The completion of the year-long social responsibility initiative “Dobro se dobrim vraća”, led by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bosnia and Herzegovina (AmCham BiH) together with its member companies, marked an important moment for addressing long-standing social challenges that remain largely unresolved through public systems alone.
Beyond the financial dimension, the initiative placed a spotlight on the everyday realities faced by organizations working with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, children without parental care, young people transitioning out of institutional systems, and individuals experiencing homelessness and extreme social vulnerability. These organizations operate in an environment shaped by unstable funding, limited institutional coordination, and legal frameworks that often fail to reflect the complexity of needs on the ground.
Funds collected through the initiative were allocated to Fondacija lokalne demokratije (Sarajevo), Udruženje Medica (Zenica), Udruženje Žene sa Une (Bihać), Udruženje građana Budućnost (Modriča), Udruženje Žene BiH (Mostar), Fondacija Lara (Bijeljina), Udružene žene (Banja Luka), Udruženje Vive žene (Tuzla), SOS Dječija sela BiH, Minores – Association for Support to the Homeless and Socially Vulnerable in Mostar, and the “Duga” Center for Children Without Parental Care. Each of these organizations addresses gaps that persist between formal policy commitments and actual service delivery.
The initiative also underscored a broader structural issue: while humanitarian actions can alleviate immediate pressure, they cannot substitute for systemic solutions. Safe houses continue to face unpredictable financing, organizations supporting young people leaving care systems report the absence of sustainable housing and employment pathways, and support for homeless and socially vulnerable populations remains heavily dependent on civil society rather than integrated public policy. Institutions caring for children without parental care consistently point to the need for legislative reform, workforce strengthening, and long-term financial security.
By bringing these challenges into the public and policy discourse, “Dobro se dobrim vraća” served as a platform for articulating the role of the business community not as a replacement for institutions, but as a stakeholder advocating for accountability, coordination, and reform. The initiative reaffirmed that addressing vulnerability requires more than goodwill—it demands aligned action across all levels of government, transparent financing mechanisms, and policies designed around real-life conditions rather than formal compliance alone.
AmCham BiH and its member companies emphasized that the value of the initiative lies not only in the resources provided, but in its contribution to a broader conversation on social responsibility, institutional responsibility, and the shared obligation to ensure protection and dignity for the most vulnerable members of society.
