If a story of one association could start with a hug, it would be the story of the Association “Butterfly” from Bugojno and its members, whom everyone in Bugojno calls “butterflies”, because their energy, openness and love are contagious. Once they were surrounded only by their family. Today, thanks to the Association, they act, paint, sing, participate in all events in the city, make greeting cards, jewelry and perform various miracles, so that after their flight, gold dust remains in their hearts.
Everything is the same today, 18 years after its establishment, but their path was strewn with thorns and series of obstacles. But they did not give up.
The Association for Children and Persons with Special Needs “Leptir” Bugojno was founded on the initiative of 30 parents of children and youth with special needs, the Center for Physical Therapy and citizens from the community. The main goal was to improve the overall quality of life of children and young people with developmental difficulties, and throughout the years progress is visible, especially if you remember the first “shy” conversations with users, and then they amaze you with their excellent performance on stage. It is the result of the persistent work of the Association’s staff, which makes a good combination of the experience of parents who have experienced first-hand all shortcomings of the disorderly and unprepared system for people with developmental disabilities and decided to initiate activities to improve the current situation themselves, as well as experts who want to work and further educate themselves for working with this marginalized group to adequately help them find their proper place in society and volunteers from the community who give their selfless contribution to this humane mission.
The Association is headed by Biserka Bozic, who brought this Association to maturity through selfless engagement, often exceeding her own capabilities. A lot has been achieved, but a lot more is needed, Bisa (Biserka Bozic) said with a smile on her face.
– As a parent and as the president of the Association Leptir Bugojno, it is not easy to put into words all 18 years of persistent work, struggle with obstacles, misunderstanding, carelessness of the community in a few sentences. In a word, it was an impossible mission.
In 2005, we, several enthusiastic parents and employees of the Center for Physical Therapy, set out to take 152 children and young people with special needs, who were registered at the time, behind closed doors and windows.
For 18 years we have worked and will continue to work to make our community more humane, inclusive, accessible and equal for all its citizens. We recognized the needs and problems of families and children, our users, but also recognized their possibilities and abilities in order to respond to them, finding ways to overcome them and provide adequate and possible solutions.
Today, I can proudly say that we managed to change and improve the quality of life in the community in almost all areas of life, not only for our children, but also for other citizens, people with disabilities.
And that refers to education, health care, day care center, employment, empowerment, quality spending of free time, legal and financial protection, culture and sports, etc. We participated in the drafting and adoption of important strategic documents in the field of disability both at the local, cantonal and federal level, at the level of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina – emphasizes Biserka Bozic.
Remembering the beginnings, but also everything that has been done, it is difficult to count everything, but it is necessary to single out what they are particularly proud of.
– I will mention that in 2006 we had the first teaching assistants in our community and canton, educated staff in primary schools as well as access ramps for children in wheelchairs in all primary and secondary schools and in the Cultural and Sports Center Bugojno. In terms of accessibility and community, I think we are in the first place in the Central Bosnian Canton… Accessible rooms for work, education and half-day activities are nicely arranged and open to all our citizens. We are changing the awareness of young people who are our future promoters and advocates in realizing the rights and equal participation of people with disabilities in the community. Through our open work, numerous activities and initiatives, we have gained numerous friends who provide us with support and help in every way and to whom we are grateful. Our greatest success is the smile and happiness on the faces of our children and young people – stresses Bozic.
And indeed, when you feel their smile, no it’s not a typo, their smiles are not only visible but also felt with the heart, you remain enchanted. This will be confirmed by numerous volunteers who had the opportunity to hang out with the Butterflies.
– I have been a volunteer in the Association “Leptir” for about 2 years. I went through various activities, such as the recording of the music video for the song “TI SI MOJ GLAS”, the “Christmas with Progress” event, balloon release for children with autism, “Bugojno spring” and various other activities. Every activity left a special impression on me, and every time I responded to each of their invitations with pleasure and a smile. Association “Leptir” is full of positive stories and I believe that every child, every person is happy there. It is important to provide emotional support to people with difficulties so that they can develop a positive image of themselves and others and so that they can be motivated to work and succeed. – points out Adna Brakmic.
Taida Mestrovic, a student in the second grade of the Bugojno High School, is one of those volunteers who had the opportunity to meet the members of the Association and love them.
– During the first grade, through several creative workshops at the “Butterfly” Association, I felt the desire to hang out with the Butterflies more often. In June last year, I became a volunteer and that’s how our story began. Each of our meetings in various activities made me a fulfilled, happy and satisfied person. Butterflies contribute to the fact that all the “negativity” I had in my mind that day evaporates in a short time. Through volunteering, I gained a certain amount of tolerance and a dose of responsibility that I lacked. I was given the opportunity to learn sign language, which also contributed to inclusion and working together with the Butterflies. In the Association, our work with children with developmental disabilities brings out something hidden in them that characterizes them in a special way and further enhances it. For this reason, the progress of our Association plays a significant role in the development of our social community. – emphasizes Taida Mestrovic.
Among those who are part of “Butterfly’s” special team is Emina Bektic, graduate sociologist-researcher and activities leader.
– My first volunteering of 12 months started at the Association “Leptir”, an organization that works with people with developmental disabilities. Even after 5 years, I am still in the same place today and I proudly claim that it was a period of wonderful and positive experience. I go through happy and sad moments with them. The Association “Leptir” has contributed so much when it comes to people with developmental difficulties, which confirms their long-term existence and above all serious teamwork and advocacy for all its members and their parents. Responsibility, honesty, hard work, dedication, struggle and above all love is what can be recognized in “Leptir” and I have recognized it in these 5 years. Thanks to the Association and its work through various projects that have been successfully implemented, users are involved in various activities such as educational-rehabilitation workshops, psychological workshops, treatments by a speech therapist, sports activities, music therapy, drama activities.
The struggle of our president, the successfully written projects by our dear Mirjana, Baja who drives our children, Senada who cooks and cleans for them and all those who support the work of the Association with their contribution make our little Butterflies happy and fulfilled. I believe that it will remain so in the future as well. I hope that this story will make our society, the community, and the government even more aware of the fact that we can improve the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities even more with joint efforts – emphasizes Emina Bektic.
Mirjana Gvozdenovic makes sure that everything works well and flows as it should. She writes projects, takes care of the administration, secures donors, gathers volunteers, takes care of the Butterflies and much more. At various events in which the Association participates, you will see her, as if with a magic wand, remove current doubts and problems, and in addition, she records all significant moments with her camera. Always in the background, never in the foreground, but she is certainly one of the pillars of the Association.
– Association “Leptir” simply “buys” you at first. You come to volunteer and stay there. You stay because you discovered a place full of love, understanding, support, joy, a place where everyone is accepted and equal, and everyone is so different, where everyone rejoices and grieves together and comes with joy. And no matter how difficult it is to persevere in fulfilling our mission and goals while constantly facing uncertainty, challenges and lack of funds… the smiles of our little Butterflies fill us with positive energy every day, give strength for the next step, activity, project, initiative, struggle for the continuation and survival of the Association … with very few funds and support, we are doing great things, not only for the users of the Association, but also for the entire community so that it becomes a better place for the life of all its citizens – emphasizes Mirjana Gvozdenovic.
The Association currently has 121 users of different types of disabilities and ages. There are numerous problems they face, but although slow, thanks to the Association “Leptir”, progress is visible. The public in Bugojno is sensitized, and the motto “Not next to others, but together” is increasingly applicable in reality.
In order for them to be able to do even more, a lot more is needed in order to realize all their rights as full members of society, whether it is work opportunities, the amount of disability benefits, better communication solutions and accessibility, but also significant financial support. The funds provided to them in the Budget of the Bugojno Municipality cover only 20% of real needs, so the struggle for the survival of the Association and ensuring everything for the needs of users and work is a constant task of the Association’s staff.
The Association pays all bills, renovations and maintenance of the space, terrace and yard that is in public use. The van for specialized user transport, which ensures customized transport of users from home to the Association and back, also represents an exceptional item in costs.
It would be impossible to survive without projects that cover most of the costs, both from foreign organizations and relevant cantonal and federal ministries, public institutions, the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation, incentives from the Employment Office, good people who occasionally make donations.
We must add, it would be impossible without love, and there is more than enough of that in the Association. Butterflies will always defend each other and “cover up” petty mischief, and coming to the Association is one of the most significant events for them.
This is what the user Medina Bakovic talks about every day.
– I couldn’t wait for the message in the group (the Association sends a message/information on schedule at the end of each week). I like when I come to Leptir, I like to come because of the workshops we have, I like when we sing with the teacher Samira. I like hanging out with my friends, driving the van – explains Medina.
And one of those who has been in “Leptir” almost since the first day is Dino Purisevic.
– I like coming to the Association “Leptir”. I have my friends, sports and music. I love when we color and have creative workshops, when we make greeting cards. In Leptir, I act, sing, we perform at “Bugojanska proljeca”, we attend competitions. We have a kitchen, I like to help Senada, we make snacks, clean the tables – says Dino with a smile.
Parents will also confirm it
– The Association “Leptir” plays a very important role in my life. I have been a member of the Association since 2008 and I can say that my life and life of my adult daughter have changed a lot. In addition to all the treatments that are important for children with difficulties, Association “Leptir” provides support to parents who have problems related to their children. Children who stay in the Association, in addition to support, learn how to cope with the life that awaits them outside of “Leptir”. It is very important that every child when he_she comes to “Leptir” leaves behind his_her fears and knows that he_she is who he_she is here, that is, that he_she accepts the people in the association as part of his_her family. Parents and citizens of our city should support our Association as much as possible because “Leptir” is the only support and provides refuge for every child and parent – says Senada Gvozden.
And as this story began with a hug, it must end with a smile. It cannot be otherwise, because you have the need, when you think about each member and staff of the Association for Children and Persons with Special Needs “Leptir” Bugojno, to smile. Because they are special, and just like that, they give a special feeling to the life of everyone who has the opportunity to be their friend.
Author: ENEIDA ALIBEGOVIC
This article was written thanks to the generous support of the American people through the “Local Works” program of the United States Agency for International Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (USAID). The contents of the publication are under the exclusive liability of its author and “Network for Building Peace”. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the USAID or the US Government.
