Association "Ruku na srce": 1,600 New Year's gift packages distributed to children

The humanitarian student organization "Ruku na srce" today at the Bosnian Cultural Center in Sarajevo, as part of the project "No child without a gift package," distributed 1,600 gift packages to children from socially disadvantaged families. In addition to the distribution of gift packages, the children had the opportunity to watch a New Year’s play titled “Gricka, Bucko i Micka u pohodu na mjesec,” prepared by the Association’s volunteers, participate in creative workshops, and socialize with Santa Claus. About a hundred young people, mostly students, worked on the project over the past four months, the Association announced, as reported by Patria.

Emphasizing that the project has been implemented for the sixth consecutive year, the president of the humanitarian student organization “Ruku na srce,” Enisa Tiro, pointed out that the project grows from year to year.

- In the first year, we prepared 260 gift packages for the youngest, two years ago 850, and this year we have already reached 1,600 gift packages. This is the result of the great effort and work of all our volunteers, of whom I am extremely proud, and who selflessly dedicate their free time for the benefit of others. We owe special gratitude to all the companies, organizations, and fellow citizens who helped us in the implementation of this project - stated Tiro, and reminded that the Association, besides this project, also carries out other activities throughout the year, such as “Donate – unnecessary to you, useful to someone,” school supply collection drives, providing tutoring for schoolchildren, and organizing humanitarian exhibitions of artworks titled “Hearts feel, hands create.”

- It means indescribably much to us that someone thinks of our children and invests so much effort to make them feel special and loved, at least during this holiday season. Thank them, and I hope they will continue working on this project in the coming years - said one of the parents.

This year, the gift packages delighted children up to 14 years old from socially disadvantaged families in the Sarajevo Canton area, children included in the “Strengthening the Family” program of the SOS Children’s Villages Bosnia and Herzegovina organization, children from the Association of Multiple Sclerosis Patients of Sarajevo Canton, first-graders of Elementary School "Srednje," children from Elementary School “Grivice” – the Ježevac refugee settlement, children from Elementary School “Kamenica” near Zvornik, and children from Elementary School “Drinjača.”

Part of the gift packages were forwarded to the Association of Single Parents and the Association “Pravi put.” In cooperation with Jasmin Džemidžić, a stand-up comedian, a class at Elementary School “Sokolje” was also visited, where a child with a disability is enrolled. Jasmin, as a person with a disability, dressed as Santa Claus, brought and distributed gift packages, thus delighting the children, while showing that disability is not an obstacle. Additionally, the Association’s members sought to accommodate the numerous families who reached out to the Association for help.

This year’s implementation of the project “No child without a gift package” was supported by numerous fellow citizens as well as media through project promotion. Among others, the organizers express the greatest gratitude to the gold and silver sponsors, who greatly contributed to reaching the number of 1,600 gift packages. This year’s gold sponsors are: Igman d.d. Konjic, PAK CENTAR d.o.o. Sarajevo, Gadžo-comerc d.o.o., and for the fourth year running, Megamix d.o.o. The silver sponsors of the project are: Authority Partners, OLX.ba, ENERGOINVEST Sistemi upravljanja energijom d.o.o. SARAJEVO, and GS-Tvornica mašina Travnik. Significant support was provided by numerous elementary and secondary schools, kindergartens, student associations from various faculties, as well as many companies, associations, and sports clubs from the Sarajevo Canton area and beyond, who recognized the noble goal of the project.

The Association “Ruku na srce,” guided by the goal of providing assistance to socially disadvantaged families, brings together students from all faculties in Sarajevo, as well as other young people, who, alongside their obligations, dedicate their free time to humanitarian work. The Association operates under the motto "We know we cannot change the world, but sometimes even a little is enough to make someone’s world more beautiful." The Association has many successful projects behind it, about which you can learn more at www.rukunasrce.ba.