Real-life Stories: Dejan Ivanovic

When Dejan was 22, a single step changed everything in his life.  

One ordinary day in 1999, while serving his country, his boot came down on a hidden landmine. The explosion took his leg, his plans, and nearly his hope. "I woke up in the hospital wondering if I'd ever walk, work, or love again," he shares quietly. 

The Boy Who Loved Sports

Growing up in Serbia, Dejan loved sports, spending time with friends, and the simple joy of being young, even amid the turbulence of the 1990s. "I played soccer, basketball, went to concerts. I never imagined war would touch me so directly," he says. That innocence shattered on May 21, 1999, when he stepped on a mine while serving in the army. 

"The explosion took my leg, but my comrades saved my life. I celebrate that day as my second birthday. I was reborn then." The physical pain was immense, but the emotional toll was even more painful. "At that moment, all my plans collapsed. I didn’t know how I would live, work, or continue."  

The road to recovery was long: multiple surgeries, learning to walk with a prosthetic, and facing the hardest battle of all, which was acceptance. "Losing a leg isn’t just physical. It’s learning to trust your body again, to face people’s stares," he admits. Yet with time, he found strength in his faith and family. "My priest told me, ‘God has a plan.’ Slowly, I began to believe it." He married soon after the accident and became a father to two children. "My family gave me a reason to keep going," he says, "and a future to fight for." Today, Dejan plays with the Niš Academic and Sports Club (NAIS), a wheelchair basketball team from the University of Niš, which he describes as one of his greatest sources of support.

Becoming an Advocate  

Dejan’s personal struggle led him to become an advocate for landmine survivors. In 2008, he joined the organization Assistance. Advocacy. Access - Serbia, part of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). "I wanted to help others like me, people who had lost limbs, loved ones, or their sense of hope," he explains. His work focused on providing support to survivors, from legal assistance to rehabilitation programs. "Many survivors faced bureaucratic hurdles to access basic rights. We fought to change that," he says.  

Dejan also conducted and still does, mine-risk education in schools and communities, warning others about the dangers of unexploded ordnances.  

Dejan’s Plea Against Landmines   

"These weapons don’t discriminate. They wait silently in the ground, harming civilians long after conflicts end," he says. He recalls a recent incident in Serbia where a worker lost his hand while handling an unexploded grenade from World War I. 

"How can anyone guarantee these weapons will all be found? Such incidents are proof that they can linger for generations." 

His plea to countries considering re-introducing landmines is simple: "History remembers. Do you want to be remembered for causing suffering or for protecting lives? There are better ways to ensure security today: drones, technology, diplomacy. Landmines are relics of the past that should not have a place in our future." 

Reasons to Remain Hopeful 

Despite the challenges, Dejan remains hopeful. "Every survivor has a story, and every story has the power to change minds. That’s why I keep fighting," he says. His work with ICBL has connected him with survivors worldwide, reinforcing his belief in collective action. "Together, we can create a safer world, one where no one has to live in fear of stepping on a mine." Today, Dejan continues his advocacy, driven by the belief that humanity must prevail over weapons of war. 

"I lost my leg, but I didn’t lose my voice. And I’ll use it for as long as it takes to make a difference."