Starting without a network
Family, friends and familiar faces stay behind. New relationships take time — and a place to begin.
02 — The person behind it
My Story
I was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but I have spent much of my life moving between countries and cultures.
My first experience of starting over came when I was eight. At an age when most children are focused on school and friends, I was learning to adapt to a new environment: meeting new people, understanding new ways of doing things, and finding my way in a world that no longer felt familiar.
That early experience stayed with me.
At 23, I moved again, this time to the United States. Once again, I found myself starting from the beginning: learning a new environment, building relationships, and navigating unfamiliar systems. Later, I moved back to Europe and went through that process again.
Each move taught me something different. I learned how much courage it takes to begin again, how tiring constant adaptation can be, and how difficult everyday life can be when you don't yet understand the language, the systems, or the social norms. I also learned about loneliness. You can be surrounded by people and still feel alone. You can be capable and independent and still not know where to turn for simple information, advice, or a familiar face.
These experiences changed how I understand migration and integration. Moving to a new country is not simply about changing your address. It is about rebuilding routines, relationships, confidence, and a sense of direction, while carrying with you the identity and experiences you already have. And sometimes, what makes the biggest difference is not a complicated solution, but having someone who understands what you are going through.
That is where Zavod Lastena comes from.
It grew out of my own experience of arriving somewhere new and not knowing where to begin, and from seeing how much a supportive community, a useful connection, or simply a person who listens can mean.
Lastena is a place where people can find practical support, make connections, understand their new environment, and gradually build a life that feels like their own. We believe newcomers should not be defined by what they lack when they arrive. They bring knowledge, skills, cultures, and perspectives that enrich the communities they join.
Lastena grew out of that journey — and out of a desire to make the process of starting over a little less lonely and a lot more human.