Firefly in Bosnia
Building peace and tolerance in the aftermath of war.
Firefly’s story began in Bosnia and Herzegovina, almost 30 years ago in the aftermath of the civil war. From the start, our mission was clear: to bring together Bosnian muslim, Serb and Croat children and young people to learn, create, and build trust across deep divides. That mission continues today through our partner organisation Svitac which means Firefly in the local language.
Watch how Firefly International helps young Bosniak, Serb and Croat people meet, learn about tolerance, and make friends.
In 2023 two YouTube bloggers from Germany visited Brčko and met staff and volunteers from Svitac – this is their film.
Bosnia remains fragile. Youth unemployment is close to one third, political instability is ever-present, and ethnic tensions are being fuelled by nationalist rhetoric and wider regional conflicts. Brčko, a city split between Bosnia’s three ethnic groups, is at particular risk. In this context, Svitac provides one of the few truly neutral and safe spaces where young people from different backgrounds can meet as equals.
Every month, over 150 children and young people join Svitac’s integrated pre-school, after-school workshops, language and IT classes, music sessions, and youth-led activities. Here, they don’t just learn skills - they practice tolerance, empathy, and the power of collaboration. Older participants often go on to lead workshops themselves, becoming agents of peace in their community.
Svitac gives local young people a chance to volunteer overseas – a rare opportunity for them to travel and experience other cultures.
It also provides placements for international volunteers to come to Svitac, bringing their own skills and ideas with them to share with local young people.
The International volunteers come from countries including the UK, Germany, Spain and Turkey. Intercultural exchange is beneficial both for international and local volunteers and helps to broaden young peoples’ perspectives.
Our Impact
