Under the slogan "Be Our Strength", with the support of the PRAGG project, three organizations from the Cazin area have united to form the Cazin Disability Association Network (MIU Cazin) with a common goal – to introduce systemic support for associations in order to create stable working conditions and enable access to funding from higher levels of government.

The Network, consisting of the Association of Paraplegics and Children with Paralysis Cazin, the Association of Parents, Children, and Youth with Special Needs "Our Children Are Children Too", and the Cazin Dystrophy Association, has taken decisive steps toward addressing the status of persons with disabilities in this town in the Krajina region. The problems and challenges they face daily are many, but as they say, it is precisely these challenges that give them the “wind in their sails” to achieve their goal.

Campaign coordinator Hasmir Delić explains that persons with disabilities fight daily for their basic rights: "The problem is further complicated by the lack of an organized approach to advocating for systemic solutions due to the unregulated method of financing disability organizations. Despite the fact that we work in the field every day, provide support, organize activities, and fight for better conditions for our members, the key issue remains the absence of systematically structured institutional financial support for our associations. That’s why we have a clearly defined goal - to establish systemic support for our associations starting in 2026. This would provide us with stable working conditions, open up opportunities to secure funding from higher levels of government and non-governmental organizations, and allow us to take advantage of other opportunities where the main requirement is systemically regulated budget financing for organizations of persons with disabilities - all in accordance with the Law on Organizations and Representative Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and Civilian War Victims of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina".

MIU Cazin has outlined three main goals. The first is for the City of Cazin to allocate, starting in 2026, a minimum of 10,000 BAM annually for each representative organization that is a member of the Network. The second goal is for the City Council to adopt a decision or regulation on the method of financing, in accordance with legal provisions, which will be drafted in cooperation with the Network. The third goal is to strengthen the established network of organizations of persons with disabilities in order to ensure effective advocacy on disability issues within the local community.

In the newly established Cazin Disability Association Network, the Association of Paraplegics and People with Childhood Paralysis Cazin sees, they say, a solution to their problems. That’s why they are calling on all people of goodwill to support the initiative so that everyone can benefit. “Since its founding in 1997, the Association of Paraplegics and People with Childhood Paralysis Cazin has actively participated in advocacy efforts to protect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities. So far, we have received partial support from the City, but unfortunately, it is not enough, as the amount we receive from the city budget is insufficient to cover all our needs. We believe that the current distribution of funds is inadequate, which severely impacts the work of our Association. If nothing changes, we will be forced to shut down the Association of Paraplegics and People with Childhood Paralysis Cazin”, said Irfad Rekić, the Association's president.

Through various rehabilitation and education projects, the Association of Parents of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities “Our Children Are Children Too” provides support to its members. They went a step further by ensuring full implementation of inclusive social integration for children with intellectual disabilities, employing professional staff such as speech therapists, special education teachers, and psychologists to work with the children. However, that has changed. “For quite some time now, none of these services have been available. The reason is that the professional staff who worked with our children have emigrated from Bosnia and Herzegovina. And because the issue of financing has not been systemically resolved, the very survival of our Association is now at risk. The small amount of financial support we’ve received from the City is simply not enough to meet the needs of our members. That’s why we see this Network as a chance for our revival and survival”, said Refik Samardžić, president of the Association “Our Children Are Children Too.”

The wish and goal of the members of these associations is to ensure equal opportunities and quality of life for all children and persons with disabilities. The campaign “Be Our Strength” has also received public support from representatives of the City Administration of Cazin.

If they succeed in achieving their goal, Cazin will join other local communities that have already recognized the importance and role of organizations of persons with disabilities and adopted similar positive practices.