From January to May 2026, the Information Center for People with Disabilities "Lotos" supported the realization of a mentoring process in which Alma Pašalić, as a mentor, provided support to Bojana Ljubojević in the development of skills in photography, visual communication and content creation.

Although at first glance it may seem that it is about learning technical skills, this process has shown that mentoring can be much more than that. Through continuous work, joint reflection of ideas, practical tasks and the implementation of concrete activities, not only new competencies were developed, but also self-confidence, initiative and a sense of self-worth.

The fact that both Alma and Bojana are hearing-impaired women gives the process a special value. Their shared experience made it possible to create an environment where understanding, support and mutual trust were a natural part of everyday work. Instead of a relationship in which one person transmits knowledge and the other passively receives it, mentoring has become a space for joint learning and development.

The first months were devoted to the basics of photography. Bojana learned about framing, light, composition and the ways in which photography can convey an emotion and a message. Through practical work, she gradually developed confidence in the use of visual tools and independent content creation.

Later, the focus was expanded to visual communication and thinking about how the experiences of deaf people can be brought closer to the general public. It was in this part of the process that ideas began to emerge that eventually resulted in concrete initiatives.

During April and May, Alma and Bojana worked on creating educational video content and an accessible manual. Bojana actively participated in designing the content, recording and realizing the activities, applying the knowledge acquired during the previous months. What is particularly visible is the significant progress in independence and safety at work.

For I.C. "Lotos" such processes have a special significance. Experience shows that people with disabilities often make the most progress when they have the opportunity to learn from people who share similar life experiences and understand the challenges they face. Mentoring enables exactly this kind of support - support that empowers, motivates and creates space for the development of new leaders, advocates and change makers in the community.

The most important result of this process is not only the video content and the manual that were created. The most important result is increased self-confidence, new skills and willingness to use the acquired knowledge to initiate new initiatives and activities.

The story of Alma and Bojana reminds us that the most significant changes often happen through simple things - sharing knowledge, providing support and believing in the potential of another person.

The program is implemented through the Empowerment of Women with Disabilities Program I.C. "Lotos", within the Network of Women from the Union of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in BiH with support European Disability Forum, Kynnys ry and Trace Foundation / OAK Foundation.