College education for 10 talented students in BiH

BOSANA FOUNDATION

Scholarship and Personal Development Program

Quarterly Report

October- December 2018

Executive Summary:

In this quarter, Bosana students were mainly occupied with new courses and the new academic year. New students were adjusting to their new obligations, attending classes and volunteering, which is part of their BOSANA scholarship obligation.

30 BOSANA students that are part of the US Embassy supported project have also started the final stage of their project “Pairing Youth – Empowering Coexistence” which we are realizing together with Youth for Peace as our implementing partners.

In regards to fundraising, this quarter, with our donors and supporters we have raised $9,839 during the Giving Tuesday campaign. This one day of fundrasing secured three fulll scholarships for BOSANA students.

Students and Program Update:

October is the beginning of a new academic year and new opportunities. New students had a challenging month ahead fo them, learning the rules at the university, new courses and new colleagues. This is also the first month of their volunteer engagement. It is important for them to find organizations that will have enough hours and tasks for them every month. The goal of these volunteer hours is to help our students grow professionaly and give them skills that would better prepare them for the future. BOSANA students were successful in finding organizations where they could volunteer, some even decided to continue to volunteer at organizations where they volunteered during their high school years.

As mentioned earlier, this part of the year is also reserved for the third phase of the project “Pairing Youth – Empowering Coexistence”. Implementing partners of this project are Youth for Peace BiH. US Embassy in BiH is the financial supporter of this project.

The objective of the project, which will last for 10 months, is for thirty (30) BOSANA students from different ethnic backgrounds and different parts of BiH to be trained to understand and deal better with current complex conditions of the BiH society to create, promote and live their own narrative of coexistence as young citizens of this country, while also having the opportunity to multiply the newly gained awareness by sharing it and their experience with 600 high-school students across BIH in the cities and communities where BOSANA students live or study.

Our students have started sharing their experiences with highschool students in their own communities. This phase of the project is ongoing, due to different availabilities of educators and students. In order to fully complete the implementation, students need to receive official approval from schools and municipalities. In the next few months we will have more reports from different cities and towns.

Highlights of the quarter:

Last quarter of the year has been busy for our graduating and new students. Sixteen new students started their academic year and have already taken their midterms.

In the last quarterly newsletter we reported a number of students that graduated during the summer months, but we were also waiting on another group of students working on their diploma papers/final projects and diploma paper defense.

We are happy to report that:

• Milena has earned Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Banjaluka in November.

• Admir earned Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University in Tuzla.

• Amar completed his training and became certified youth worker in Slovenia, where he is currently completing his study abroad program.

• Armin started practicing medicine in a hospital in small town near Tuzla shortly after completing internship at the university.  

• Adi received recognition for being the best student with highest GPA at University in Mostar.

• Anela and Amila received their M.A. degrees. Amila already started working while Anela is exploring possibilities for a PhD program in Germany.

• Tesnima who will receive her M.A. diploma next quarter has already started working as a substitute teacher in high school in city of Tesanj.

Bosana students are still setting aside part of their monthly scholarship for their own humanitarian projects.

Last quarter they helped secure funds for supplies that will be used to clean up and renovate space for youth organization in Sanski Most. Youth of Sanski Most should soon start using this new space that will belong to them.

Our student Ahmedina found out, though her volunteer work; about a family that has three young children and very low income. The boy that was in elementary school did not have any school supplies, shoes or proper winter clothing. Students decided to give 400KM for this project. Our students bought boots for the boy and a little girl, so they have warm shoes for the winter. They have also bought food, cleaning supplies and other household products. Family was very grateful to receive this help and our students were happy to help this family.

Additionally, students donated part of their funds to one student from Tuzla. This student was living with an ill father who had no income and a retired mother. She started third year of technical college but she had to work at the same time to support her family. Bosana students wanted to help her with tuition and books, at least for the first semester so she can focus more on her studies. One of Bosana graduating students suggested that they should donate part of their funds for this purpose. Everyone agreed, since they knew how hard it is to pay for tuition and books if parents are not employed. Azra received 500KM from Bosana students to pay her tuition, books and other school expenses.