”My motivation has always been to help people in need”

On the 23rd of November, 2018, Sanela Klepic got a call from a friend who was worried about a large group of people that had gathered near the entrance to their town. She thought it could be refugees and migrants that had been stopped by the police. “There are children, women and older people among them” her friend explained. Five minutes later Sanela arrived at the scene, and the view that met her was something she will carry with her for the rest of her life.

Sanela Klepic speaking

“I saw them from far away, it was a group of around 40 people and they were sitting on the field only a few meters from the road. As I got closer, I realised there were pregnant women, small children and an older couple among them. Since this was in November, it was a very could outside. I didn't know what to do but together with my friends and neighbours we collected food, clothes, blankets, wood for heating and everything else we thought these people would need.

After ten days of caring for the group of migrants, the Red Cross asked me to join them and work for their organisation. I had been working for the Red Cross before, I got involved when I was only 17 years old. And back then, I was elected to represent the youth volunteers in my city Kljuc. My motivation has always been to help people in need and to do something good for my society.

”When the migration crisis hit our country, I felt the instant obligation to do something and I continued my work with the Red Cross”

Sanela Klepic

For the last 15 months, since November 2018, I have been helping people on the move every day. We even celebrated my birthday together! The place near the road has changed into a shelter with roof, electricity, toilets, places to sleep, a first aid station and any other help the people might need. We had to fight hard to make this happen, and I am thankful to the Red Cross for enabling us to do so. Without a good organisation I would never have been where I am today, and we would not have been able to do this much!”

Sanela Klepic
Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina