My six month International Traineeship in Brčko has been an incredibly enriching experience. Svitac, my host NGO, was established in the immediate aftermath of the brutal war of the 1990s and aims to bring together children and young people from each community through a variety of non-formal educational workshops. I was initially drawn to the organisation due to its work in cross-community cooperation on a local level, and Brčko’s unique political standing as an independent district in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Throughout my placement, I had the privilege of engaging with various educational projects including visiting a local school to give English language lessons and leading a weekly advanced English workshop at the youth centre. This opportunity to connect with local young people opened my eyes to the long-lasting effects of war on subsequent generations, and highlighted the continued need for and importance of organisations like Svitac. Additionally, as a languages graduate, I was excited to learn another language. Having spent a period of time studying in Russia, I realised the importance of communication with respect to getting to know the people, history, and culture. Most of all, I wanted to be able to talk to the children who come in to the youth centre every day! The team of volunteers were more than supportive in my efforts to learn their language and we had lots of laughs along the way.
Outside of the various professional and educational opportunities I enjoyed, I also travelled extensively around the Western Balkans. Brčko’s central location gave me ample opportunity to explore the region. From the mountains of North Macedonia to the plains of Vojvodina, I fully immersed myself in every opportunity to learn about each unique corner.
It was truly a privilege to work with such a supportive team and group of both local and international volunteers at Svitac. From visiting their families to sharing homemade meals together, it would be an understatement to say they enhanced my experience. Being able to learn about post-conflict social, political issues from local people was also invaluable. I am so grateful to Asfar for this opportunity to gain experience in the third sector and in the field of peacebuilding and reconciliation.