BE A HERO – LEARN FIRST AID
Educating Children and Youth For Safer Communities – “Naša djeca”, Zenica
First aid is a life-saving skill. In moments when accidents happen, the first few minutes are crucial. Sometimes, the presence of just one trained person is enough to prevent a tragedy. Guided by this idea, we launched the initiative “Be a Hero – Learn First Aid”, with the goal of equipping children and young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to respond in emergency situations.
As part of this initiative, our team visited seven primary schools and one association, where first aid workshops were held for children and youth. The activities were carried out in cooperation with the Red Cross, whose instructors and volunteers demonstrated basic but essential steps in providing aid – recognizing emergencies, calling for help, procedures for choking, resuscitation (CPR), immobilization, and stopping bleeding.
The aim of the project was not only for children and youth to learn specific procedures, but to empower them to take action instead of standing by, to develop a sense of responsibility toward others, and to understand how important they are in the chain of saving lives.
The workshops were interactive, age-appropriate, and filled with practical examples and real-life scenarios. Children had the opportunity to ask questions, learn through simulations, and apply what they had learned on their own. For many of them, this was their first encounter with the topic of first aid – but also the beginning of developing awareness of its importance.
To assess the impact of the workshops, we conducted short surveys before and after the sessions. The results clearly showed progress – the number of correct answers increased significantly after the training, and children expressed greater confidence and willingness to help.
What especially encourages us is that both teachers and parents recognized the value of the initiative. Many expressed a desire for similar workshops to continue in the future, and the children walked away with concrete knowledge that can make a difference when it matters most.
The “Be a Hero – Learn First Aid” initiative is not just about education – it is an investment in a more humane and safer society. Through this experience, we showed that every child can become a hero. Not because they wear a uniform, but because they know how to help.
Our mission doesn’t end here. We will continue to spread knowledge, raise awareness, and encourage children and youth to learn, take action, and be there – when it matters most.
Thanks to everyone who was part of this initiative – schools, teachers, students, volunteers, and partners. Together, we are building a generation that doesn’t look away – but reaches out a hand!
This initiative is part of the project “Connecting the Dots 2.0 – Advancing Child Participation in Decision Making for Enhanced Child Rights and Democracy in B&H”, implemented by World Vision BH Foundation and the Association “Naša djeca” Sarajevo, in cooperation with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, and with financial support from the European Union.
