Our new scholarship holder Abela Rastoder, who comes from Sarajevo, is living proof that the family of the Hastor Foundation consists of the most successful pupils and college students. Abela is currently a second-year student at the Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo, with a GPA of 10.0.
In November and December 2020, she attended the Clinic of International and European Human Rights Law (extracurricular program) and her team won first place in a simulated trial before the European Court of Human Rights. The Clinic of International and European Human Rights Law, organized by ELSA Sarajevo, the Faculty of Law in Sarajevo, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, has been traditionally held for several years. Lectures in the field of human rights and mechanisms in place for their protection, with an emphasis on the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, were led by prominent legal authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (judges and advisors in the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, lawyers, as well as the members of the academic community).
After the lectures for the participants of the Clinic (students of law faculties in Bosnia and Herzegovina), we started writing submissions and preparing for a two-day competition in a simulated trial before the European Court of Human Rights. Although this year’s Clinic was held online, it did not diminish its quality.
Competing before the Court in a prestigious team and winning first place is certainly the crown of effort and commitment, but intensive two months of preparation for the competition is an invaluable experience which included the acquisition of new theoretical and practical knowledge, work on a hypothetical case before the Court and interaction and coordination with colleagues and a mentor, says Abela. In activities of this type, one of the important determinants is flexibility and teamwork, because the unity of forces leads to results whose quality exceeds the achievements of individual team members.
I highly appreciate working within a team, both in competitions of this type, as well as a part of the mentoring volunteer team of the Hastor Foundation. This is exactly what differentiates this competition from the others I have participated in.
Through her education so far, Abela has won awards at foreign language competitions, in creative writing, but also in music and sports competitions. She especially emphasizes the recognition of Matica hrvatska in Sarajevo for her literary work. Aside from legal education, Abela tries to invest her time in her hobby, reflected in her love for foreign languages and literature. She speaks four foreign languages fluently (French, English, German and Spanish), and is currently studying Italian. She is active in non-governmental organizations, attends various seminars and activities, and is currently preparing a workshop for high school students, supported by the Council of Europe and the Delegation of the European Union.
Altruism in me recognizes, appreciates and supports the value of volunteerism that the Hastor Foundation provides. Through activities of this character, I become a useful member of the community, helping others. In return, they have helped me to strengthen my personality, get acquainted with different people, and gain experience in many spectrums.
Abela’s volunteer engagement is especially focused on improving the socialization of hearing-impaired children, and for three years she worked within the Sports Association of the Deaf “Mladost” and contributed to the organization of the “Small Olympics” to mark Children’s Week.
Working and socializing with the younger generations gives me great pleasure and privilege, and I diligently prepare for each subsequent meeting with the children from my volunteer group. I am aware that the influence of the environment is important in their development and I try to express my motivation and encourage them to progress, which would be the culmination of my success.
To conclude, Abela added:
I am proud to point out that in this short time I have made wonderful friendships, developed skills through working with children, engaging in the local community and activities in the Foundation’s translation team. The Hastor Foundation is a place that has provided me with all the positive things that I have been subtly looking for in the area for years. It is an immense honour to be a scholarship holder of the Foundation and I am infinitely grateful for the opportunity. I will try to justify the trust and prove that education is truly the winner’s choice!
Nejla Komar
/p>
