On Wednesday, January 20, in the student dormitory “Prof.dr. Fikret Hadzic” we had the opportunity to be part of a motivating atmosphere.

The project team of the Source of Hope Foundation, coordinated by our scholarship student Aida Mešić, organized a series of lectures on success and career “Per aspera ad astra” (Through hardships to the stars). The goal was to bring together five successful young people, willing to share their life stories with students, other young people and all those who are still walking their career paths. With joint forces, effort and work, our scholarship students organized the event. Between the lectures on success and career, our scholarship students, Sara Međić and Emir Šogolj,  introduced themselves through the performance of songs and poetry.

In the premises of the Source of Hope Foundation, five motivational speeches were given by five, extremely successful, young people who encourage excellence with their life stories! Speakers who unconditionally share their experiences, knowledge and thus directly benefit to positive change and they themselves become the change. They are philanthropists, entrepreneurs, socially responsible people, activists. They promote collective responsibility with a focus on the importance of education, proactivity, and working on oneself! They are Kemal Balihodžić, Amar Kundalić, Nedim Alibegović, Zorana Tavilović and Ismail Šehić.

Due to epidemiological restrictions only our scholarship students had the chance to attend the event in person, and all other people interested in the event could follow it via facebook live stream!

It was encouraging and really refreshing to listen to our guests. We hope that everyone who follows us via Facebook could feel at least part of the atmosphere that we felt here in the dormitory “Prof. Dr. Fikret Hadzic ”. We believe that many students, given that we are in the exam period, now cannot wait to start preparing for their exams! And that this is just the beginning of their success stories.

After the speeches, refreshments were served where our guests and scholarship students could get to know each other better, exchange contacts and talk about the recipe for reaching their full potential.

Shortly about the speakers

Ismail Šehić

On social networks, you can recognize him under the signature „Duša Bosanska“. He contributes a lot through his work in the field of youth empowerment and youth affirmation. He was born in Srebrenica but managed to make an amazing story of his life. He is the director of the NGO Bosnian Representative Association for Valuable Opportunities (BRAVO). He graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Sarajevo. He has been involved in volunteer work since he was 12 years old. He was also engaged in various sports activities, photography and had travelled across 50 world countries. Also, he is an International Project Manager for Jordan Innovation Forum, SALTO Youth Trainer, President of Multinational Cooperation Sector at CKNS, and an active member in various other associations.

Nedim Alibegović

In the last six years, Nedim has been actively involved in the field of the NGO sector in Bosnia. His activist journey started from being a member of the Association of Highschool Students, after which he focused on youth policies and youth organizing as a way for making a better environment for youth in Bosnia. He is a student at the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo and works as a General Secretary in the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his work, he uses the advantages of being well informed about legislative procedures and makes an effort to communicate with decision-makers on all levels.

Zorana Tovilović was born and raised in Banja Luka. She finished medical school in her hometown, and then the Faculty of Medicine. During 2019, she attended and successfully completed “Learn, Think, Act!” training for youth leaders with generation 14. In the middle of the training she got the opportunity to join the team of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, and moved to Sarajevo. In December 2019, she became a certified youth leader and on the same day took over the coordination of generation 15 “Learn, think, act!” training for youth leaders. Zorana works as an assistant in the Department of Youth Policy and Youth Work. She volunteers at the BH Futures Foundation and Youth for Peace.

Kemal Balihodžić was born in 1990. He is the owner and director of the successful company UpTrend Marketing Solutions. He is a motivational speaker, soft skills, communication and marketing coach. He is the author of two books: Born for Success – From Applaud to Applause and 50 Shades of Sales – The Art of Domination. His life motto is: Creativity is a lifestyle, work is a habit.

Amar Kundalić was born in 1997 in Zenica. He graduated from the High School of Economics in Zenica, and continued the same career path, enrolling at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zenica. He is very active when it comes to youth volunteerism. He is currently cooperating with the International Organization for Migration in BiH. Amar organized over 30 semesters for young people, and as a member of the Board of Directors of ASuBiH, he organized 3 conferences with over 80 participants, and various social movements.