Meet Adin Jašarević our Translator and Cultural Mediator

Every working day begins differently for Adin Jašarević, translator and cultural mediator at the Danish Refugee Council. People on the move who want assistance are sometimes waiting for him at the temporary reception center's door, to whom he devotes himself in order to provide all necessary data through dialogue. He usually interprets for doctors working in infirmaries at the center, but he also has private interactions with patients. He is specially engaged in the pediatric infirmary, where the DRC team has shown remarkable responsibility and attention in treating the youngest residents of Sarajevo's Ušivak center. Adin's responsibilities also include accompanying people on their way to medical facilities and ensuring that they receive sufficient care.

"I like freedom while working, and DRC as an organization enables me that, which makes me a responsible worker who selflessly helps people in need. I know what the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, my parents and friends, went through, and that influenced me to love humanitarian work and to work with my colleagues every day to reduce the suffering, pain, and sadness of people who come to our country. Knowing the Persian language and the culture of the people from that speaking area allows me to feel everything that worries them and to easily provide them with the necessary help. We have a golden saying: 'It doesn't matter how effective the medicine is; the way in which the medicine is given to the user is more important'. And just like that, the approach and attitude towards people on the move are important, because when people feel your sincerity, they will surely accept your instructions much better. I feel that I manage to gain their trust, and that makes me happy," emphasizes Adin.

Cultural mediators most often mediate between people on the move and people from our speaking area, in which case it is necessary to create an adequate atmosphere in order not to damage the translation and to solve the existing problem at the same time.

"There are many challenges that we face, and one of them is when we have to explain to adult single persons that they cannot be accommodated in the Ušivak family center and that, according to the law, they should be accommodated in the center Blažuj. In such situations, it is important to bring empathy into the conversation and emphasize that the services in the centers are of equal quality, but also that the transfer does not mean that they will not be able to see people they know who remain in Ušivak. On the contrary, they will be able to socialize with their friends outside the centers in their free time. Here, the role of cultural mediators is crucial; primarily due to their knowledge of cultural norms in the country of origin of that person, and they manage to find the best solution. Often, a nice word itself is a great help, and everything starts with it," concludes Adin.

Adin spends his free time with his family. It relaxes him, rests him, and fills him with energy that gets him going during the work week.