Human Impact & Success Stories
Human impact and success stories
In its 3rd phase of implementation the Horizontal Facility actions are contributing to tangible results for the people of Western Balkans and Türkiye. This session is dedicated to specific human impact narratives and success stories coming from different actions and having a direct impact and positively influencing change and improvement in the life of individuals, communities or society at large. Our human impact and success stories bring our programme closer to the people by showcasing real voices, real struggles, and real triumphs. These stories aim to drive awareness, mobilise support, and influence good policies.
Let’s turn our impact stories into inspiration!
Bosnian students’ glimmers through 'Living books'
The most powerful lessons don’t always come from textbooks, sometimes they come from stepping into someone else’s life. Across Bosnia and Herzegovina, 437 students from 17 primary and secondary schools discovered a different kind of library- one where books breathe, speak, and share their...
Turning pages of empathy: stories of living books open hearts of young people to diversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The “Living Library” is no ordinary bookshelf. Instead of printed pages, students meet real people- “Books” who share their life experiences, challenge stereotypes, and invite dialogue. In classrooms across Bosnia and Herzegovina, five activists representing different minority groups became these...
A school where children learn to lead
In the quiet village of Turija in Serbia, “Veljko Dugošević” Primary School hums with more than the sound of lessons. Here, democracy is not just a subject in the textbook- it’s part of daily life. Pupils debate, compromise, take initiative, and share responsibility for their community. Over...
Police cadets from Bosnia and Herzegovina are redefining the badge
In the training yards and classrooms of the Police Academy of the Federal Ministry of Interior in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a quiet revolution has been unfolding. Here, future officers are learning that the badge they will soon wear is more than a symbol of authority - it is a pledge to protect the...
A small school with a big heart: how children in Kraljevo are learning inclusion by living it
When twelve-year-old Maša opened the door of her family home in Adrani, near Kraljevo, she wasn’t sure what to expect. A girl her age from Slovenia was about to stay with her as part of a school exchange. At first, the two were shy, carefully observing one another. But soon they found common...
Një zë i fuqishëm nga Shqipëria sfidon barrierat e aftësisë së kufizuar
Prej 15 vitesh, Suela Lala, një përkrahëse e shquar e personave me aftësi të kufizuara në Shqipëri lufton diskriminimin dhe kërkon barazinë, me theks tek përshtatshmëria, përfshirja dhe mbrojtja e të drejtave themelore. Suela është drejtoresha ekzekutive e fondacionit “Së Bashku”. Nën drejtimin e...
Preventing and Combating Child Trafficking in North Macedonia: Stories of Resilience and Collaboration
When Jana (name changed for protection) arrived at SOS Children’s Village foster home, she carried only a small bag, and an invisible weight of fear, trauma, and mistrust. At just 15, she had endured months of exploitation by traffickers who had promised her “a better future.” Instead, she found...