed with so many wonderful, talented and driven applicants who want to secure a better future for themselves. In the end, however, scholarship committee narrowed down their choices to a final list of new Bosana scholarship applicants.

Highlights of the quarter:

We are excited to report all these inspiring news about our students:

• Each year, we recognize Bosana's Best Student of the Year with a monetary award according to his/her grades, involvement with the Foundation, and their volunteer hours. Once again, our staff had the difficult task of choosing only one student. All Bosana students are amazing individuals who are dedicated to their studies as well as their voluntary work. After much consideration, what put Salih ahead of his peers was his significant academic and professional improvement over the past two years that we simply had to recognize and reward. Salih was born in Kladanj and he studied in the field of Food Technology at the University in Tuzla. At his university, he is also recognized as one of the best students among his peers and he graduated in September finishing his last year with a 4.0 GPA. Salih will start his master's program in November this year. Aside from his academic achievements, Salih always finds time for extracurricular activities and his hobbies, like basketball. He also volunteers at the Red Cross Kladanj and at his basketball club "Kladanj 72" as an assistant coach.

• Aleksandra from Doboj, who is studying Mathematics at the University in Banja Luka, participated in a project "Move". The project is implemented within the project "Creating a more favorable environment for civil society - EMBRACE" funded by the Norwegian Government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

• Ivana has been part of the BOSANA Foundation family since 2016. She was born and raised in Capljina. Ivana received her medical degree from University of Mostar, passed her state exam and started working as a doctor at a hospital in Capljina, all during this quarter.

• Saima received her medical degree from University of Tuzla and passed her state exam in August. During the pandemic she dedicated her time to volunteering and helping her community. She is now actively looking for employment.

• Stipan received his medical degree from the University of Mostar and passed his state exam. He was volunteering during the pandemic as well.  Currently, he is looking for a job and is waiting to hear some positive news.  

• Ahmedina graduated from the University of Tuzla and she will continue her education in the field of social work. In November, she will start her master’s program.

• Senita, from Kladanj, she received her bachelor’s in Economics from University of Tuzla and she was also one of the students with the perfect GPA.  Senita will start her master’s program in November.

• This year, during Bosana’s Annual Benefit we presented Benjamin’s book called "Heroes without Capes". We are so proud of Benjamin because he graduated college in June and started his first job in September at the elementary school "Safet-beg Bašagic" in Sarajevo as an educator-rehabilitator. Benjamin has always worked closely with children with disabilities as a volunteer in many organizations. It's no surprise that as soon as Benjamin graduated, one of the schools called him to come and work for them.

• Our student Suncica, took part in the Fridensgrund BiH, a summer peace camp as a peer educator within the Let's Walk Together Alone project. About thirty young people from Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Mostar, Orašje, Odzak, Gornja Dubica, Tuzla, Domaljevac, Vareš, Vitez, and Zenica participated and spent seven days socializing, learning about the customs and traditions of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Suncica is one of the most active Bosana students when it comes to her participation in various projects and we are really proud to help her further develop her interests and skills.

• Suncica received her bachelor’s from the University of Political Sciences in Sarajevo and plans to enroll in Peace and Security Studies Master's program.

• In August, our student Pelka, participated in “Peace Caravan 2020”. She shares with us her impressions: “The Peace Caravan was realized in five cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo, Tuzla, Bijeljina, Brcko, and Doboj). I met 20 young and ambitious individuals who are ready to make a change in their local community. I wrote a project with my colleague Abdija Beganovic called "Inclusive Dialogue". 3 out of 17 best projects were selected and our project was among the first 3 projects, which will be financed by the U.S Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina" Peace Caravan is really a wonderful project and I recommend it to every young person who wants to make a positive change."

• Adi, our medical student at the University in Mostar, was hired to help at the United World College in the isolation ward during the month of August. Adi's task was to be the supervisor in residence and to monitor patients’ vital signs. He also took additional care of the patients by providing them with meals and making sure that the patients did not leave their rooms. Bravo Adi, Bosana is so proud of you and your volunteer activities.

We are proud that our students are not only dedicated to their studies, but are also making a difference through their volunteer work.

“Students for Humanity” project is still thriving.  Bosana students are all setting aside a part of their monthly scholarship funds for their own humanitarian projects.  Bosana’s former students are also part of this project.  The project is funded with their personal donations which Bosana also matches each month. Students vote each month on what projects they want to support based on the funds available.

In September, our students decided to support not one, but four initiatives with their „Bosana Students for Humanity“ project.

One initiative went towards purchasing books and accessories for 18 school children living in foster families. Books were distributed to these children through their social workers.

The second project our students completed this month was to help a family of eight (8) from Tuzla by purchasing food, basic necessities, paying for children's school supplies, and paying off their electrical bill.

The third initiative was to help raise funds for an operation of a rare tumor for one young father. An official fundraiser was organized and one of Bosana students suggested donating a portion of their funds to this fundraiser.

Lastly, students donated to a student from Zenica who needed help paying for his dorm room fees.