In Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with our partner organization CEM, we run the project “Big brother, Big sister”. In the project, children who have grown up in vulnerability receive a mentor who becomes a secure adult. One of the many mentors is 39-year-old Mirela Pjanic who lives in Travnik. She herself has a seven-year-old son and is a mentor to eleven-year-old Erik*. This is what she says about being a mentor:
– I decided quite spontaneously to become a mentor after talking to my friends who are also mentors. Now, however, mentorship is something very significant and important to me and I almost see Erik as my own son. I check to make sure he is well and am a little overprotective, but that is only because I care so much, says Mirela with a smile.
Mirela continues to talk about how important a program like this is for society:
– I don't think society really understands how much this type of program means to the children. Many children have difficult backgrounds but have now started to see hope. It's incredibly nice to be able to be involved and contribute.
Do you also want to join in and make a difference? Give a gift that allows more children to get a mentor.
*Erik's name is actually something else.
