In the pleasant surroundings of the Pannonian Lakes complex in Tuzla, on May 22, 2025, another Peer meeting was held within the framework of the program of support and empowerment of persons with disabilities. The topic of the meeting was: "Social networks and the online world".
The group was diverse and among the participants were people with different types of disabilities who still face significant stigmatization in society. Precisely because of this, such meetings are an important step towards inclusion and exchange of experiences. The meeting started with an open conversation about how and to what extent young people use social networks and digital tools in their daily lives. The participants shared which applications they use most often and what they mean to them, either as a means of communication, a source of educational and entertainment content, or as a space for creative expression.
It was interesting to hear the stories of the participants who come up with recipes and ideas for cooking through social networks, but also conversations about how the Internet can help in the promotion of small businesses, the sale of handicrafts or personal branding. In the continuation of the meeting, the participants discussed the challenges and negative experiences that social networks bring with them. Ways to deal with such situations, who to turn to for support, and how important it is for young people to support each other were jointly discussed.
The students of the meeting concluded that social networks, although they carry their own risks, offer enormous opportunities for personal growth, development, connection and empowerment, especially for marginalized groups such as people with disabilities. We would like to thank all participants for their openness, warmth and willingness to share their experiences and advice. Meetings like this remind us how important it is to build a community that respects all its members equally, both online and offline.
The peer meeting was realized within the framework of the project "Strengthening the capacity for independent living of persons with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina" which I.C. "Lotos" implements in partnership with STIL – personal assistance and political influence, uz finansijsku podršku MyRight.
