Author: Sladjan Tomic
The local community of Dubravica in Zavidovici is a true example of what local community councils should do – serve the local community. Dozens of children who spend their free time in the premises of the Municipal Health Center Dubravice testify that it is not just telling stories, but concrete things. Until a few years ago, those rooms were empty. Today there is almost no part of the day when these rooms are not full.
These rooms were locked for years, and now the keys are available to everyone and everyone can come when they want, provided they behave responsibly with the property that is not too valuable, but it is precious.
The premises became available to children when Mirsad Jasarevic was elected president of the Dubravice Municipal Council.
“Before, older people were in charge, they said they acted responsibly if they painted the space. They did not allow children to use the premises, they said they would break the window. It does not matter, even if they break, I’ll pay,” Jasarevic tells us about how he created a new meeting place for his youngest residents.
After the children began to gather, Hasib Imsirovic, a resident of Dubravica, decided just before the pandemic to provide the children with more content. Given that they had a table tennis table on the premises, the decision was not difficult. They started organizing a tournament.
March 1, Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina, seemed like an ideal date.
“The children were delighted and the diaspora began to show up to support it financially. We gathered many boys and girls, 50 of them to be exact, from 1st to 9th grade,” explains Imsirovic.
He published all these activities on social networks, which animated the diaspora from which he collected enough funds to provide prizes for the participants and winners of the tournament.
His idea was recognized by other members of the local community, so this small, local event spread to professional athletes.
“Our Krivaja handball club saw my posts. They were delighted that the children were gathering and one day they came and bought HC Krivaja t-shirts from their Fun shop, which they distributed to all participants of the tournament. After that, they invited all boys and girls to go to the handball match, we had free tickets”, explains our interviewee.
The second tournament was prevented by the pandemic, but that left Hasib plenty of time to introduce additional content. This year, in addition to prizes, he also provided packages and lunch for all participants.
In the meantime, they decorated the hall and repainted the walls.
“I announced the tournament again on social networks, and I decided that along with the tournament, we should also create a program to mark March 1st so that it is not just a tournament, but a complete event. We held a history lesson at the monument, a tournament as part of which we awarded certificates of appreciation and recognition to the people who helped us from the Municipality, and we also had recitations,” adds Imsirovic.
However, the tournament was different this year because the referees took care of the rules of the game.
The diaspora recognized the efforts and commitment of Imsirovic, to whom they now offer their support. They are glad to see that small communities have events that bring the youngest together.
Except during the tournament, this area is full of children on other days of the year as well.
Jasarevic says that the space is now free for everyone, and in order for the children to live in accordance with the digital age, he decided to introduce them to the Internet, which is sometimes paid for by him, sometimes by Imsirovic. Children often, he explains, also come to print out some material they need for play or school.
“They don’t have to ask anyone to come, whereas before you had to call and announce yourself, along with questions – who are your parents, go get grandma to watch you while you are here,” explains Jasarevic.
With donations, they managed to provide a projector, thanks to which they make an improvised cinema.
“Sometimes in the evening we play a cartoon for children. They never went to the cinema. None of those children know what cinema is. Maybe they watch a cartoon at school once or twice. And now we get some cartoons and play it,” he adds.
Imsirovic hopes that the organization of the tournament will become a tradition. As a sign of gratitude to the diaspora, he is planning to organize a diaspora day next year.
He uses every opportunity to create new content and propose new ideas. During his trip to Turkey he met the director of the Cultural Center to whom he proposed cooperation.
“We have opened up the possibility of holding classes of, for example, Latin American dances, but also other events that would be organized with them,” says Imsirovic.
His idea is to turn this home, which has been turned into a youth home, into a kind of cultural and sports center, which would be an example for other local communities to unlock empty and unused premises of local communities and make them suitable for their residents.
For two years now, they have been organizing the distribution of presents for Bajram, and this year as many as 150 presents were distributed. Although they are a predominantly Bosniak community, they are proud to have provided presents for around 20 children of Croat nationality. In their local community there is no division.
“Every child in Dubravica is the same. A child must not be separated from other children,” Jasarevic is categorical, suggesting that one room should be equipped for a small clinic so that elderly residents do not have to travel kilometres to see a doctor. Especially those who live alone and do not have transportation.
Imsirovic is proud that they have already started organizing content for adults. Recently, a presentation was held for local women on the prevention of cervical cancer.
There are many plans and ideas, and most of them are being implemented. Now they have to find a way to restore furniture, wardrobes and chairs, as well as new table tennis tables.
Dubravica is proof that it is possible to enrich and improve life in local communities with just a little will, which Imsirovic and Jasarevic do not lack. Their interests led them to the result, the noblest ones – the best interest of the child.
