After spending years abroad in France, Biljana longed to return home to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite living a stable and peaceful life overseas, she felt a deep yearning for her homeland. Encouraged by her children, she decided to come back, realizing that her heart truly belonged there. However, returning home brought new challenges — she found herself unemployed and unsure where to start after years away from the local job market.
Drawing on her experience in the pastry industry and her belief that it’s never too late to begin again, Biljana decided to pursue her passion for cooking. To her, the smell of freshly baked bread symbolized home, comfort, and belonging — feelings she wanted to share with others. Around this time, she came across a call from the Local Partnership Istočno Sarajevo under the EU-funded Support to Local Employment Partnerships project, implemented by the International Labour Organization. She applied to the “Start Your Business” entrepreneurship training, which proved to be a turning point in her life.
The training gave Biljana the tools and confidence she needed to turn her idea into a real business. She learned how to develop a business plan and gained self-assurance in her abilities. Most importantly, she discovered that with dedication and the right guidance, success is possible at any stage in life.
Today, Biljana and her husband run a cozy pastry shop called “Like at home” on the outskirts of Sokolac. The shop offers a delightful mix of Bosnian tradition and French culinary skills — from homemade pies to buttery croissants — creating a warm atmosphere that reminds customers of home. Her shop has become known not only for its quality products but also for the sense of comfort and community it provides.
Biljana’s journey is a testament to perseverance and the power of opportunity. Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple yet powerful: success takes effort and time, but time will pass anyway — so it’s better to spend it pursuing your dreams.
