Meet the team
Belma Cemalovic embarked on her journey in the field of youth organizations as a student during her Bachelor’s in Business Studies in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and partially in Dublin, Ireland. Her early involvement in youth organisations began in 2009 with AIESEC, a global platform dedicated to nurturing young leaders through diverse practical experiences, including internships and volunteering. Over two years, Belma played a pivotal role in projects centered around youth mobility and later ascended to the position of Local Committee Exchange Vice President, where she led initiatives to recruit international students for internships across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Expanding her horizon, Belma also volunteered in Dublin during her final year of studies, contributing to an after-school program for elementary students, before furthering her commitment to youth development with the Youth Informative Organisation (OIA) in Sarajevo. Throughout the years, she worked in project management and was involved with various organizations, including HOPE ´87, the Foreign Policy Initiative, and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung for South-East Europe, enriching her expertise in managing projects across local, regional, and EU levels.
Belma also holds a Master’s Degree in Management of Public Sector and Environmental Economics from the University of Ljubljana, Sloveni and is pursuing a second Master’s in Digital Entrepreneurship at FH Joanneum in Graz Austria. She currently works as a Senior Innovation Consultant and International Project Manager at the High-tech business incubator Science Park Graz and is part of the ESA BIC team (European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre).
Martina Ivanko has been a participant in voluntary projects from her elementary school days, contributing to project proposal writing, fundraising, and implementation. Her involvement in event management, particularly in summer camps organized in collaboration with Jugendzentrum Jugendhus Hardehausen in Padeborn, Germany, has bestowed her with comprehensive insights into project preparation and execution.
During her academic years in Sarajevo, Martina contributed significantly to the OIA, transitioning from a project assistant to a project manager. In 2009, she co-founded the Sarajevo branch of AEGEE, Europe’s vast student organization advocating for a democratic, diverse, and borderless Europe, spearheading youth exchanges, summer camps, and various conferences.
Martina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, is on the verge of completing her Master’s Studies in Economics at Karl-Franzes University in Graz. She has been working in the Styrian Sparkasse Bank in the corporate retail sales sector and is currently on maternity leave, however remains active in the United Power of Youth.
Xhuana Spaneshi is an intern at UPOY, who has passion for international projects and youth mobility began at 14 with her first Model United Nations in Cividale del Friuli. This sparked her interest in global dialogue, leading her to join the MUN secretariat in 2017–2018. She studied Diplomatic and International Sciences in Trieste, including an Erasmus in Munich that inspired her thesis on Muslim communities in Germany. Active in MSOI Gorizia, she organized conferences and study trips to EU and UN institutions.
During her Master’s in Human Rights at the University of Padova, she focused on children’s rights. A second Erasmus in Graz and an internship at the Centre for Southeast European Studies supported her thesis on minority and participation rights in Kosovo, backed by field research and experience at the NGO Kinderbüro. These experiences have shaped her career goals and given her a strong European network of friends.
Raja Waseem is a master’s student in Computer Science at the University of Vienna, Austria, and an active youth worker deeply involved in volunteering activities. He has participated in numerous youth exchange programs across Europe, acquiring extensive international experience and cultural insight. Currently, Raja volunteers at Scout Adventures Gilwell Park in London, UK, as well as at our organization, UPOY, where he serves as a Dissemination Expert and Content Creator. Known within our organization for his creativity and innovative thinking, Raja consistently brings fresh perspectives and valuable ideas to every project he undertakes.
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