The first autumn story about youth workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina is about an eternal traveler who, as she says, has a hard time answering the question of where she is from, because she was not born in her hometown, but points out that she loves and breathes Sarajevo where she lives and she tries to make it more beautiful every day. Amina Šljivo Bećić graduated marketing management at the International Burch University, and continued her master’s degree in the field of Islamic banking.
Although, as she says, she is still connected to the areas in which she completed her formal education, life took her through youth work. Amina began her activist path during high school through her involvement in the NGO sector working on a variety of topics and initiatives.
“The idea of becoming a youth worker is not exactly the idea with which you enroll in college, because formal education in Bosnia and Herzegovina does not recognize that segment. It’s not even an idea to graduate college with. During high school, through engagement in the NGO sector, we mostly pointed out the violation of rights and marginalization of various groups using art and I saw that dedicated work with young people, listening to the needs of us young people, communicating our language and providing opportunities, and the support you have can fully enrich lives and provide the fuel needed for launch. I continued being active during my studies and realized that I wanted to turn my empathy and listening skills into a useful activity that would have a purpose. I first worked with the young people intuitively, the way I knew best, noticing that they needed knowledge, and then passed on the knowledge to them; noting that they need to be more connected, especially with relevant people; recognized that they needed a mentor or advisor, so found modalities that worked, all through the Nahla Research and Education Center. I have seen that a sincere “How are you” or a self-initiated message via viber or a forwarded link that helps to shape and realize ideas can truly contribute to liberation from fears, discovering one’s own strengths and initiating change. As much as the phrase “initiating change” may sound as just a phrase, this is what youth workers witness on a daily basis – a continuous metamorphosis of personality that inevitably results in the transformation of the environment and the induction of a reversible domino effect that does not destroy but builds.”
During 2018, Amina attended and successfully completed the Training for Professional Youth Work Associates organized and implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT. The training, she says, arranged all the necessary information, tools and stakeholders in her head in a systematic way.
“This training was organized exactly 5 years after my first training at KULT and I can say that I have exceptional experiences with both trainings. Once again convinced of the competence and accessibility of the people who taught us, organized it all, I had the opportunity to learn in a way that nothing is left to chance, but that everyone is responsible for their own learning outcomes. From the starting point, the motivation – why I do this, the way – how to act in different situations and the correct dosage in that work, to the professionalization of this vocation. It was only then that I realized that this is a professional vocation that requires constant updating and that it is much more than gathering young people for some initiative. Working with young people has a head and a tail, a starting point and a goal, in order to have its function, and that is to provide young people with the opportunity and space to shape their lives today for optimistic tomorrow so that they enjoy opportunities unhindered. However, we should not leave this fight only to the young people and the young people themselves, but to successfully recognize all the important actors in these intentions.”
In addition to quality lecturers and methodology, she says, she learned the most from the questions of her colleagues, from incidental comments, non-obligatory stories during breaks and later monitoring of their work. It is, Amina continues, something that motivates her from day to day.
“I think the composition of the group was great. A group of so many different individuals, which is fully accepted and respected and perfectly complements. I learned so much from each participant that I once wondered if these people really are “just” so old that they are still young, because of their wisdom and experience. I also realized how much these people as youth workers carry on their shoulders. We need to take care of these people, their mental health and general well-being. They are hardworking, exceptional and support to young people in their local communities and we must not allow them to falter. In a strange way, I convinced myself of my strengths, and the training restored my self-confidence in many fields and proved that I am on the right track when it comes to working with young people.”
Through different initiatives, gathering young people, volunteering and conducting workshops, Amina was actively involved in the work of the Nahla Research and Education Center, and based on her efforts, she was given the opportunity for employment.
“Based on my commitment, the management of Nahla offered me employment in order to develop even better, continuously, systematically, programs for young people that will include their personal development, professional development, and mentoring in the implementation of initiatives and providing a platform for action. We have developed a detailed program of the Tignum Youth Club, Teen Club and Education for Young Activists in the Field of Human Rights through the FIRST Initiative, and every year we implement various initiatives.”
Today, Amina is the head of Nahla’s business community and works with young women to develop their entrepreneurial ideas, provide career counseling services, and actively work on developing freelancing as one of the ways young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina can earn.
“In the whole process, I found great support from the director and colleagues from Nahla. Their experience and my, sometimes enthusiastic, ideas were often a winning combination when it comes to working with young people. I am glad that today we have built trust and recognition when it comes to the development and support of young girls and that we are the address to which they return whenever they have some dilemmas, want counseling, additional education or upgrading in any sense. Today, I am most focused on the development and engagement of young people when it comes to their entrepreneurial and professional skills. Also, I cannot separate myself from the topics of human rights, because I believe that the starting point is to ensure the freedom of expression of multiple identities of a person without prejudice in all segments of society.”
She wants to be optimistic about the youth sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina because, as she says, she sees a lot of work and some progress.
“I see a lot of work and I see progress, but also a lack of commitment and institutional support. If we spend hours and hours on project applications on extremely important topics, for institutions to give us symbolic amounts that can hardly cover very modest fees, or if we are forced to give up fees for a higher purpose, then something is fundamentally wrong. We cannot equate the youth sector with volunteering. And it seems to me that everyone expects it. But persistent individuals are really making a difference, and I thank them for that.”
In the future, this young and inspiring woman is still seen at the service of young men and women of all generations.
“I am hurt by that misunderstanding, strong condemnation and attributing the results of bad decisions of previous generations to the youth of today. So, I will continue to discover new modalities so that young people and women encounter barriers and discouragement as little as possible. I want to support every young person who wants to learn, solve problems, stand up loudly for injustice and make this world a better place.”
says Amina Šljivo Bećić, who proves by her example that the youth sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina has strong, hard-working, professional and dedicated youth workers who work continuously, systematically and tirelessly to improve the position of young people.
