When I grow up I want to be...

Boldly going where no SOS child has gone before. Hana in space! (SOS Archives)
Boldly going where no SOS child has gone before. Hana in space!

Eleven-year-old Arijana works hard to make her dream of becoming a top ballerina come true. "I go to ballet school, as well as going to a normal school," says Arijana. "My teacher says I'm talented and my [SOS] mum agrees. I really love ballet because it's so graceful and refined. One day I hope to play the leading role in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake on the stage of a famous theatre."

Fatima, her twelve-year-old friend, has her eyes on a more trendy field. "I want to become a fashion designer," says Fatima, smiling and adding that every single margin of her books contains drawings of her designs. "My favourite channel is, of course, Fashion TV. I like to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in fashion, especially those set by my favourites Dolce & Gabbana."

If Fatima does pursue her dream, she'll have huge support from her friend Sanela. "I also love fashion, but I'm more into wearing clothes than designing them," says Sanela, laughing. "I'd like to start off as a sales assistant in a trendy boutique and earn enough money to have my own shop one day," says Sanela, promising her friend that there'll always be a rack in her shop for Fatima's designs.

Fatima
Fatima's summer collection
The trendy girls need not worry about how to finish off their look, as nine-year-old Semir plans to be a hair stylist. "When I grow up I would like to be a hair stylist," says Semir. "I like to cut and style both short hair and long hair, so I can't decide whether to become a barber or a hairdresser. Maybe I will be both, so all my [SOS] brothers, sisters and friends can come to my salon."

13-year-old Adin has his mind set on a tougher profession. "I'd like to be in the police. I would like to join the force to help keep peace and to fight crime," says the boy seriously. "This is a very serious profession and I'll have to study and work very hard because I'd like to be a detective one day."

Emir's passion lies in everything to do with cars. The eleven-year-old boy has come up with a lucrative plan for his future profession. "I will either become a racing car driver or a taxi driver," says the boy firmly. "That way I can make money and still do what I enjoy most. Of course, I don't even have a licence yet and, as a matter of fact, I've never even driven a car, but I know I'll be a great driver because I love cars."

One day, Emir will drive a yellow cab (SOS Archives)
One day, Emir will drive a yellow cab

Another eleven-year-old, dark-haired Hana, has her head in the clouds. Literally. "I want to become an astronaut!" exclaims the girl. "Flying to space, among the stars, being up there... There's nothing better in the world." Hana follows every development at the International Space Station. "One day, I'll be wishing you Happy New Year from up in space!" says our little star walker.

Though being an astronaut is a demanding and time-consuming calling, Hana doesn't worry, because her friend Edisa will be there to help her out. "I want to become a nanny and care for children professionally," says the 14-year-old. "I know I can do this. I already help my [SOS] mum with the younger ones and I enjoy every aspect of it."

Six-year-old Zaklina has a simple, yet very important wish. The youngest of three siblings, the girl has no happy memories from her first few years of life. But, the last three years she has spent in the care of SOS mother Marina have changed Zaklina into a happy little girl who loves to eat sweets and hug her SOS mum. And that's her wish: "When I grow up, I want to become a mother!"