Imagine entering a new country, and at the entrance there is a sign with the inscription: “Welcome to the land of tulips, charity, friendship, childhood, new beginnings and deep love.” Sounds tempting, doesn’t it? These epithets will best describe what actually happens when the Hastor Foundation, a place of friendship and charity, and the Netherlands, the land of tulips, new beginnings and deep love, come together. Are there any better places to mark the beginning of new friendships, create valuable memories and memories for a lifetime? For years, we have witnessed how the Hastor Foundation offers its scholarship recipients the opportunity to create special and unforgettable memories.
This year, the Hastor Foundation, in cooperation with the Dutch organization Stichting Kinderhulp Bosnië, gave scholarship recipients Asmir Omerdić and Tajana Salkić the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands and try their hand at accompanying children who visited this beautiful country as part of this year’s Summer Vacation in the Netherlands project. Both agreed that this was a special experience for them, during which they learned something about the children, but also about themselves. They tested their organizational skills, resourcefulness, but also their great responsibility – taking care of 20 pupils.
From this trip, as they point out, they have the most special memories, and one that added a special charm to Asmir on this trip was a visit to the Efteling amusement park. Asmir told us that everyone, regardless of age, was delighted with the content of it, but also that it brought the slightly older ones back to their childhood, the land of carefreeness and the most sincere children’s joy.
This trip reminded me of the importance of spontaneity and enjoying the moment. Through interaction with other people, as well as children, I learned valuable lessons about patience, creativity and adaptability.
Asmir and Tajana tried their best to make this trip unforgettable, thinking of every detail of it, and they often spent time staying in the fresh air and organizing picnics. Our scholarship recipients summed up their journey in a few words, significant enough to express their fascination with it:
The project in the Netherlands was extremely rich and fulfilling. We managed to create memories that we will all remember for a long time. These experiences will certainly help me in future projects and challenges.
They dedicated the days they had free to sightseeing in Amsterdam and, as they say, they did not make a mistake. Tajana spoke enthusiastically about Amsterdam:
A city full of culture, history and incredible energy. It was wonderful to explore the streets of this colorful city and discover its many sights.
In order to thank the Hastor Foundation and the Stichting Kinderhulp Bosnië Organization for the opportunity and express their enthusiasm for the experiences they had gained at the very end of the trip, they sent letters full of warmth and sincere feelings. They greeted the land of tulips with smiles and a few tears in their eyes.
