Staff member/project coordinator, Tuzla Community Foundation, Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina, E-mail: selma@fondacijatz.org
What are your expectations from participating in this particular study trip to Germany?
I´m really looking forward to this trip and I have to admit that my expectations are high. Bearing in mind that Germany is a country which shows the highest dynamics of growth of CFs I am sure that there is a lot to learn from their working experience. Also, for me the most important part of learning is in the field of philanthropy because I know that Germany has a strongly developed culture of giving to others.
My biggest wish for this year is to knowledgeably reinforce or upgrade myself and move form project management to the management of TCF Program for development of philanthropy. This Study Trip is a great opportunity for me to meet other philanthropic organizations and foundations, and to learn more about different models of CFs and their approaches to funds development, donors services and philanthropy in general.
This new experience will help me to improve personal capacities in the filed of philanthropy. I especially hope to get the chance to meet colleagues from similar organizations and foundations and to exchange ideas and experiences with them.
What specific questions related to your work or to CF practice do you ask yourself?
„How to encourage citizens activism and culture of volunteerism in Tuzla region?
How to encourage philanthropy and increase local investments for community development in Tuzla region?“
How may your participation in the CF study trip help advance your organization’s development plans?:
It can help in many ways. By learning how other foundations work, especially those foundations which are working successfully since many years.
Their experience is priceless. Working with the applicants, the way of how those organizations are growing and developing themselves, methods highlighting how to increase the number of philanthropists, methods and ways how to enhance awareness of local people about philanthropy, because Germany has a strong and continual tradition of philanthropy. Similar topics are of great importance and they can help to advanced TCF development plans.
After each study trip, we have this practice in TCF to exchange all newly gained experience with other colleagues. In addition to writing of an extensive field trip report, which we send to our Director and colleagues, we use the opportunity of our scheduled team meetings to present to our colleagues what we have learned and share experiences and practices of other organizations which we had visited. Likewise, in our daily work and communication with other stakeholders (applicants, donors) we are trying to present good practices and lessons we have learned on our study trips.
Where do you see european community foundations in 20 years?
I see them as a self-sustaining organization. Organizations that contribute to the development of viable and promising community for citizens. Where active citizens with their participation and their own resources create a sustainable and secure future for all generations.
What are your favourite colour, your favourite meal or your favourite animal?
Colour: red; Meal: spaghetti with hot or spicy sauce; Animal: dolphin.
Last but not least, your favourite proverb. You can write it down in your mother tongue, but please try to translate the meaning into english:
Lijepa rijec i gvozdena vrata otvara. (A kind word can open even the iron gate.)