As part of the local initiative “Young Creators”, organized by the Youth Center Desnek Breza, 67 children participated in creative workshops designed to encourage artistic expression, the development of life skills, and mutual cooperation. Over several months, the participants learned techniques for making jewelry, souvenirs, clay items, and creations from recycled materials, and some of their works were donated for humanitarian purposes. The goal of the initiative was for children to learn patience, confidence, and the value of togetherness through art.
Farah, a nine-year-old girl, was one of the participants, and this is her personal reflection on this new experience.
My name is Farah, I am nine years old, and I love making things. When I heard that workshops would be held in Desnek, I immediately wanted to go, even though I was a little scared. I thought everyone would know what they were doing and that I would ruin everything. My mom told me, “Just go, you’ll learn something new.” And she was right.
The first time I came, everything was colorful—tables full of beads, paper, and paints. The teacher said we would be making jewelry and souvenirs, and I thought, “This is perfect for me!” At first, everything was falling apart, the beads were scattering, and my hands were covered in glue and paint, but everyone helped each other. That was what I liked the most.
My first bracelet was blue, red, white, and yellow—the colors I love because I cheer for Barcelona. I gave it to my mom, and she immediately put it on and said she would wear it every day. At that moment, I felt important, like I made something that truly mattered.
In other workshops, we learned how to make figurines and souvenirs from clay. I made a rabbit, a heart, and a flower. Some of our creations were later sold to raise money for children in need. When I heard that people had bought something I made, I was overjoyed. I couldn’t believe that something shaped by my hands could help someone else.
Every day at the workshops was different—sometimes we laughed, sometimes we sang, sometimes we worked quietly. I learned to be patient and not to give up when something didn’t go well. I also made new friends—Hana is now my best friend, and there are also Anida, Bejna, and Sara. When everything ended, I took home a bag full of memories and several bracelets I didn’t give away, to remind me that small hands can make big things. The most important thing I learned is that kindness and creativity go together—when you share what you make, you share a piece of your heart.
Farah’s story shows how creative workshops can change the way children see themselves and the world around them. She overcame her fear, learned patience, gained confidence, discovered the value of togetherness and humanity, and found new friends. Most importantly, she realized that kindness and creativity go hand in hand, and that small hands truly can make big changes.
The “Young Creators” initiative was implemented within the project “Connecting the Dots 2.0 – Advancing Child Participation in Decision Making for Enhanced Child Rights and Democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, implemented by World Vision BH Foundation and the Association Naša djeca Sarajevo, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, and with the financial support of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
