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Welcome to the series #EVERYDAYHEROES in which we introduce exceptional members of our network. Through pop culture, we discovered that heroes fly, have superpowers, come from another planet, and wear capes and costumes, but there are other, real heroes. Heroes we are surrounded by every day, who raise their voices in times of injustice and fight for the rights of all of us. Who look the same as us, who express their superpower by fighting every day for a better and democratic society. Everyday heroes, that we have to talk about. Follow us on our Instagram to catch the next interview among the first ones.
Another Everyday Hero is Omar Memišević from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Can you introduce yourself?
I am Omar Memišević, currently living in Breza, a charming small town near our beautiful capital of Sarajevo. I was born in Zenica 26 years ago. I hold a BA in political science, international relations, and diplomacy, and am currently working on my MA thesis focusing on foreign malign influence and soft power. So basically, my broader area of focus is foreign policy, especially the Western Balkans and Atlanticism, something that I thoroughly enjoyed working on while I was a political affairs trainee in the Council of Europe HQ in Strasbourg, as well as during my Congressional Fellowship at the US Congress where I was focusing on contemporary foreign policy challenges like the Abraham Accords, the aggression of Ukraine, etc. Following my return from Washington DC, I have taken a little break from the 9-5 framework to focus on personal growth and development, but am still avidly involved in the processes in the region on a policy level.
What do you consider your biggest success?
Honestly, my biggest success would be my resolve to go through with the thing I wanted to do, and not give up in the face of adversity. When you come from a small town, there are a lot of those in your way.
What does the word DEMOCRACY mean to you?
I think that democracy is best embodied in the words of President Lincoln “…government of the people, by the people, for the people…” said during his famous Gettysburg address in 1863, which explains the essence of democracy we should all strive to.
Who do you consider your Everyday Hero and why?
My everyday heroes would be ordinary people fighting for their ideals and working on a better society. Young and not-so-young activists who see the challenges their community is faced with and decide not to sit idly by and observe, but give their best to make it a better place for everyone.
What does the concept of Everyday Hero mean to you?
I will just say that I find it tremendously inspiring to see the success stories of our colleagues from different countries and see that they strive for more or less the same goals as any other young person from member countries.
Why did you become a member of EDYN?
What attracted me to EDYN is that the Network brought together young people from countries that are fairly similar in their socio-economic status, have shared histories, and have similar mentalities. What this does is, it helps with peer-to-peer cooperation, hammers out great joint initiatives that transcend national borders, and while at the same time helps with our skill development and broadens our network. I find the stories and actions of other members truly inspiring, and honestly, they are the everyday heroes that EDYN talks about, and I am proud to be featured among them.
