By: Jelena Backović
Today, I’ll talk with my friend Anes Mehić this will be the first interview in a series published on my blog (www.alllifecolors.com) within the section “COFFEE TIME TALKS”. So I would like to ask him to briefly present himself, his plans, projects etc.
First of all, I would like to thank you for being the first at least in something :). What I would like to say about myself at the beginning of this conversation is: I have been a person with a disability for 25 years, I am lake jumper an that is the cause of my disability 🙂 I love black humor. I live in Lukavac. Activist in the movement of persons with disabilities for about 20 years.
Besides the fact that we have been friends privately for a long time. I follow all your activities from the big ones to the smallest ones, which are of immense importance in everyday life. So I’d like you to introduce them too. Which activities were the most impressive for you and which ones do you remember the most?
Ohhh, it’s been a so many in my 25 years since I’ve been a person with disability . For the first couple of years, it took me a while to manage and to adapt to the new situation and the possibilities of life in the new situation in general, that lasted 4-5 years. As you know, we do not have any support in adapting to new circumstances caused by disability (psychologist, etc.), we only rely on the support of our family.
After a certain period, I first became a member of the “Association of Paraplegics and people with polio in Lukavac”, then I become an active member of the Association “Lotos” from Tuzla, where I started actively fight for the rights of persons with disabilities. One of my favorite activities so far is my participation (on the Coalition of Associations from the Tuzla Canton) in updating the list of orthopedic aids in the Tuzla Canton. We managed to insure the
electric – motorized wheelchair for active people with severe disabilities, persons who work or go to school, we also ensured that the list includes a larger number of catheters, urinary and sugar measuring strips for diabetics, etc.
There was a tragicomic situation where I had to bring catheters, urinals, etc. to the meeting. So that I could literally show the people in the decision-making commission why we need certain aids and equipment. Because unfortunately most people who decide about our needs have no idea what are those entail.
My activism continued when I met Amela Velić and you and joined the Organization Bosnian Doctors for Disabled. I consider it one of the smartest decisions in my life, because the Organization does a lot of concrete things. I also became a user of the personal assistance service that operates within the “Bosnian Doctors for Disabled”. After that I became an activist in the true sense of the word. Here, for the first time, I became an educator / lecturer, shared my experiences of personal assistance and independent living of people with disabilities, participate in campaigns, mutual support groups for people with disabilities, where we share experiences, problems, etc. There are really many activities I am proud of.
I know you have a lot of activities. I would like to mention one small action that you started on your own, and it had a phenomenal hype on social media. This in particular is important, because we often hear in BiH that one person can’t change things. With this action, you have shown that it is possible.
“Action kiosk” (as I call it :)) a few weeks ago while I was finishing various obligations I was prevented from using sidewalk because the parking service set up a kiosk in the middle of the sidewalk. I heard that they planned to set up that kiosk, but in my wildest dreams, I didn’t think that they would set it up on the sidewalk so that no one could pass. I reacted and for about 10 days listened to assurances that they will removed him. During that time, no one could use the sidewalk, because as I already said the kiosk was literally in the middle of the sidewalk. I got tired of waiting, I went out to photograph the kiosk and myself trying to get pass at and posted it on facebook. The post aroused great interest, both from the citizens and the media, and a few days later the kiosk was removed.
This is where we come to our fatalistic attitude that we can’t change anything, let alone try. I think we should always try.That’s why I wanted to emphasize this story, because we as society have an attitude “one person can’t change anything and so why bother trying?” We are repeating this like a mantra. Problem is that one person is not one person at all, but in fact is a huge number of people chanting the same mantra.
Exactly! Recently, I passed by a cafe where acquaintances are sitting and adding: “heeey… Pajo, write something about water supply and water quality in Lukavac “, because we have a problem with water. “I said: just say I fulfill all your wishes like a goldfish.” We need to involve everyone in the solution and not wait for someone else to do it.
he next thing I would like to talk about is the podcast “What is (IN) valid in our country?” whose broadcasting we all eagerly awaited. The first episode and the second was aired. Can you tell me how the idea to broadcast this kind of podcast came about? What will be the topics and if you have of course an exclusive to share with me?
About a year and a half ago, friend Aladin Kavgić contacted me to tell me that he is starting the Association RE – SET, and whether I would like to cooperate with him. Of course I agreed, and the podcast is one of the projects of this association. I am an editor and presenter. I think that this is the first such podcast, at least as far as the territory of the Balkans is concerned, because it is edited and hosted by people with disabilities. The first and second was recorded and broadcast. The first episode talks about the work of the RE – SET Association, donors, which consists of the Bosnian diaspora in Chicago. The guests were donors Sedina Salispahic Hajro (Sedinin Bazar) and Nihad Krndžija, owner, editor and host of RTV Naša Riječ.
In the second episode, the guest is Fatmir Alispahic, which will be broadcast this week ( so wait an see).
The content will be diverse, we will host politicians, people from public life, musicians, people with disabilities, etc. We will try to be as interesting and innovative as possible.
This podcast seems very interesting and I wish you good luck with it. I will follow you actively, as I have done so far. Next I would like you to tell me a little bit about your education at ITAcademy how it came about? What are your plans when you graduate from the academy?
When the pandemic started, I had a lot of free time, so I decided to apply for public call for a stipend to ITAcademy issued by the Organization Bosnia Doctors for Disabled. I received a stipend along with three other colleagues. I have to say that adapting to learning and training my brain for retaining information was quite difficult, because a lot has passed since my school days, I won’t say how much :). I don’t have any regrets for applying. I have a lot of plans for the future, to work as a freelancer. I currently have an offer from Ziko Brick to create a website. For now, the most important thing for me is to start building references and recognition. However, at the moment, this podcast is the most important to me and I’m working on it the most.
Dear Anese, I would like to end this gathering of ours here, I will continue to follow all your activities, I wish even more activities, especially those paid once. until the next gathering. Thank you for taking the time for my blog www.alllifecolors.com.
