The team of the Hastor Foundation is made up of ambitious, responsible, and successful young people who contribute to the Foundation’s work with volunteerism. Exactly those values adorn Almina Šabanović, a second-year student attending the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, at the Department for Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian Language. This month, Almina rightfully became our scholarship holder of the month.
After graduating from Gazi Husrev-bey’s madrasah, inspired by her love towards language and literature, she continued her academic education in the field that she always dreamt about. She chose her future profession as a teacher purely out of her love for what she studied. Through various extracurricular activities and school clubs, this was something that interested her since primary school. Even then, while writing short poems, she was a part of the recitation club and through literary evenings and similar events she already started sailing into the vast world of literature and language, in which she is currently sailing safely and boldly. Her sailing continued in high school through membership in the editorial board of the school magazine “Zemzem”, in which she published her own poetry. Furthermore, she was also the vice editor on the school radio show “Moja medresa” on Radio BiR. Other than that, she regularly attended numerous literary competitions which have, in her own words, reminded her on how important work with love and attention is on this world. In that period, some of Almina’s poems were included in the ‘Collection of prosaic and poetic works of high school students in Sarajevo’ published by Matica hrvatska, and this was Almina’s first important publication. The end of her high school education was marked by participation in the project “My place in the EU” in which she won first place at the literary competition. Almina highlights this project because it opened a new chapter in her life, but also because it taught her a very important lesson – no matter how unknown, restless and deep some seas are, we must cast off from the peaceful port and confront them. Recently, she made first steps in her profession with the cultural association “Preporod”, she also worked as a lector checking a catalogue of literary and art works and she also directed a short stage play.
She is a scholarship holder for full ten years:
With respect to the fact that I became a scholarship holder very early, I can freely say that I grew up with the Foundation and that I am still growing up. A common metaphor for the Foundation is that it is a family that gathers, unites, supports and promotes young people – considering my own experience, I can say that it is true. They were always there throughout my whole education and they followed me like a shadow. They never let me give up on my dreams. As a Hastor Foundation scholarship holder I really learned what volunteering is, what it means to be helpful to my community and society, as well as, what it means to help those in need every day. From my mentors, I figured out how important the significance of volunteering is for ourselves and our environment. Later, I transferred those ideals and knowledge to other children.
We know Almina as a young diligent individual on whom we can always rely, and this is reinforced by her dedication in the editorial board of the Foundation. Considering this, the only option remaining is that we sincerely express our gratitude. For the Foundation, Almina added:
Following the quote “Everyone needs to stay on his path and not jump onto the paths of others” by Meša Selimović, find your own path and walk on it with courage and self-confidence. Only on that path will you know how to read signs and choose the right directions. Follow your dreams and allow them to be great. Don’t forget that only you can draw the borders of your dreams, as well as your own selves. When you recognise the sea where the dreams can be realised, don’t be afraid of the waves and storms, rather confront them – only then will you become a good sailor.
Nejla Komar
