Bronze Medal – Golden Heart

Omar is a sixteen-year-old boy from Iran whose journey toward safety has been marked by fear, uncertainty, and loss. His journey began in Iran, continued through Türkiye, and then across the sea — a part of the journey he still recalls with discomfort.

“The sea was vast and unforgiving. I was terrified and almost drowned,” Omar recalls. He was rescued at the last moment, but afterward he was left without even the most basic means of survival. With no food or water, he spent his days on the streets, sleeping under the open sky or, when he was lucky, in abandoned cars. Along the way, he encountered other children, exhausted and in tears. “It was hard to watch hungry and thirsty children, and even harder to see and feel the harshness of adults,” he says.

Arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina brought Omar his first sense of relief. At the Ušivak Reception Centre, he was met by people who showed him understanding and care. “At the entrance of the reception center, I was greeted with a gentle smile, followed by a warm meal and a clean room. I felt like a child again because someone was taking care of me. I felt safe and respected,” Omar explains.

Although he found temporary peace at the Ušivak Reception Centre, hope once again pulled him forward. He left the center in an attempt to reach Germany but was stopped at the first border and returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina. He stayed briefly in Bihać, but missed the familiar environment, his friends, and his guardian in Sarajevo. When he returned to TRC Ušivak, the first person he met was his guardian.

At that time, Omar felt exhausted and broken. He did not want to talk or participate in any activities. At that very moment, his guardian suggested something unexpected — participating in the Special Olympics in Tuzla.

“I could see how tired and disappointed he was. I felt he needed something that would restore his sense of self-worth and strength,” says his guardian, Ćamila Koro.

Omar remembers the trip to Tuzla for the laughter and the feeling of belonging. He competed alongside other children and won a bronze medal. “I was proud. That medal gave me my strength back,” he says quietly, but with confidence.

Omar regularly participated in activities at the World Vision activities, where he talked with other children about the dangers they may face along the journey and strived to support peers who are going through similar experiences. With the EU support under the project “Individual Measure to Strengthen Management Systems of Irregular Migration and Fight Against Organised Crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, and through available protection services implemented by UNICEF and partner World Vision , children find a safe environment where they can learn, grow, build friendships, and rebuild their confidence, drawing strength and hope to pursue their dreams.

“I am grateful to the World Vision team and my guardian for giving me a sense of safety during the hardest period of my life. You were there for me when I needed it most,” says Omar.

Although the road ahead remains uncertain, Omar faces the challenges differently today. “The journey is still difficult, but I am no longer alone. I carry strength within me, and I know I can keep going.”

*Children's names are fictitious to protect their privacy.