Community Development Project in Bosnia

I volunteered in Bosnia and Herzegovina for two months while teaching English, arts and crafts and some other workshops to the youth in the host city and it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. From working with the very youngest children to some surprisingly talented young adults, it was a journey of discovery of not only what I could contribute but also learnings for my own life. The best part of the program is the degree of freedom that is offered - as long as your idea makes sense and attracts participants, you will be fully supported to put it into practice, hopefully for the long run. In the abundant free time offered (the whole weekend, except during summer holidays), feel free to visit one of Europe's most underrated destinations, which is filled with culture and cost-effective transport and stays.

Being a Love Volunteer in Bosnia was an amazing experience. Having their local team host me made it even greater. I met inspiring people from the staff, local and international volunteers, and local people. Along with a friend we had the chance to run our own project and to benefit from the support of many different people around us. Moreover, during my eleven-month placement there, I had opportunities to participate in many diverse activities including French and English classes, creative and recreational activities for children, a film festival and of course all the annual activities (Halloween, New Year party, anti-racist day and summer camp). I definitely improved my organizational and interpersonal skills but the whole experience is so much more than just developing competencies… it’s a life experience.

When I began my volunteering experience, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a country I previously had little knowledge of. The times I would inquire with friends and family here in Canada I received only vague statements about the ‘Winter Olympics’ and ‘a war in the '90s’. There had to be more to it than that. This curiosity is what drove me to sign up with Love Volunteers and it has to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. Upon my arrival in Brčko (my new home) I was immediately welcomed by local staff and fellow volunteers and before I knew it was a part of this new international family. During my stay of one month I had the opportunity to work with people from many age groups, from little kids learning the months of the year to adults practicing advanced English. The scheduling system was very flexible and the volunteers had a great deal of freedom based on their interests and what they wanted to share. My personal contributions included music, dance, English and German language classes. Before I knew it my time in this wonderful country had come to an end and I only wish I could have stayed longer. To anyone considering volunteering for any period of time, I highly recommend Bosnia and Love Volunteers!

I had the opportunity to work with Love Volunteers and their amazing team of staff in Bosnia. Over the summer we created and implemented over 40 arts and language workshops including: English, French and Spanish language classes for adults and for children and youth media workshops. We also facilitated the activities and classes for the week long children’s summer camp, hosted a Future Shorts Film Festival, developed the first issue of a youth magazine and created a stop-motion animation film. It was an experience that I truly treasure, and was one of the best summers of my life. If you are self-motivated and excited to learn a new language (& learn to play samba), if you have lots of creative ideas and want to work with people that are giving, kind, and supportive then volunteer here! Thank you for such a wonderful experience!

What I really like about this program is that you get a lot of freedom there. Whatever is your idea about a workshop you'd like to hold, you are supported to do it. I led the arts and crafts workshop for children between 8 to 14 years, supported the English and German language courses and went once a week to a youth center in a poorer part of the town. The first half of my placement there were less volunteers around so it was a bit quieter, but this gave me the chance to integrate better and to learn the local language. In the second half of my voluntary service we were up to nine volunteers so we could plan and do bigger projects like the ‘fun day’ once a week, on which we played, did arts and crafts and made music the whole day on a certain topic. I also really enjoyed living in Brcko, I think it's a very good place for doing your voluntary service. It is a small town and therefore you get to know people very easy and get the chance to feel at home quickly. In the summer months there were many concerts outside. In the winter there are less cultural activities to do but you could always find a nice person to drink coffee with, have nice talks and learn a lot about the history and society in Bosnia. I'm really glad that I did my voluntary service in Bosnia and in Brcko, and I will always remember an amazing year full of freedom, creativity and wonderful people.