Inspire Bosnia 2025
From July 20th-30th, volunteers will work directly with vulnerable communities and children to facilitate educational programming, home or school rehabilitation, and packing and distributing packages.
Highlights
- Sarajevo and Tuzla, Bosnia
- Fundraising Target → $3,500 CAD per volunteer
- Registration Fee → $475 CAD non-refundable registration fee is required once accepted into the Inspire program
Main activities
Volunteers will assist in a summer camp affiliated with the ongoing orphans’ program to facilitate learning and psychosocial programming. Psychosocial programming is crucial for orphans and vulnerable children as it provides a structured framework for emotional support and mental well-being, helping them navigate the challenges of loss, trauma, and instability.
By addressing psychological and social needs, such programming fosters resilience, emotional growth, and a sense of belonging, essential for their overall development and integration into society.
This is carried out through a variety of activities, such as:
Team building activities and games
Educational activities to foster their creativity
Sports and fun learning activities of various types
Educational visits and excursions to explore the local community
Volunteers will also pack and distribute food items and hygiene boxes to vulnerable families and gain an understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable communities.
Furthermore, volunteers will have the opportunity to:
- Visit local Islamic Relief projects in the area and interact with rights-holders to hear their stories.
- Participate in organized sightseeing activities, including visits to Baščaršija, War Tunnel Museum, and other historical landmarks.
- Visit Srebrenica and go to the Srebrenica Memorial.
Benefits of field study
The Inspire program aims to provide volunteers with a unique and eye-opening experience, where they immerse themselves in a completely different context than they are normally accustomed to. This program encompasses the “give and take” principle; it is an opportunity to give back to vulnerable communities overseas whilst learning and growing skills in an enriching environment.
After completing the program, letters of reference will be given out to participants upon request. Participants will also be encouraged to continue volunteering with Islamic Relief Canada following the trip to continue their humanitarian efforts.
Fundraising Process
All accepted applicants are required to raise a minimum of $3,500 CAD each. The funds raised will support existing Islamic relief projects in Bosnia. We will provide each volunteer with a fundraising session that includes tips on how to raise money, how to engage your network, etc. We will also set up an online fundraising page for each volunteer to raise funds for their project.
Donations will be allocated towards the Inspire program components and contribute to ongoing, long-term projects in the region. None of the donations will go towards the personal costs of the volunteers.
Accommodations & Costs
Islamic Relief Canada will cover your stay in Bosnia, including your accommodation, transportation within the country, food, and scheduled sightseeing activities. Please note that flights are NOT covered. Thus, the volunteer is responsible for purchasing their flights to and from Bosnia and mandatory health insurance.
Pre-Departure Training
Once accepted into the program, volunteers are required to complete a combination of mandatory virtual and online training sessions. There will be about 3-4 sessions in total, with an average duration of 2 hours each. The training will cover Fundraising, Team Building, Country Profile, Islamic Relief's History, Field Safety and Security, Activity Planning, Humanitarian Standards, and Passion Projects. The schedule will be released upon being accepted into the program. These training sessions are mandatory to attend.