Jajce is a small town in central Bosnia. It has historical significance in the region as it was the last capital city of the Bosnian Kingdom before it fell to the Ottoman invasion in the 1400s. The last King of Bosnia was executed and buried just outside the town. This history lets it carry the title “Kraljevski grad” or Kingdom City. In more modern history the town is remembered as the place where the agreement to form Yugoslavia was signed, at the 2nd session of the AVNOJ council in November 1943. The town is also known for its beautiful location, particularly the nearby lakes surrounded by mountains and the 20m high waterfall in the centre of the town. 

In recent years there has been a large exodus from the town as young people and families move to counties in Western Europe in search of better payed employment and a way of life less hindered by the complications of systematic segregation and corruption. While the town has some successful companies unemployment is still high and work that is available is often low paid. Jajce doesn’t have a university and so after high school any young person seeking further education is going to leave town. Many of them will end up making a life somewhere else. 

Novi Most began working in Jajce in 2010, partnering with the local Evangelical Church. Edina Hajder, pastor of the church, is from Jajce and is one of Budo’s sisters. (His other sister is an English teacher in a local school.) Edina has a long history of working in the community and connecting with young people through sports. Building on her connections the Novi Most team have developed the music teaching and social activities that form the basis of their work. In over a decade of work they have seen their reputation grow and have never needed to advertise for students for their courses.