While Bojan Grebenar vividly remembers fleeing to the family’s cellar as a young boy when warplanes flew overhead in his hometown of Banja Luka, the 18-year-old focuses his energy on looking forward, not backward.
“I don’t plan to leave Bosnia and Herzegovina like some others have done. I want to stay and help make big changes here.
“I am excited about having a chance to be part of the changes that are taking place in our city and country, and I want to watch as they invest money and time in projects for young people and NGOs [non-governmental organizations].”
Two of his goals are similar to those of many his age: graduate from high school and attend college -- in his case, to study political science. But his third goal is atypical: advocate for his country to become a full member of the European Union.
Grebenar’s dogged determination ensures that he is knowledgeable about -- and involved in -- much of what is happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and his hometown of 250,000 people.
Community leaders, classmates and even Grebenar’s family tease him about his action-packed schedule. During a recent parent/teacher conference, Grebenar’s father learned that his son barely had time to attend classes because he is so immersed in civic and extracurricular activities.
“My father wasn’t angry. He was proud that I’m always trying to do something. Four years ago, I decided that I didn’t want to be just sitting around home or playing football. I wanted to do something more, something with meaning.”
That desire prompted Grebenar to participate in programs sponsored by the Youth Communication Centre, a nonprofit organization that has tapped his talent to help create secondary-school councils throughout the country.
The student councils, a relatively new concept in the Balkans, are designed to develop leadership skills and teach democratic decisionmaking. Grebenar is serving a second year as president of his school’s council, where members are busy building an indoor stage on campus so bands from nearby schools can perform.
Grebenar also holds one of five youth slots on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee in Banja Luka. This prompts him to pedal around the city on his bicycle to learn what the community’s needs are. Nationally, Grebenar serves as one of his country’s 18 representatives to the World Bank’s Youth Voices Group.
Discussing solutions for problems specific to the nation’s youth, such as high unemployment and university students’ rights, excites him.
“I’ve learned so much about public speaking, how decisions are really made and what our elected leaders are doing. But for me, the greatest pleasure comes when you share what you’re doing with other people and then see them get involved.”
For that very reason, one of his first volunteer efforts -- the One Candy, One Kid project -- remains his favorite. Grebenar admits he underestimated how rewarding it would be to distribute holiday treats to children in orphanages, hospitals and rehabilitation centers, and also how the project would mushroom.
“It became a very special humanitarian work to me, so I went to the center of town and informed citizens about how they could help. Then I became a school coordinator for the project.
“Now my younger sister is actively involved in the children’s hospital. So are many of my friends. It’s a very important thing for youth to try to engage more people in volunteer work to improve their communities.”