The heart of the Hastor Foundation has always been young people who push boundaries through their efforts, and we turn their success into shared inspiration.
It is our pleasure to present the story of our scholarship recipient Nela Bošnjaković. Nela is a ninth-grade student at Catholic School Centre “Saint Francis” in Tuzla, and her dedication to what she loves is inspiring. She has been dancing since she was five years old, and she tried various styles, finding herself most in modern styles such as jazz, showdance and contemporary. As she states, modern dance gives her the opportunity to express emotions through different choreographies, and each choreography has its own story.
Nela’s love for dance is also reflected in the fact that since birth, she has had certain deformities due to which she cannot do everything she wishes and is considerably limited in some aspects; however, this does not prevent her from continuing to strive to reach her maximum. Aware that, due to her health circumstances, she will not be able to engage in dance forever, Nela uses every moment at trainings and competitions in the highest-quality way. Although she herself will not be able to pursue dance in the future, she would like to teach younger generations. In addition to dance, Nela has a great love for reading and is also engaged in writing, often responding to literary competitions where her successes testify to her talent.
She is currently a member of the Sport Dance Club Throne from Sarajevo, and travelling to another city for training, although tiring, is for her only a small price to pay for her love of dance. Nela is also licenced member of the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) and a representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, representing our country at European and world championships. She has participated twice so far at the WDSF World Championship. In December 2025, the championship held in Hungary was a beautiful experience for her, even though she encountered many obstacles. Namely, she became ill on the way and performed with a high fever. She had the option to withdraw, but she did not want to. She decided to prepare as best as she could and to withdraw only if she truly would not be able to perform. Nela succeeded in performing and once again overcame the obstacles she encountered. She states that the support of her family, friends, coaches, and teachers was crucial in enabling her to give everything that was required.
In the Hastor Foundation, which has been her support for two years, she found a community that values her effort and encourages her toward continuous improvement:
“It represents great support, motivation, and a sense of belonging for me. Through the Foundation, I learned how important discipline, working on oneself, and mutual support are.”
To her peers, whether they are already in the world of dance or just considering their first steps, Nela advises not to fear challenges and to be patient:
“Every training session, even the one that does not go perfectly, is part of progress.”
To other young people, she offers the advice to always invest in themselves: in their health, education, and self-confidence:
“Everything you learn and every skill you acquire will accompany you through life, regardless of the path you choose.”
