Filip Simunovic from the Rama Rowing Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina stayed because of his love for rowing
When in the area where there are still two schools under one roof and a huge tourism potential in nature like on the world destination covers that is systematically stagnating, a young person decides to stay and change things, then this person really deserves a deep respect. Filip Simunovic, even though he is the father of two children and has had countless good opportunities to leave the country and start a life somewhere where life is not so difficult, decided to stay in his native Rama, where through his great love for rowing he reconciles people, pushes boundaries, opens horizons and dreams of a better state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Rama Rowing Center, which has around a hundred members, more than half of whom are children, has been in existence since 2013. Since 2015, it has been led by Simunovic: “I stayed in Bosnia and Herzegovina because of rowing and my family. In the past years, there have been talents whom, after notable performances at international competitions, we have enabled to transfer to larger clubs with the aim of their development, as well as the popularization of rowing in Rama and Bosnia and Herzegovina, because we lack a functional association, league… This is the only way they could continue to be engaged in rowing, while achieving significant results at the same time. And I stayed to change this. On two occasions, we represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Balkan championships in 2019 in Belgrade and in 2021 in North Macedonia. Therefore, there are results, but they are still in the shadow of numerous problems, which can only be resolved by uniting forces.”
Rooted divisions among the population of Rama are one of the obstacles to serious development, explains our interviewee, and points out that this is a big challenge for the development of rowing as a sport on Rama Lake when it comes to children. Conflicts are part of the distant past, the locals respect each other, but belonging to certain religious groups is still tangible.
While we deal with the problems of the past, time irreversibly passes
“We don’t have Bosniak children in the club, because the club is run by Filip. It has nothing to do with me personally, but such divisions are present. It is unfortunate that after so many years since the war I have to make superhuman efforts to explain that I want to work with children. Not with Bosniaks or Croats, with children. It is sometimes very exhausting, because while we are dealing with it, generations are growing up who could have been top athletes of our country. However, I think and, in my work, I am guided by the fact that all sports clubs should be promoters of peace in our country and direct children to the path of understanding and acceptance of others, as well as themselves. That is our wealth. This is our strength,” says Simunovic.
Unfortunately, this is not the only problem faced by the people of Rama who want to move forward. Although the beauty of Rama Lake is unreal, in the hottest summer months its water becomes inaccessible, surrounded by huge amounts of mud. In order for the story of the development of tourism in this region to take on a more serious tone, the people of Rama agree that a summer quota of the lake is needed, so that it does not recede. Currently, rowers carry boats 150 meters over the mud and believe that, if we want to work on the development of sports tourism and tourism in general, it is necessary to determine the minimum lower limit to maintain the water. They further point out that there is a lack of quality accommodation capacity around the lake and they are sure that clubs from different countries would come to Rama Lake for preparations.
Love for the homeland is learned from a young age
And while his heart is always filled with great initiatives for the good of his community, aware that he is only one of many actors, when it comes to rowing, Simunovic is the heart of Rama. He takes his job seriously and enjoys it so much that he often finds new tasks for himself: “At our center we have training sessions every weekday, but here we do much more than rowing. This is a lifestyle for all our members, because through our work we develop children’s love for their homeland and for nature. We organize a skiing school, swimming school, hiking, cycling… We simply give children the opportunity to socialize in a safe environment and with the right values.”
Although children can start rowing from the age of ten, Simunovic points out that it is crucial for parents to trust the coaches and allow them to do their work responsibly. He explains that you do not have to be a good swimmer, although you will be taught that very soon after you join the club, but that the most important thing is not to be afraid of the water. Compared to the beginnings, when they started working on the popularization of rowing in Rama with a few used wooden boats, which they received from the local authorities who still support the work of this Center, the club attracted the attention of international donors with its efforts, so now the equipment looks quite decently. However, in order for Simunovic and Rama residents gathered around this rowing club to continue making changes, they realized that it is necessary to constantly develop the association, acquire new knowledge and strengthen capacities. So, with the same zeal as in rowing, they took advantage of the opportunity they received through the Local Works Program. On the one hand, the process of capacity building led by the Institute for Youth Development KULT and networking with actors at the state level, which they use wisely during the meetings of the Network for Building Peace, encouraged this association to look at things in the long term and create strategic documents so that they are ready to start new wins.
There is a lot of work to be done to secure better future
“I believe that in this way we will create the conditions for the establishment of more rowing clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the foreseeable future. Nature has given us all the conditions that one day this sport will come to life in our country and that young rowers will proudly represent their country in the world. Cooperation with people who share the same values is very important for us, because we as an association and as a community can achieve progress with the support of those who fully understand us. The road ahead may be long, but I see the Rama Rowing Center as the initiator of sports in general and sports tourism in Rama and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We want to provide young people, who we hope will not leave in large numbers and will have decent living conditions in their own country. Additionally, we want to provide quality opportunities for informal education through various educational and sports activities and visits to other communities,” says Simunovic.
Going back to the story bound by the problems of the past, from the beginning of our conversation, Simunovic emphasizes that the interest of children in the Rama Rowing Club is growing. He says that he would like colleagues, sports coaches, to stand side by side and encourage both children and their parents to play the sport they like, and not the one led by a coach of this or that nationality. As changes in this domain happen very slowly, Simunovic is happy because at the recently held conference of Local Works Program, the joint story of the Rama Rowing Center and the Red Cross Travnik was born. Through joint initiatives, exchange of experiences, trips and socializing, Simunovic is convinced that children from the Rama region will become more open and braver to shape their lives according to what they really want. Only then will young athletes be able to dedicate themselves to rowing with their heart and soul, because children love challenges. They like socializing. And, above all, they sincerely love life and their homeland.
