By Davor Tunjic, YES 2012-2013, Bosnia and Herzegovina, hosted by World Link in Bakersfield, CA

The best thing about alumni projects for me is the feeling that you have made an impact on someone or something. Developing a project idea is not easy, but, in the end, all the effort pays off when your work is recognized by your community and even by people outside of your community. The best projects for me are the ones that have a continuous impact and that keep on effecting people in different communities.

Sanda Hanjalic (YES ’10) and I, with the help of Nino Lojpur (YES ’10), and Lamija Jamak (YES ’14) organized the project “A što ne bi mogle?/But Why Couldn't They?” in which YES alumni from Bosnia and Herzegovina filmed five short movies about women engaged in jobs traditionally reserved for men in Bosnian-Herzegovinian society. After a successfull screening in Sarajevo, we took the films to Mostar on November 26.

Sanda and I were joined by Dunja Jezeraskic (YES ’15) and Ivana Vasilj (YES ’15) in organizing the event, which took place at the American Corner in Mostar. Around 30 people, including many international students, attended the screening, which was followed by a debate. We talked about gender roles in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the role of gender in specific jobs. Members of the audience shared their opinions on these issues, and also commented on the stories of the women in the films. The event was met with a lot of positive comments and feedback. One audience member shared: “I attended the screening in Sarajevo, and now I am here again watching these short movies in my hometown, Mostar. So I don't have to tell you how much I like them!”

I am glad that these films and their stories are inspiring people to think about these issues and hope that we can continue to raise awareness about gender equality and gender discrimination among an even larger group of people. More screenings are planned in the next few months in cities across the country, including Banja Luka, Tuzla, and Trebinje.