We are pleased to announce that the BAI education team will be at two additional events in Northern California. Our lectures provide a platform for the next generation of Bosnian Americans to be the best ambassadors of their Bosnian origins, identity, culture and history.
Our team for this trip is composed of:
Irfan Mirza, our senior lecturer whose passion for Bosnia has been demonstrated since the ‘90s.
Admira Sejfic, BAI’s trustee who has delivered multiple speeches on her experience as a wounded child survivor of the Bosnian genocide. Admira visited Bosnia last February and met with Sarajevo city officials, reaching agreement to recognize children who have been physically or mentally injured during the war. This is big since, up to now, the city was only recognizing civilians who had been killed.
Alisa Mirza, daughter of Irfan Mirza, and BAI volunteer. Alisa demonstrates that leaders in the community come in all ages. She was barely eight years old when she started to volunteer with VoBG. Alisa is now thirteen, and is known at school for receiving multiple awards in academics and her volunteer work. She was recognized by the City of Bellevue for her work to raise awareness about the Bosnian genocide. Seeing that no one is taking action in her city to teach young Bosnian Americans traditional dances, Alisa stepped up to the challenge and started teaching young children. Recently, her speech on Bosnian Independence Day and recognition of Bosnia by America left a lasting impression on the audience.
We are very proud of all our volunteers who will be traveling to California, and we are sure that the communities in California will enjoy their presentations. Thank you to our volunteers and community members who helped develop the content and organize this trip. We know that volunteer work isn’t easy, yet it is so needed. Thank you.
Events:
1. Saturday April 15, 6:30 pm @ ICBAB Dzemat San Jose California Bosnia’s Past and Future/BIH prošlost i budućnost
2. Sunday April 16, 5:30-7:30 pm @ Muslim Community Association Early signs of Ethnic Division: What America can learn from Bosnia
3. Tuesday April 18, 4:00 pm @ Sonoma State University Genocide Denial and the Disruption of Collective Memory and Empathy