Nina Milenkovic
Nina Milenkovic is 23 years and is studying to become a psychologist in her country, Serbia. She also works as a volunteer with children with special needs. Nina tells us about her experience as a former Step by Step program student.
How would you describe your experience with the Step by Step program?
An NGO that was implementing the program came to my class when I was 11 or 12 years old. They asked us who would like to be the part of the program. The NGO representatives told us that we would learn to be more open and to accept other people. It sounded interesting to me because my parents were always teaching me the same: how to respect others, how every child is the same regardless his or her peculiarities. I live in Serbia, and here people are not that open to those who are different from them. That is why I volunteered to take part in the SbS program. Then I had to get a permission from my parents to do so, and they, of course, allowed me. At that time, I thought it would be great to meet new people and get to know something more than what I studied at school.
What activities did you do with your SbS group?
Every once in a while we would gather together and talk about different things with our teachers. I remember that they organized different mock situations for us, in which we had to find solutions and react as we would have done in real life. For example, they once told us that, a child who had Down syndrome, had problems in the classroom, and we had to respond to that. Our teachers helped us with their advice. After trainings like that one I feel it is easier for me to connect with children who have special needs.
What was the main lesson you learnt during the program?
I learned how to behave in an environment where there are children who are different from me. It could be children with a special physical or psychological need or kids from another religion, it doesn't matter. I learned how to communicate with them, how to accept them as they are and how to think and react in different situations. I also experienced how a school with special needs children looks like.
How did the SbS program contribute to your growth?
My SbS program lasted for two years, and it gave me a lot. It helped me develop my thinking and democratic values. It also showed me how important an inclusive environment is for our society. My SbS program experience is one of the reasons why I do voluntary work with children with special needs. In my country people are a bit prejudiced towards such children. The SbS program helped me to see their potential and realized that every child and every person is the same. After school I started to study psychology, and I pay a lot of attention to inclusiveness and education within my studies as well. I also hope to achieve a Master’s degree in educational psychology in order to be able to help those children who need my help.
