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From Displacement to Empowerment: Srđan’s Dedication to Supporting Communities
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina - “My life experiences, from childhood to the person I am today, equipped me with the passion to make a difference in the world”, Srđan recounts.
Born in a makeshift maternity ward during the devastating war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the nineties, Srđan Petković's childhood experiences shaped his desire to advocate for communities at risk. Thirty years on, Srđan’s burning ambition has been realized, working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), where he uses his skills and resilience to help those most in need.
The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, raged on from 1992 to 1995, leaving more than 100 thousand casualties, is considered one of the deadliest conflicts in Europe since World War II. Two million people – almost 50 per cent of the country's population – were displaced and what followed was a long and painstaking road to recovery.
Immediately after the war ended, renewed optimism and hope blossomed for a brighter future for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This soon began to fade as a myriad of new challenges impacted Srđan, his family and the millions of Bosnians and Herzegovinians displaced by years of conflict.
“We were faced with the hardened reality that we were now internally displaced people,” he explains.
In the post-war years, his family had to move a total of eight times, to unfamiliar locations, uprooted without direction until 2003 when they could settle into a place that they could finally call home.
This experience left a deep impression on Srđan but also fueled him with unwavering resilience to embark on a fulfilling career to empower and help others.
“My first memory from that traumatic time in my family’s life was receiving humanitarian aid packages, distributed to the thousands of displaced persons and peacekeepers handing out candies to the children. I think my childhood memories, where I was in a situation surrounded by people helping my family, planted a seed in my mind. I wanted to give something back - to empower communities, especially after what me and my family had been through” he explains.
In high school, Srđan discovered the world of youth engagement. After writing and implementing his first environmental project, he became a volunteer in a Non-Profit Organization (NGO) devoted to the protection of human rights. In 2012, Srđan received a Volunteer of the Year award for his human rights work with the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and Center for Youth Development (PRONI). Although he first enrolled at the Technical Faculty at University, Srđan soon changed his mind and transferred to the Faculty of Political Sciences.
“My parents took out a loan to finance my studies due to the expectations that I would become an electrotechnical engineer. I wanted to do something different and they were there to support me in my decision to focus on community work in BiH” Srđan remembers. “Through my voluntary work in high school, I understood that I wanted to serve people and help those in need, and it took me a bit to convince my parents.”
The sudden arrival of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers to Bosnia and Herzegovina in search of a better life in the winter of 2017, brought into focus for Srđan the inspiring work that IOM was doing on the ground to alleviate their suffering. He witnessed first-hand how IOM supported the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in managing reception centres, providing shelter and support to migrants and was determined to contribute to their mission.
“I saw how IOM was on the ground implementing well thought-out solutions and processes to assist migrants and communities at risk. I wanted to be part of a system that strives to change people’s lives for the better.”
As an internally displaced person for many years, it felt like a natural rite of passage for Srđan to join an organization that was dedicated to assisting people on the move. However, the job at IOM did not come easy, but through sheer will and three applications later, Srđan landed his dream position. Today, Srđan works as Community Outreach Project Assistant for IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina working on a project “Women Lead the Way Towards Peace and Security in BiH” jointly implemented by UN Women, IOM, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA). Srđan is dedicated to strengthening the role of women in fostering peace, trust, and social cohesion in a country still healing from the impacts of division and conflict
When asked about the advice he would offer to other young people who find themselves in a similar situation to his, Srđan quickly replies: “Give yourself a chance, strive for your goals, and serve your community in the best way possible. You might not see immediate changes but persevere. There are a lot of opportunities out there, so follow your dreams and never give up!”
This story is written by Aida Šunje Hadžović at aisunje@iom.int.