Together for Students: Charity Evening of the SUM Foundation Celebrates Solidarity and Community

Helping Students in Need is Our Shared Mission – guided by this very idea, the third Charity Evening of the SUM Foundation was held. It was not merely an event, but a powerful reminder that solidarity has a face – the face of students, professors, university staff, and every community member who believes in education that is accessible to all.

"The SUM Foundation was born out of a student’s cry for help and a genuine need to offer support when it could not be provided through formal channels. Today, four years later, I feel pride and gratitude toward all who recognized the importance of this mission and have supported us from the very beginning. This is our joint project, our shared responsibility – because every student deserves the opportunity to receive an education," said  Prof. Marijan Tustonja, PhD, Head of the SUM Foundation and the Office for Students with Disabilities.

That the SUM Foundation did not arise by chance but from a real need to respond to the challenges faced by students was also emphasized by the Rector of the University of Mostar, Prof. Zoran Tomić, PhD:

"The SUM Foundation was founded on a simple but powerful idea – that no student should ever be left alone. With this event, we are not only celebrating humanity but also the values that form the foundation of every true university – trust, support, and a sense of belonging. Because our University is not just an educational institution – it is a community. And a community is worth as much as it knows how to care for its members."

The Charity Evening, held at the Student Center of the University of Mostar, aimed to synergistically connect the story of the SUM Foundation with the everyday life of students, once again demonstrated how powerful unity can be as a driver of change.

During the ceremonial part of the program, awards and acknowledgments were given to individuals, professors, and students whose engagement and support significantly contributed to the development of the SUM Foundation and the organization of the Charity Evening, making it an event that goes beyond formal boundaries and leaves a lasting mark on the community.

This event was organized within the framework of the EUPeace Alliance, as part of Work Package 5 – Student and Campus Life, as a Medium Sized Event in cooperation with the University of Mostar, the Student Union of the University of Mostar, the Student Center of the University of Mostar, and student clubs from the Speech and Language Pathology program (SaLPSA), the Social Work program (Socijaliziraj se), and the Public Relations program (PRUMO).