Jana Košir from Ljubljana

The award-winning Jana Košir grew up in an environment that bred criminals. While her two brothers are currently serving prison sentences Jana has managed to find a different path. Alcohol abuse, physical violence and emotional abuse were present in her family on a daily basis.

As a little girl she would be teased at school for simply being different. Both her parents were deaf, and she only learned how to speak gradually, on the street, in the kindergarten and of course at school. Her only other assistants in this were books. Her mother worked in a bookbinder's shop, which luckily supplied them with plenty of books, and she is still a passionate reader today. By strengthening her desire to acquire the knowledge they held inside them, those books may even have saved her. Other children would think her odd because she mispronounced many words or could not use them properly; however, her curiosity was beginning bridging the differences with increasing success.

Jana had to learn not only ‘normal' language but also sign language. She became her parents. ‘right-hand little girl', which demanded from her all the maturity of an adult. An enormous burden for a child, which she found somehow easier to bear on account of her awareness that she was of use to someone. It supplied her with a feeling of self-worth.

Nevertheless, the burden was eventually too much for her and she found herself a job before even finishing primary school. But while her thirst for knowledge did not wane, she was also encouraged in her desire to finish school by her colleagues at work. When she plucked up enough courage, help followed. She was supported by the social work centre, the Adult Education School and others - until finally the first success and rewards arrived.

She completed primary school and enrolled in a confectioner programme, which she passed with straight As. She also completed the shop assistant programme at the Agriculture and Food Science High School. She qualified as a shop-assistant and even received the Best Student Award.

After work Jana attended part-time English and computer classes. Her enthusiasm was infectious: she inspired three more colleagues from work to continue their education, and even persuaded her brother to enrol in a programme of vocational education.

This is, however, not the end of her educational plans: she still has many more for herself in life, and judging by the will of steel that she has so far shown, she is destined to succeed.