Picture: Disability vector created by pch.vector – www.freepik.com
Imran Maglajlić, snagalokalnog.ba
There are numerous social stigmas carried by people with disabilities, as well as obstacles that they must overcome in order to be able to integrate into established lifestyles. We often forget that one of the basic rights of people with disabilities is neglected, and that is the right to work, i.e., to participate in the economic life of society. We are bringing a positive story from Kakanj, which could be an encouragement to people with disabilities, but also to the competent institutions. The Muharem Berbić Foundation and the team that, among other things, implements their project activities are responsible for this story.
The Muharem Berbić Foundation was founded in 2015 by the Bosnian diaspora, with the aim of creating a brighter future for socially vulnerable members of our society. Numerous activities and projects have been realized. From 2019, the new team started implementing project activities. They came up with the idea of starting social entrepreneurship by working with people with disabilities, because they realized that their future in one phase of life becomes uncertain, says Nerdžis Čaplja, project manager of the Foundation.
“When I say uncertain, I mean that their parents can take care of them, perhaps for the rest of their lives, but what after that, who will take care of them and in what way? Social entrepreneurship can be a solution for people with disabilities, but also for all other vulnerable categories of society. It ensures basic human rights, and that is the right to life, integrity and earnings. Regardless of their disability, these people have the skills to earn and become socio-economically independent.”
The Muharem Berbić Foundation plans to employ 14 people, 8 of whom are disabled and 6 are their assistants. Persons with disabilities could primarily earn their living in service industries, but also in wood processing and sewing workshops. The Foundation’s team is currently researching the sphere of cultural tourism in which they are looking for jobs for these people.
In order to change the social paradigm, it is necessary to change people’s consciousness on a daily basis. Institutions need to show interest first, and public opinion is reached through various channels.
“I think that the most important thing is to raise awareness among institutions about the importance of social entrepreneurship. This is what we are trying to work on with other organizations. We need to raise awareness through advocacy for such practices and concrete examples. In this way, we can show the value of establishing social enterprises. Round tables and interviews like this one are also important.”
Prejudice is a phenomenon that hinders the progress of Bosnian society in many segments. The same is true when it comes to perceiving people with disabilities. Not so long ago, language also discriminated against and labeled these people through inadequate medical terms. Things have improved in the field of language, but a lot of work remains to be done to reach a satisfactory level.
“People with disabilities used to be named as people with mental retardation or the term idiocy was used. This indicated that a person with disability was a person who was not able to function normally in society, and that he_she should primarily be on the margins. Now the situation is better. The European Union legally regulated this part, not to call people with disabilities names that are derogatory, it has begun to promote intersectionality, anti-discrimination and social inclusion, as something that can include them in society.”
Our interviewee says that the focus of the Foundation is on creating a legitimacy framework for social enterprises that will solve their issue. That would help establish them, one could think about state fees and tax exemptions. There is already a certain regulatory framework that requires companies to employ people with disabilities. However, there is no reward for companies.
“There are other activities in the” Muharem Berbić” Foundation that include people with disabilities. It is a project “Older brother, older sister” that we innovated, in a way that we put people with disabilities in the roles of younger brother or sister. We put students of educational and rehabilitation studies, as well as pedagogy and psychology in the roles of older brother or sister. This project aims to include people with disabilities.”
The cooperation of the Foundation with the local community is very good. They have the support of the mayor, local media, but also companies, both public and private. This is just a small step that will solve the big problems that people with disabilities face. The “Muharem Berbić” Foundation is guided by the slogan “Whoever does even the smallest act of good, the good deed will be seen”.
