Article
EDVACAY Fellows Aida Topić, Patrick Dominic Wright, Mia Selena Lerch, Ida Savić, and Sanja Vuković developed the project “One Heart – Two Homes” aimed to provide children without parental care with support, new knowledge, and experiences through creative and educational activities. It was launched out of the need to give these children more opportunities for learning, socializing, and feeling a sense of belonging, while also reminding the broader community of the importance of solidarity and caring for the most vulnerable groups in our society.
As part of the project, several visits to the Home for Children without Parental Care “Bjelave” (“Dom za djecu bez roditeljskog staranja”) in Sarajevo and the Children’s home „Mostar“ (Dječiji dom “Mostar) in Mostar were organized.
In Sarajevo, with the support of the organization “Znak za riječ” (Sign for Word), the children learned the basics of sign language and the importance of inclusion and communication with people with hearing impairments. In the second Creative Workshop, facilitated by one of the Fellows and team members Ida Savić, the children expressed their dreams and future plans through drawings, while on Mount Igman, during the third workshop held in cooperation with the Mountain Rescue Service of Sarajevo Canton, they learned the basics of safety in nature and rescue techniques. They also enjoyed fun activities such as ziplining and karaoke.
In Mostar, in cooperation with the Red Cross of the City of Mostar, children learned how to act in case of an accident, how to call for help, and how to provide first aid to those injured. During the Creative Workshop, together with project members, the children explored the beauty of imagination and expressed their ideas, dreams, and emotions through drawings and clay figurines. Finally, they watched a short animated film titled “The Golden Apple”, made possible in cooperation with the “Bajka (Fairytale) Association” and “Green Pixel Studio”, which opened space for discussion about social values.
During their visit to the Children’s Home “Mostar”, the fellows learned about a systemic issue in which homes for children without parental care in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton are classified in the same category as cultural institutions. This categorization creates significant problems in Cantonal budget allocation, as financial resources originally intended for the Home are often redirected to theatres and cultural events. Recognizing the importance of this issue and realizing during the activity with the Red Cross, which required each of the children to have a stuffed toy with them, that the children in this Mostar Home owned little to no toys, the fellows decided to contribute in a practical way by collecting donations of stuffed toys and delivering them to the Home. They also observed that the Children’s Home “Mostar” relies heavily on the goodwill of donors, which they identified as a serious systemic problem that needs greater public awareness. The fellows believe that the project “One Heart – Two Homes” could be further developed into an advocacy initiative aimed at promoting better conditions and support for children’s homes across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In both homes, the fellows noticed how even small gestures mean a great deal to the children. The children asked when the fellows would return and what activities they would do together next time. They expressed great satisfaction with all workshops – especially the excursion to Mount Igman with the children from the Home for Children without Parental Care “Bjelave” Sarajevo, and the Red Cross workshop held in Mostar.
