Nevena Gvozdenac is a psychologist based in Gradiška, a small town in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a population of just over 14,000. Her particular focus is working with children, specifically those with developmental difficulties. While studies conducted by international organizations indicate some improvement in the overall situation of children with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past 20 years, it still falls far short of the standards set by international legal frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as well as the legislation and Disability Policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mrs. Gvozdenac personally experienced these challenges during her work in Gradiška and decided to take action by providing additional free activities to support the social integration of children with disabilities. She designed workshops where children with disabilities could interact with typically developing children, aiming to foster acceptance among the former and empathy among the latter.
“This is not a segregated workshop for children with developmental difficulties. Nevena has facilitated their inclusion, and we can see that these joint workshops pose no significant challenges for them, which is crucial for us as parents.”
Žana Kovačević, the project coordinator and President of the Youth Center "Petar Kočić," Gradiška
Her concept was well-received by the Youth Center “Petar Kočić, which collaborated with Mrs. Gvozdenac to develop the project called “Creative Buddies implemented in Gradiška since May 2022 as part of the ReLOaD2 project (Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans), financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Žana Kovačević, the project coordinator and President of the Youth Center, shared her perspective as a mother of a child with developmental difficulties. She saw Nevena’s idea as an opportunity to approach these children differently by integrating them with typically developing children. “This is not a segregated workshop for children with developmental difficulties. Nevena has facilitated their inclusion, and we can see that these joint workshops pose no significant challenges for them, which is crucial for us as parents,” Kovačević explained
Throughout 2022, the Youth Center “Petar Kočić” in Gradiška organized a series of creative and educational workshops for children with developmental difficulties and their typically developing friends. Under the guidance of professional staff, these young ones spent valuable time together, contributing significantly to their growth and social inclusion. Throughout the summer, the streets of Gradiška often witnessed the sight of playful children engaging in various handicraft activities. The story behind their imaginative play carries an important message recognized by the local community.
Žana Kovačević from the Youth Center “Petar Kočić” emphasized that parents usually come up with ideas for additional educational and creative activities themselves or with the support of therapists. “These children primarily need informal education, such as these workshops. Many of them struggle to acquire the skills taught in primary school. They may struggle with writing or speaking correctly, but it is crucial that we continue teaching them. The most important thing for them is to spend time with other children and to engage in collaborative creativity,” Kovačević emphasized.
“All the workshops were designed to foster teamwork, and we made an effort to include children randomly. Our focus was primarily on creative activities that allowed the children to unleash their imagination and create various crafts using natural materials.”
Nevena Gvozdenac, psychologist
The Youth Center “Petar Kočić” organized the first series of youth workshops in early June 2022, which continued until October of the same year. Nevena Gvozdenac highlighted, “All the workshops were designed to foster teamwork, and we made an effort to include children randomly. Our focus was primarily on creative activities that allowed the children to unleash their imagination and create various crafts using natural materials.”
Through the workshops conducted under the “Creative Buddies” project, the Youth Center “Petar Kočić” has introduced a new model for promoting the culture of Gradiška. The center’s staff members explain that the handicrafts created by the children during the workshops were utilized to construct a map of the city and the village, which was exhibited at the Cultural Center of Gradiška. This exhibition, held at the end of 2022, showcased the remarkable creativity of children with developmental difficulties.
About the project
The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) is a continuation of EU-supported initiatives – Local Democracy Strengthening Project (LOD, 2009-2016) and the subsequently expanded Regional Program for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans (ReLOaD, 2017-2020). As the previous ones, this project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). ReLOaD2 is implemented in the Western Balkans, in particular Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
Photo credits: ReLOaD2
Her concept was well-received by the Youth Center “Petar Kočić, which collaborated with Mrs. Gvozdenac to develop the project called “Creative Buddies implemented in Gradiška since May 2022 as part of the ReLOaD2 project (Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans), financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Žana Kovačević, the project coordinator and President of the Youth Center, shared her perspective as a mother of a child with developmental difficulties. She saw Nevena’s idea as an opportunity to approach these children differently by integrating them with typically developing children. “This is not a segregated workshop for children with developmental difficulties. Nevena has facilitated their inclusion, and we can see that these joint workshops pose no significant challenges for them, which is crucial for us as parents,” Kovačević explained
Throughout 2022, the Youth Center “Petar Kočić” in Gradiška organized a series of creative and educational workshops for children with developmental difficulties and their typically developing friends. Under the guidance of professional staff, these young ones spent valuable time together, contributing significantly to their growth and social inclusion. Throughout the summer, the streets of Gradiška often witnessed the sight of playful children engaging in various handicraft activities. The story behind their imaginative play carries an important message recognized by the local community.
Žana Kovačević from the Youth Center “Petar Kočić” emphasized that parents usually come up with ideas for additional educational and creative activities themselves or with the support of therapists. “These children primarily need informal education, such as these workshops. Many of them struggle to acquire the skills taught in primary school. They may struggle with writing or speaking correctly, but it is crucial that we continue teaching them. The most important thing for them is to spend time with other children and to engage in collaborative creativity,” Kovačević emphasized.
The Youth Center “Petar Kočić” organized the first series of youth workshops in early June 2022, which continued until October of the same year. Nevena Gvozdenac highlighted, “All the workshops were designed to foster teamwork, and we made an effort to include children randomly. Our focus was primarily on creative activities that allowed the children to unleash their imagination and create various crafts using natural materials.”
Through the workshops conducted under the “Creative Buddies” project, the Youth Center “Petar Kočić” has introduced a new model for promoting the culture of Gradiška. The center’s staff members explain that the handicrafts created by the children during the workshops were utilized to construct a map of the city and the village, which was exhibited at the Cultural Center of Gradiška. This exhibition, held at the end of 2022, showcased the remarkable creativity of children with developmental difficulties.
About the project
The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) is a continuation of EU-supported initiatives – Local Democracy Strengthening Project (LOD, 2009-2016) and the subsequently expanded Regional Program for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans (ReLOaD, 2017-2020). As the previous ones, this project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). ReLOaD2 is implemented in the Western Balkans, in particular Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
Photo credits: ReLOaD2
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