Sanela Diana Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Sanela Diana Jenkins is a Bosnian entrepreneur
and philanthropist
. She currently resides in California
. Jenkins fled her home country during the Siege of Sarajevo
and emigrated to London, where she studied at City University, London
.
, Jenkins is the eldest of two children in a middle-class Bosniak family. Her mother was an accountant
and her father was an economist
. She grew up in the concrete-block apartments that characterized communist-era Yugoslavia
. Jenkins studied economics
at the University of Sarajevo
, but the outbreak of war in 1992 forced her to flee her home and spend more than a year in Croatia
as a refugee before emigrating to London.
She produced a photography book entitled “Room 23,” photographed by Deborah Anderson
. Many of the celebrities in the book are friends of Jenkins, including George Clooney
and Elton John
. Proceeds from the sale of the book benefit several philanthropic programs.
In 2009, Jenkins created and launched the Neuro line of functional beverages. Based in Santa Monica, Neuro produces drinks with natural ingredients and packaged with recycled materials. Neuro products are distributed in the West Coast of the United States and in Great Britain. The drinks aim to fill a variety of needs over the course of the day and include such descriptive names as Gasm, Sleep, Sonic, Trim, Sport, Bliss and Aqua.
. In 2009, Diana Jenkins was awarded the Peace Connection prize by the Center for Peace and Multi-Ethnic Cooperation. Past winners have included Bono and Nelson Mandela.
She established the Sanela Diana Jenkins Human Rights Project at the University of California, Los Angeles
in August 2008. The clinic concentrates on legal advocacy, political advocacy and documentation. This program is the first endowed program on international justice and human rights at any law school in the western United States.
Immediately following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
, Jenkins and actor Sean Penn
established the Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization to deliver hospital supplies and provide medical care to thousands of displaced Haitians. She compared the long-term recovery in Haiti to that in Bosnia, highlighted the need for basic humanitarian aid, and argued that the U.S. military should not leave the country prematurely.
A supporter of AIDS research, Jenkins has organized and hosted fund-raisers for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. On March 7, 2010, Jenkins and Neuro sponsored and co-chaired the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. The event raised $3.7 million. In October 2009, she co-hosted with Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon the launch of Project PEP in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
In March 2010, Jenkins posted bail for former Bosnian President Ejup Ganić
, who was detained in London on a Serbian extradition request.
In August 2010 her TV station TV1, which has its headquarters in Sarajevo will start to air its program. She managed to win the affection of many TV stars in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have become part of a team of her television.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. She currently resides in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Jenkins fled her home country during the Siege of Sarajevo
Siege of Sarajevo
The Siege of Sarajevo is the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. Serb forces of the Republika Srpska and the Yugoslav People's Army besieged Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 5 April 1992 to 29 February 1996 during the Bosnian War.After Bosnia...
and emigrated to London, where she studied at City University, London
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
.
Early life
Born in SarajevoSarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Jenkins is the eldest of two children in a middle-class Bosniak family. Her mother was an accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
and her father was an economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
. She grew up in the concrete-block apartments that characterized communist-era Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. Jenkins studied economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the University of Sarajevo
University of Sarajevo
The University of Sarajevo is the first university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was originally established in 1531 as a Madrasah or Islamic Law college, with a modern university being established and expanded on top of that in 1949. Today, with 23 faculties and around 55,000 enrolled students, it...
, but the outbreak of war in 1992 forced her to flee her home and spend more than a year in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
as a refugee before emigrating to London.
Career
While still a student in London, she acquired the swimwear line Melissa Odabash.She produced a photography book entitled “Room 23,” photographed by Deborah Anderson
Deborah Anderson
-Family and early life:Deborah Anderson is the daughter of singer Jon Anderson and Jennifer, and sister to singer Jade Anderson. On the 1983 Jon & Vangelis album Private Collection, Jon wrote the lyrics and sang "Deborah", a song dedicated to his daughter...
. Many of the celebrities in the book are friends of Jenkins, including George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
and Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
. Proceeds from the sale of the book benefit several philanthropic programs.
In 2009, Jenkins created and launched the Neuro line of functional beverages. Based in Santa Monica, Neuro produces drinks with natural ingredients and packaged with recycled materials. Neuro products are distributed in the West Coast of the United States and in Great Britain. The drinks aim to fill a variety of needs over the course of the day and include such descriptive names as Gasm, Sleep, Sonic, Trim, Sport, Bliss and Aqua.
Philanthropic activities
Diana Jenkins established The Irnis Catic Foundation in 2002 in memory of her brother who was killed by Serbs.The Foundation provides essential funding to the medical facilities at the University of SarajevoUniversity of Sarajevo
The University of Sarajevo is the first university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was originally established in 1531 as a Madrasah or Islamic Law college, with a modern university being established and expanded on top of that in 1949. Today, with 23 faculties and around 55,000 enrolled students, it...
. In 2009, Diana Jenkins was awarded the Peace Connection prize by the Center for Peace and Multi-Ethnic Cooperation. Past winners have included Bono and Nelson Mandela.
She established the Sanela Diana Jenkins Human Rights Project at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in August 2008. The clinic concentrates on legal advocacy, political advocacy and documentation. This program is the first endowed program on international justice and human rights at any law school in the western United States.
Immediately following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, Jenkins and actor Sean Penn
Sean Penn
Sean Justin Penn is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, also known for his political and social activism...
established the Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization to deliver hospital supplies and provide medical care to thousands of displaced Haitians. She compared the long-term recovery in Haiti to that in Bosnia, highlighted the need for basic humanitarian aid, and argued that the U.S. military should not leave the country prematurely.
A supporter of AIDS research, Jenkins has organized and hosted fund-raisers for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. On March 7, 2010, Jenkins and Neuro sponsored and co-chaired the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. The event raised $3.7 million. In October 2009, she co-hosted with Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon the launch of Project PEP in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
In March 2010, Jenkins posted bail for former Bosnian President Ejup Ganić
Ejup Ganic
Ejup Ganić, PhD was President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2000 to 2001.-Biography:Ganić was born in Sebečevo village near Novi Pazar, Serbia...
, who was detained in London on a Serbian extradition request.
In August 2010 her TV station TV1, which has its headquarters in Sarajevo will start to air its program. She managed to win the affection of many TV stars in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have become part of a team of her television.