From Middlebury to Sarajevo: students must turn values into action

Imagine a family in rural Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have a four-year-old child who has just recently been diagnosed with cancer. The nearest hospital cannot provide the treatment their child urgently needs. The best pediatric oncology care is in the capital, Sarajevo, which is hours away. They are not only afraid for their child and this diagnosis, but are also worried about everything that comes with it. How will they afford to get to Sarajevo? Where will they stay? If they already struggle to make ends meet, how will they cover the time away from home? For many of us here at Middlebury, crises like these may feel distant. Bosnia and Herzegovina is ultimately thousands of miles away from our campus. However, I would argue that distance does not determine responsibility. If we pride ourselves on global citizenship, service, and engagement, these values must extend beyond our classrooms and should translate into action. 

This is exactly where Udruženje Srce za djecu oboljelu od raka (Association “Heart for the kids with cancer”) comes in. They provide housing near treatment centers so families do not have to worry about where they will sleep during the child’s treatment. Further, the association provides psychosocial support for children and families, educational resources, and community-building for those who often feel isolated during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. In short, they allow parents to focus on what matters the most: their child receiving cancer treatment. 

As the son of refugees from the Bosnian War, I grew up understanding both hardship and opportunity. I was raised on stories focused on displacement and survival, but also on gratitude for my education here in the United States. Now, I have the privilege of studying at Middlebury College, an institution that largely emphasizes global citizenship and student leadership. This privilege that we have carries an obligation. Middlebury goes beyond teaching about the world and actually prepares us to engage with it. The true question is whether we as students are willing to act on what we claim to value. 

Last year, I partnered with the Red Cross in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by running the RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon, raising over $8,300 to support vulnerable communities. Through Middlebury CCI support, I later interned in Bosnia and Herzegovina, seeing firsthand how the funds were used to make a tangible difference. That experience reshaped how I understand sport, shifting it from a competition-only focus to a powerful bridge between communities. Most importantly, it reinforced my belief that student-led action can create tangible differences when backed by collective support. 

This is exactly where we, as a Middlebury community, can step in. This March, I am launching a humanitarian fundraising campaign in an official partnership with Srce za djecu. On March 21st, I will run the Mostar Half Marathon to raise funds to support these children battling cancer and their families. Throughout the month, I will document my training, fundraising journey, race experience and time connecting with the organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I aim to raise $13,100 for the symbolic 13.1 miles I will run in Mostar for these children. However, this campaign is not just about the race. The larger question is what kind of campus community we want to be. Middlebury has the capacity to mobilize for different humanitarian efforts around the world. Our networks, resources and student body are committed to engagement. When we support initiatives like this, we demonstrate that our values are practiced. 

During March, I will organize campus events to bring this mission to life in our community. For those who love sports, I will be hosting a 3v3 soccer tournament, with all registration fees going directly toward the campaign and, ultimately, Srce za djecu. For those who want another way to contribute, we will also hold a card-writing and video-recording event, where students can send personal messages to these children and families. These events intentionally connect our campus to communities beyond it. 

Every donation is significant, and every shared conversation expands our reach. The community we gather for this greater good will affirm that Middlebury does more than just speak about impact, as it creates it. 

Crossing the finish line in Mostar will mean more than just finishing a race. It will mark a full-circle moment, as we launch a campaign on our campus and conclude it in the country where these children and families are being supported. The distance between Middlebury and Sarajevo is measurable in miles and kilometers, but our willingness to act is immeasurable. 

If members of the Middlebury community are serious about global citizenship, then we must also be intentional about translating these values into action. Those 13.1 miles are a measurable distance, but what we choose to do with our opportunities and privileges as a community is not. Each student at Middlebury has passions and talents that can have a meaningful impact if we are willing to use them.