For two decades, the Hastor Foundation has been building the foundations of a better educational system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, investing in young people who today are drivers of positive change in their communities and beyond. What began as the vision of one man has grown into one of the most significant philanthropic institutions in the region – an institution that today counts tens of thousands of awarded annual scholarships and millions of volunteer hours. Since its establishment, the Hastor Foundation has nurtured the belief that education is the most powerful tool for the development of society. Through the years, that vision has turned into concrete lives – into children who were given an opportunity, into students who became scientists, entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, artists, athletes, professors…
A journey through time…
From its establishment until today, the growth and development of the Hastor Foundation represent proof that continuous support for education fundamentally changes the lives of individuals, but also leaves a long-term mark on society as a whole. From the initial 304 awarded annual scholarships, in 20 years of work we have reached the impressive number of 28,000 awarded annual scholarships, while all these years of active engagement have produced more than 2,300,000 volunteer hours and an immeasurable social contribution. All our scholarship recipients and alumni are united in the same mission of philanthropy and solidarity, and that is exactly what sets us apart – that synergy of scholarships and social responsibility as the core of the existence of the Hastor Foundation.
During our work, a large number of organizations recognized our efforts, and in addition to recognition at the state level, where we highlight the prestigious award for social impact of the year, our work and mission have also been recognized internationally, crowned with a special recognition for contribution to the development of education and youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Gala ceremony of the Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina in Washington (ACBH).
As an organization that very quickly proved itself as a kind of incubator for promising young people, we can proudly highlight our activities across almost the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to the large number of children and young people whose everyday lives we made easier through financial support, providing them with the opportunity to focus on school and academic success, through the volunteering program and mentoring program, which we continuously improved, we also enabled them to work on their personal and professional development and to develop their knowledge and skills. We confirmed our contribution to the development of youth through the organization of training programs for young people that led them to their first employment, such as the Graduate Development Program, TAKT Academy and the mentoring program “First Step into the Business World.” In this way, we continued to build bridges between education and the labor market under the careful guidance of top experts from various fields who had the role of mentors to participants. Through a series of panel discussions intended for all scholarship students, we created an invaluable network of knowledge and business opportunities with the aim of additional empowerment and preparation for the labor market. An innovative undertaking was realized – the project “Together for Knowledge and Education,” through which the Foundation opens its doors and provides support through free tutoring in school subjects even to students who are not its scholarship recipients.
We are especially proud of the fact that the Hastor Foundation family expanded even in the most difficult moments; in addition to regular scholarships, we extended a hand of support to pupils and students from areas affected by floods, confirming that no one in our community is left alone, while through the ‘”Heart for BiH” fund, founded in 2014 with the ASA Prevent Group, we took it a step further, becoming an active participant in providing systemic relief to flood-affected areas.
The spirit of togetherness and solidarity also lives through the work of the Alumni Club. Along with regular gatherings and the digital innovation in the form of a new Alumni application, our former scholarship recipients showed great generosity through the organization of humanitarian actions for the distribution of New Year gift packages.
In order to share stories of success and love for the homeland with everyone, we launched the video series “With Proud Steps Through Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Through this series, we visit the hometowns of our successful alumni, promote the beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and reveal stories that are the best proof that young people here can build top careers, stay, and invest in the future of their homeland.
However, behind each of our projects and volunteer hours stand the inspiring stories of our best ambassadors – our scholarship recipients and alumni who contribute to the mission of the Hastor Foundation through their personal successes. Our most important result on the occasion of this great jubilee are precisely the achievements they have accomplished. These are golden mathematicians and physicists, world champions in sports disciplines, young innovators, creative artists, leaders who day by day confirm their excellence, but what is most important is above all titles and medals: they have grown into noble people and true philanthropists, drivers of positive change who ensure that the mission of the Hastor Foundation lives through their deeds.
Twenty generations of leaders of the Hastor Foundation are not just statistics – they are real lives, real stories, and real changes. Every scholarship recipient carries a part of that mission within themselves and strives to build society and community by nurturing positive values. Through the years, the Hastor Foundation has proven that philanthropy is not only giving – it is an investment in the future.
