If this life were a theater scene and if the role of good had to be assigned to someone, it would certainly be Blanka and Šejla. These two inspiring women with an address in Livno are true ambassadors of good, activism and philanthropy.
Blanka is a nun from the order of the Sisters of Mercy, Šejla mualima, and in short, they are women who reminded the public of the beauty of doing good in community. Seven years ago, Blanka arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina from Croatia, and Šejla came to Livno from the other part of it.
In a society like ours, where differences are very often the reason for disagreements, disputes and conflicts, their example shows how differences can actually be the catalyst for good things. Very little is needed to make our community, environment, environment a much better place to live, said our interlocutors. To do good, to make changes, you don’t need any special preparation or strength, it’s enough just to turn around and play your role in life in the best possible way. God, as the creator of life as a stage, has given us infinite freedom to add and subtract what we want from our roles.
Humanity and mercy are words that must accompany these two wonderful women.
Someone would say that what Blanka and Šejla do should be a completely everyday situation, and indeed their work is a return to primordial values and nature, but we also have to remind ourselves that every day we witness some different experiences where the standards are completely opposite.
The whole story started like this.
The first meeting was initiated by sister Blanka. She visited the Majlis of the Livno Islamic community and got in touch with Šejla. It was the beginning of a story that still tells its most beautiful continuations today.
Acquiring a washing machine for a single mother was the first goal, which was achieved in less than fifteen days. During delivery, they took one amateur photo, completely unprepared in a small room without enough light. They had no idea that this particular photo would become viral, a symbol of unity and that it would inspire many. After the action was completed, they saw that together they could do many more things useful for the local community.
After the first action, the Women’s Association MIZ Livno and the members of Marijanska Vinkovska Mladeži, then the newly founded association PUŽ and other humanitarian organizations officially started their joint activity or mission. The goal of the association was to help and support the most needy in Livno.
This was followed by cooperation with the organization Pomozi.ba, which assigned this team the role of coordinator for Canton 10. On that occasion, 500 food packages were distributed.
It is also important to mention joint actions such as the repair of the family house that was affected by fire, thanks to the activities carried out by Blanka and Šejla, the house was completely renovated.
There was also no lack of support for the residents of the local communities of Drvar, Mrkonjić, and Glamoč. Help was most often provided through the purchase of firewood for heating, but also the distribution of medical equipment for people with disabilities.
Good is their philosophy of life
In addition to humanitarian actions, Šejla and Blanka also work on, perhaps, the most important thing, promoting goodness as a lifestyle, goodness as a natural state, and goodness as an everyday thing. They participate in forums, speak, give interviews and call for solidarity through their work, showing its most beautiful side with their own examples.
They actually promote the values on which their faith rests.
“Love in the name of God is the starting value. When a person loves other people, in the name of God, then he has no other interests in his work, that is, all the benefits of this world are arranged by themselves, even though the person did not even ask for them. This is called bereket in Islam. A direct blessing from God that follows our actions, our lives. Religious communities should be carriers of social activism, not observers or passive participants, because citizens look up to them. The citizens will say “why should I volunteer, give myself, when neither the muallima, nor the effendi, nor the friar will”. This is often overlooked by religious ministers, and it is such an important factor. The activism of religious officials is common in the world. We should see him often in our country too. If there is a humanitarian action on the square, religious officials are required to be at those actions, but not to teach prayers and supplications, but to roll up their sleeves. We need that!” says Sheila.
For their work, they received the prestigious award “Večernjak’s seal”, and a year later they were guests of honor at the award ceremony. They received the aforementioned award because they were also nominated by a local humanitarian.
Unfortunately, the city and cantonal authorities are still not enough support in promoting this type of activism.
Šejla and Blanka choose their roles consciously and play them in the noblest way. They are not looking for applause, they want to be motivation, because as they say to believers and believers, home is the whole world.
And when that’s the case, let the whole world be like the home of Šejla and Blanka.
Written by: Nihad Suljić
This story was written thanks to the generous support of the American people through the “Local Works” program of the American Agency for International Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (USAID). The author and “Network for Peace Building” are solely responsible for the content of the story. The views expressed in the story do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
