The story of the "Older Brother, Older Sister" project began in Banja Luka 20 years ago and has spread to a larger number of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program is implemented in partnership with the Foundation for Support and Development of Mentorships "Older Brother, Older Sister" from Sarajevo.
Mentoring program "Older Brother, Older Sister"
The "Older Brother, Older Sister" project is a mentoring program through which we bring together volunteers (older brother / older sister) and children (younger brother / younger sister) with the aim of guiding children towards healthy development, future and friendship. The "Older Brother, Older Sister" program belongs to preventive programs whose purpose is to prevent social marginalization and children engaging in risky behaviors.
Through the program, children of primary school age individually socialize with volunteers who become their models for adopting socially acceptable behavior and value systems. During these gatherings, children with volunteers visit the cinema, museum, cultural-historical and religious monuments, go for walks, have cakes, go bowling, swimming pool, ride bicycles. Each month, couples receive pocket money to spend on social gatherings. Through the use of pocket money, children are taught the culture of spending money. Children and volunteers most look forward to joint activities, where they make and strengthen friendships through fun and learning.
Through individual gatherings, children receive support from volunteers that they cannot get from their family and environment. A volunteer is a person the child can rely on, a trustworthy person and a role model for the child.
The project is intended for children whose growth and development are hampered by family circumstances, from socially vulnerable families and children who are victims of violence.
Volunteers involved in the project undergo training on how to be an older brother/sister, as well as the Child Safety Policy. On a daily basis, volunteers are supported in their work with children through individual and advisory meetings.
Since 2021, the "Older Brother, Older Sister" project has been actively implemented with children from the Day Care Center. In the period from 2021 to 2024, 27 children and 39 volunteers went through the project. We currently have 20 couples on the project. The number of couples in the project increases every year, and due to the great interest of children, we have a waiting list.
During the implementation of the project, some of the children went to the cinema for the first time, visited the shopping center and had the opportunity to use the escalators and wanted to use them more than once, had the opportunity to visit the bowling alley and the swimming pool, had the opportunity to go for a walk and tour the city , visited the opera, achieved great success, did not take the remedial exam at the end of the school year, had the opportunity to choose a piece of clothing in a clothing store that they can buy, tried dumplings, have a friend, and feel accepted for the first time.
One parent and volunteer's review of the project
My child was positively affected by socializing and talking with the volunteer. He fell in love with the volunteer. The volunteer had interesting ideas for getting together, they went to places my son wanted to visit, and I was unable to take him because of work. They went to the Delta shopping center, the cinema, the game room. For my son, the conversations were the most helpful. I am satisfied with the volunteer, I trust her. It means a lot to me when I'm at work and my son spends quality time with the volunteer. My son is happy because he will be hanging out with a volunteer in the next project cycle as well.
Mother of one boy
Our joint activities were really varied and interesting, even for us volunteers. By making New Year's jewelry, making decoupage, we encouraged creativity, competed, learned new healthy recipes, planted flowers and all this in a pleasant and laughter-filled atmosphere. Through these activities, together with the children, we grew and learned, visited new places, and tried things we had never done before. And that's why I have many beautiful and fond memories linked to joint activities.
Volunteer
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