Trg medjunarodnog prijateljstva 8
Obala Kulina bana 28
71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Human rights
- Others
- Youth and education
Vision: An Empowered Society that recognizes the needs of families of children and adults with developmental difficulties and solves them systematically, respecting their dignity, diversity, and opportunities.
Mission: "Give Us a Chance" is a non-profit organization operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using innovative models, through direct work, we provide support to families and children/adults with disabilities regardless of the type and degree of disability. We influence the community's awareness of educational and inclusive activities, and we also influence the changes, additions, and implementation of relevant laws.
Goals:
• To continue providing free support to families of children and people with disabilities through service centers
• Expand the model of the service center to as many municipalities in BiH
• Promote the need for service and day centers, as well as amending the laws related to the same
• Become a reference center, for families of children and people with developmental difficulties and profession
Problems that families with children/persons with disabilities deal with on a daily basis led us to start with concrete support, by the project – Service center “Give Us a Chance”. Services that our professional staff and volunteers provide at Association Service center “Give Us a Chance” are available to all families residing in Sarajevo Canton that have a family member with disabilities – regardless of medical diagnosis, age, and level of disability. Services are free of charge.
The first service center was opened on May 28, 2014, with support of USAID and Novi Grad Municipality. The center officially started working on June 2 of the same year in Alipašino polje, Novi Grad Municipality. In December of 2017, the Service center “Give Us a Chance 2” was opened in Stari Grad Municipality, Sarajevo, at “Obala Kulina Bana 28”.
What makes us different from other NGOs are:
- free service for all users
- we do not discriminate on age, type, and degree of difficulty
- our existence is long-term - we are not a one-off project, we are here to stay
- we are not only focused on children/persons with disabilities - we support the entire family, which is the only way to give the right support effect. Only a strong parent, a strong family as a unit, mentally and physically, can be able to provide his or her child with the disadvantages of whatever is necessary for a long time.
- at the Sarajevo Canton level, we are the only organization that provides a full set of these specific types of services
The Service Center hires relevant experts such as OT therapists, psychologists, lawyer, nurses. We also educate volunteers of related professions and auxiliary staff.
Main services
• Psychological support
• Short break service
• All-day-stay service
• Developmental assessment of children in case of possible disability
• Mobile team – support at family’s home address
• Mobile team – transport service by specially adapted van
• Information and legal support
• Crisis situation support
• Workshops for typical siblings
• Work Saturday (once a month)
• Help with finding teaching assistant
• Education (schools, technical staff)
• Inclusive activities
• Little volunteers
Service centers “Give Us a Chance 1 and 2”, located in Sarajevo, have provided 40000 services, free of charge, to 600 families that have been registered so far (2014 – 2019).
We became subject matter experts in our field and we can provide training at multiple levels to all interested organizations, schools and government bodies. At the same time, we can provide cross-promotion to other BiH ALF network members while participating in joint activities and initiatives.
ALF family is a family of 42 countries and our Center reached the stage in its development of creating partnerships with similar and complementary organizations within the country, from the region and from the wider ALF network. We would like to benefit from other experiences while sharing our knowledge and experience. We would like to be partners in upcoming projects.