Bosnia and Herzegovina
Economic Development
Updates from the Field - Give Microcredit Loans to Women in Bosnia
Updates from the FieldUpdates from the Field (or Progress Reports) on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.com by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
|
Recent Updates from the Field
- Sep 28, 2009 - Elvedina Plasto's Story
- Sep 28, 2009 - Fazila Efendic's Story
- Sep 28, 2009 - The Impact of Relationship Building for theWomen of Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Aug 16, 2009 - July Update from the Field
- Apr 16, 2009 - New Defenition of a Business leader
- Apr 16, 2009 - Razija's Story
- Feb 12, 2009 - Read Bosnia Participants' Stories
- Sep 29, 2008 - American Express Members Project
- Jun 7, 2007 - Microcredit Loans Help Bosnian Women
Elvedina Plasto's Story
By Ariana LaMagra - Elvedina Plasto, September 28, 2009 02:11 PM
Elvedina Plasto is a 40 years old resident of a small town in Central Bosnia called Kakanj. She is married, mother of two sons who are not 19 and 11 years old and she also has a daughter who is 9 years old. Her occupation is a teacher of religion.
Even though she is very proud of her title of a mother, if you ask from Elvedina to tell you something about herself, she will tell you that she is a mother, and a wife, and a busy woman, and a housewife, and an active citizen and a leader in her community, and a good friend… and many more things.
But how is all of that weaved in only one person? How a woman manages to carry that entire burden on her back?
Elvedina says that she can thank for all this to, again, only one person - her mother. Even though illiterate, her mother was full of wisdom, patience and endless love for her children. Elvedina learned from her that success will not come on its alone in life, but one must fight for it. Guided through life by her mother’s heritage, Elvedina started building a heritage that she will leave for her and all other children, with hope that she will contribute for the world to become a better place for life.
Since, not so long ago, Elvedina felt that this place for life can turn out to be the worst nightmare over a night. The war that began at the beginning of 1992 caught Elvedina and her family as many other people unprepared. A young mother of a three year-old boy, back then, she faced the hardest challenge for a woman, for a mother for the first time. How to protect her family, how to provide for those small mouth not to be hungry?
Elvedina remembers those days and when she talks about them her thoughts go to all those women and children who even today live inside hell. But, she says that this experience made her even stronger and even better person. She remembered how a soil can be ductile when mother’s hands cultivate it between two shootings. How tasteful is a meal which is comprised of the most creativity, courage and love a woman can give, and all the rest are just passing ingredients.
And just when he thought that she survived the worst she faced another terrifying thing. Elvedina, her husband and her three-year-old son, together with another 25 neighbours were captured by Croatian Army soldiers and taken to a prison.
Today, when she talks about that event, Elvedina says that that is one of the most terrifying but also one of the brightest events in her life, which will mark her forever. Back then, while the Croatian soldiers demonstrated their force sharpening their knives and causing fear at people who were already scared Elvedina noticed her neighbours close to her, Croats, who came with tears in their eyes to help their captured neighbours, Bosniaks.
While she was holding her three-year-old Harun in her arms, ready to fight for life as a lioness, she realized the entire beauty of humanity and love… love for the neighbours. And that, as long as there is humanity in at least one man, there is hope for this world.
Until the end of the war Elvedina prayed for no one and never again experience similar experience.
After the war Elvedina gave birth to another two children, a boy named Ahmed, and a girl named Lejla. All the war temptations made her even stronger and motivated her to engage in activities outside her household. Grateful to God that her family survived she felt the need to help families that suffered different losses during the war and she especially wanted to give hand to mothers and children.
Elvedina realized that, besides being a mother of three children, a wife, employed in a school, she has much more energy and time for other social activities.
Guided with that idea she started to organize different lectures from medicine, psychology, pedagogy, law, religions, etc… It was difficult in the beginning. The priorities were to find a job, to reconstruct houses, to provide education for children, etc. people were hardly thinking of some lectures. But, Elvedina was persistent. She realized the importance of gathering of women, exchange of experiences, talk and education. She could talk to her friends for hours on the phone, animate women, female neighbours, and female friends to come to lectures. She was bringing professors from the Universities in Sarajevo and Tuzla.
Elvedina believed that conversation and socializing contribute to better physical and mental health of a woman. That is where she collected her strength and ideas from. Every smile of any woman was the best reward for Elvedina, every next lecture that more women attended was confirmation for her that she is on the right path.
In March 2005, Elvedina with few other women that joined her in the meantime started the project called “Days Dedicated to a Woman”. That was her respond to March 8th when people wish to, giving one flower or making a party for women, want to pay attention on women. Elvedina thinks that a woman as a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend deserves all days in a year. She wanted her daughter tomorrow, as all other daughters to have all days in a year when she will feel that they are respected, loved and honoured. That is why she had to move on.
Looking around her Elvedina realized that there are many successful women around her, but not many people know about them. They remain hidden behind their kitchens, their husbands or some other successful men who easily find their places in a society.
Therefore Elvedina organizes tribunes where she presents successful women of Kakanj. The goal of these assemblies is for women to provide support to each other and to jointly engage in all activities on the level of their local communities. Since, she knows that only united women can succeed.
Besides numerous obligations Elvedina finds some time for humanitarian work that has the goal to raise money, to collect some food and clothes for the most endangered women and their families on the area of Kakanj.
Her work has already become the integral part of the day in her family. Her husband and children became part of her work themselves. They write invitations together, they pack gifts, visit poor people, and organize parties and picnics for children and many other things.
Elvedina considers that these experiences will make better people from her children, that they will make them to be useful members of the society. As a matter of fact, they are already useful members of the society. Since while many other children spend their time in cafes or playing computer games, Elvedina’s children help her in her tasks or projects. They even sometimes give some ideas. They feel sad when they see other people’s suffering around them. That is when they realize how important the work of their mum is.
This wife, mother and fist of all a woman finds time for hobbies as well. She likes old things and that is why she made the ethno-house «Sultanov konak» («Sultan’s Residence») and a local association of women in Kraljeva Sutjeska. By doing this, Elvedina is trying to preserve tradition of Bosniaks in that region together with some more women, as well as to establish inter-religion dialogue with Croatian associations in Kraljeva Sutjeska.she somehow feels she has to do that because of all those tears of her Croatian neighbours who saved her, her family and her neighbours during the war.
And once again the question from the beginning of the story: How can one person do all this, how come she can find time for all obligations in her family, at work and in the community?
Elvedina replies on this with a smile of a happy and satisfied woman. The support that her family provides is the first thing that enables her to do all that. They have taken over the big part of responsibilities in a house, as well as in her activities. And what is the most important thing – they enjoy in this.
She say: «I am not tired, I wish to do so many things more, since I am aware that the true happiness is to know how to make other people happy. I want a healthy surrounding in which ma children will grow up and work, as well as other children. May God help me.»
Even though she is very proud of her title of a mother, if you ask from Elvedina to tell you something about herself, she will tell you that she is a mother, and a wife, and a busy woman, and a housewife, and an active citizen and a leader in her community, and a good friend… and many more things.
But how is all of that weaved in only one person? How a woman manages to carry that entire burden on her back?
Elvedina says that she can thank for all this to, again, only one person - her mother. Even though illiterate, her mother was full of wisdom, patience and endless love for her children. Elvedina learned from her that success will not come on its alone in life, but one must fight for it. Guided through life by her mother’s heritage, Elvedina started building a heritage that she will leave for her and all other children, with hope that she will contribute for the world to become a better place for life.
Since, not so long ago, Elvedina felt that this place for life can turn out to be the worst nightmare over a night. The war that began at the beginning of 1992 caught Elvedina and her family as many other people unprepared. A young mother of a three year-old boy, back then, she faced the hardest challenge for a woman, for a mother for the first time. How to protect her family, how to provide for those small mouth not to be hungry?
Elvedina remembers those days and when she talks about them her thoughts go to all those women and children who even today live inside hell. But, she says that this experience made her even stronger and even better person. She remembered how a soil can be ductile when mother’s hands cultivate it between two shootings. How tasteful is a meal which is comprised of the most creativity, courage and love a woman can give, and all the rest are just passing ingredients.
And just when he thought that she survived the worst she faced another terrifying thing. Elvedina, her husband and her three-year-old son, together with another 25 neighbours were captured by Croatian Army soldiers and taken to a prison.
Today, when she talks about that event, Elvedina says that that is one of the most terrifying but also one of the brightest events in her life, which will mark her forever. Back then, while the Croatian soldiers demonstrated their force sharpening their knives and causing fear at people who were already scared Elvedina noticed her neighbours close to her, Croats, who came with tears in their eyes to help their captured neighbours, Bosniaks.
While she was holding her three-year-old Harun in her arms, ready to fight for life as a lioness, she realized the entire beauty of humanity and love… love for the neighbours. And that, as long as there is humanity in at least one man, there is hope for this world.
Until the end of the war Elvedina prayed for no one and never again experience similar experience.
After the war Elvedina gave birth to another two children, a boy named Ahmed, and a girl named Lejla. All the war temptations made her even stronger and motivated her to engage in activities outside her household. Grateful to God that her family survived she felt the need to help families that suffered different losses during the war and she especially wanted to give hand to mothers and children.
Elvedina realized that, besides being a mother of three children, a wife, employed in a school, she has much more energy and time for other social activities.
Guided with that idea she started to organize different lectures from medicine, psychology, pedagogy, law, religions, etc… It was difficult in the beginning. The priorities were to find a job, to reconstruct houses, to provide education for children, etc. people were hardly thinking of some lectures. But, Elvedina was persistent. She realized the importance of gathering of women, exchange of experiences, talk and education. She could talk to her friends for hours on the phone, animate women, female neighbours, and female friends to come to lectures. She was bringing professors from the Universities in Sarajevo and Tuzla.
Elvedina believed that conversation and socializing contribute to better physical and mental health of a woman. That is where she collected her strength and ideas from. Every smile of any woman was the best reward for Elvedina, every next lecture that more women attended was confirmation for her that she is on the right path.
In March 2005, Elvedina with few other women that joined her in the meantime started the project called “Days Dedicated to a Woman”. That was her respond to March 8th when people wish to, giving one flower or making a party for women, want to pay attention on women. Elvedina thinks that a woman as a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend deserves all days in a year. She wanted her daughter tomorrow, as all other daughters to have all days in a year when she will feel that they are respected, loved and honoured. That is why she had to move on.
Looking around her Elvedina realized that there are many successful women around her, but not many people know about them. They remain hidden behind their kitchens, their husbands or some other successful men who easily find their places in a society.
Therefore Elvedina organizes tribunes where she presents successful women of Kakanj. The goal of these assemblies is for women to provide support to each other and to jointly engage in all activities on the level of their local communities. Since, she knows that only united women can succeed.
Besides numerous obligations Elvedina finds some time for humanitarian work that has the goal to raise money, to collect some food and clothes for the most endangered women and their families on the area of Kakanj.
Her work has already become the integral part of the day in her family. Her husband and children became part of her work themselves. They write invitations together, they pack gifts, visit poor people, and organize parties and picnics for children and many other things.
Elvedina considers that these experiences will make better people from her children, that they will make them to be useful members of the society. As a matter of fact, they are already useful members of the society. Since while many other children spend their time in cafes or playing computer games, Elvedina’s children help her in her tasks or projects. They even sometimes give some ideas. They feel sad when they see other people’s suffering around them. That is when they realize how important the work of their mum is.
This wife, mother and fist of all a woman finds time for hobbies as well. She likes old things and that is why she made the ethno-house «Sultanov konak» («Sultan’s Residence») and a local association of women in Kraljeva Sutjeska. By doing this, Elvedina is trying to preserve tradition of Bosniaks in that region together with some more women, as well as to establish inter-religion dialogue with Croatian associations in Kraljeva Sutjeska.she somehow feels she has to do that because of all those tears of her Croatian neighbours who saved her, her family and her neighbours during the war.
And once again the question from the beginning of the story: How can one person do all this, how come she can find time for all obligations in her family, at work and in the community?
Elvedina replies on this with a smile of a happy and satisfied woman. The support that her family provides is the first thing that enables her to do all that. They have taken over the big part of responsibilities in a house, as well as in her activities. And what is the most important thing – they enjoy in this.
She say: «I am not tired, I wish to do so many things more, since I am aware that the true happiness is to know how to make other people happy. I want a healthy surrounding in which ma children will grow up and work, as well as other children. May God help me.»
Want to support this project's continued work? 
Fazila Efendic's Story
By Ariana LaMagra - FAZILA EFENDIC, September 28, 2009 02:11 PM
Fazila Efendic, 59, survived the massacre in which over 11.000 unarmed boys and adult men, Muslims, were killed in July 1995, after four years of Serb siege. She lost many male members from her family, including her husband and her son.
Before the war Fazila worked in a shop. Her husband worked in a construction company as a commercialist in the town which had population of 12 000 citizens. During the years while Srebrenica was under siege Fazila took care of her two children – a daughter who was 12 back then and a son who was 13 years old. She went to dangerous missions to forests and fields to find some water and risked her life for some food.
After the terrible massacre the chances to find out something about her son and husband were smaller and smaller. Three years ago she found her husband’s remains and she buried him with dignity at the cemetery in Srebrenica, and she is still searching after the remains of her son together with thousands women from Srebrenica.
Fazila says: “We stayed alone!” My daughter Nirha was 15 back then. She was the most important for me in that moment. I was aware that I have to convert my personal tragedy into energy that, first of all, my daughter needed, and then other women from my town too, who equally survived the massacre and lost their dearest ones.
My mother is the one who influenced my life the most. That was a special relationship between a mother and a daughter in a patriarchal society. She taught us to be noble, to have solidarity, to be just, to help people in need, to cherish life with our neighbours and respect different traditions. She encouraged us very much to get education so all of us managed to graduate from high schools. She used to tell us when you graduate from a school you will have a job, and then you will have your own money, you will be independent and everyone from your family and community will respect you more.
Therefore I was fighting a lot after the war to provide education for my daughter. When she graduated from high school she wished to continue her education at university and I supported her in that even though I did not have enough money. I worked different jobs just to make this possible for her. She graduated from faculty and then she had her master degree in world literature”.
Nirha, whom Fazila adores, married an economist. They have a son, Muhamed, who is Fazila’s biggest joy in life.
In spite the trauma she experienced 7 years ago she returned to her pre-war home. Her town represented for her, as well as for the other women, a great challenge.
«Bitterness, anger and anxiety were hiding under the bunch of ruins», Fazila says. And then she remembered her mother’s words: «You have to be brave in life and confront the biggest challenges that life brings! If you wish something you must not give up! I wanted to return to Srebrenica and to be there where my husband and I started, where we made our home, got our children. I wanted to be there where my son was born, where he made his first steps and where he spent his childhood».
Fazila was reconstructing her house on her own. During night she fixed the furniture she found there in order to have a couch to sleep on and a table to eat on. During days she worked in her garden and met with other women – returnees in order to arrange how to solve the current needs and problems. She was supposed to obtain and get her property back, get included into the projects of reconstruction of destroyed and devastated houses, into projects that would create a possibility for them to do something and to produce something.
For most of women that was a difficult emotional step. Along with this, many of them had no education and did not know how to fight for this. I felt that I must help them in this and as Fazila says: “Because we only had each other.”
They also founded their own association «Mothers of Srebrenica» which constantly tries to warn the world on what happened to the mothers of Srebrenica. Fazila says: “Those who listen to us might send the message to someone else and in that way the truth will go all around the world. If nothing else, we send warning, since evil can happen everywhere… and to everyone!” “Besides that, our meetings are important also due to the fact that we encourage each other during the meetings, we help each other and we together find the ways to solve some problems, we also plan some actions together…!”
Through her work in this organization she regain her self-confidence, she got strength and will for work. The situation in Srebrenica is better but only older people are returning to Srebrenica and Fazila is very sad due to the fact that youth is not coming back. They also, in her association, think about what they can do to fix that too, for youth to come and to start their life in Srebrenica. Fazila thinks that her activities mean also that she helps for everyone in her community to feel as a part of one big family.
Fazila has opened a flower shop which is placed within the Memorial Centre in Potocari. That is now her small business in which she has found herself. She also takes care of her small garden. She has a greenhouse where she cultivates flowers and vegetables.
Fazila says: “If I do not work and do not pray to God, then I somehow lose my balance. One can find time for everything, it is only important to want something and to know how to arrange all your time.”
Fazila says that she is a witness of suffering of women all over the world everyday, of women who experience things the same way she does and she feels her pain every time as it hers. She would like to send them a message:
“Every mother has strength, big, wide, unimaginable and over all noble strength! You should turn to yourselves and ask yourselves where your strength is the biggest and how you could help, with your strength, to those who currently do not see and can not find it. You will see, you will soon know what that is! But, one should not stop on that, but one should find the way to do it as well! It is not always easy, it is not always painless, there is resistance, but just look into yourselves and you will find the path!
You will sometimes think that you are the one that needs help, and that is fine! But look for it and then you will realize that you can help someone as well! And then, take that road!”
Before the war Fazila worked in a shop. Her husband worked in a construction company as a commercialist in the town which had population of 12 000 citizens. During the years while Srebrenica was under siege Fazila took care of her two children – a daughter who was 12 back then and a son who was 13 years old. She went to dangerous missions to forests and fields to find some water and risked her life for some food.
After the terrible massacre the chances to find out something about her son and husband were smaller and smaller. Three years ago she found her husband’s remains and she buried him with dignity at the cemetery in Srebrenica, and she is still searching after the remains of her son together with thousands women from Srebrenica.
Fazila says: “We stayed alone!” My daughter Nirha was 15 back then. She was the most important for me in that moment. I was aware that I have to convert my personal tragedy into energy that, first of all, my daughter needed, and then other women from my town too, who equally survived the massacre and lost their dearest ones.
My mother is the one who influenced my life the most. That was a special relationship between a mother and a daughter in a patriarchal society. She taught us to be noble, to have solidarity, to be just, to help people in need, to cherish life with our neighbours and respect different traditions. She encouraged us very much to get education so all of us managed to graduate from high schools. She used to tell us when you graduate from a school you will have a job, and then you will have your own money, you will be independent and everyone from your family and community will respect you more.
Therefore I was fighting a lot after the war to provide education for my daughter. When she graduated from high school she wished to continue her education at university and I supported her in that even though I did not have enough money. I worked different jobs just to make this possible for her. She graduated from faculty and then she had her master degree in world literature”.
Nirha, whom Fazila adores, married an economist. They have a son, Muhamed, who is Fazila’s biggest joy in life.
In spite the trauma she experienced 7 years ago she returned to her pre-war home. Her town represented for her, as well as for the other women, a great challenge.
«Bitterness, anger and anxiety were hiding under the bunch of ruins», Fazila says. And then she remembered her mother’s words: «You have to be brave in life and confront the biggest challenges that life brings! If you wish something you must not give up! I wanted to return to Srebrenica and to be there where my husband and I started, where we made our home, got our children. I wanted to be there where my son was born, where he made his first steps and where he spent his childhood».
Fazila was reconstructing her house on her own. During night she fixed the furniture she found there in order to have a couch to sleep on and a table to eat on. During days she worked in her garden and met with other women – returnees in order to arrange how to solve the current needs and problems. She was supposed to obtain and get her property back, get included into the projects of reconstruction of destroyed and devastated houses, into projects that would create a possibility for them to do something and to produce something.
For most of women that was a difficult emotional step. Along with this, many of them had no education and did not know how to fight for this. I felt that I must help them in this and as Fazila says: “Because we only had each other.”
They also founded their own association «Mothers of Srebrenica» which constantly tries to warn the world on what happened to the mothers of Srebrenica. Fazila says: “Those who listen to us might send the message to someone else and in that way the truth will go all around the world. If nothing else, we send warning, since evil can happen everywhere… and to everyone!” “Besides that, our meetings are important also due to the fact that we encourage each other during the meetings, we help each other and we together find the ways to solve some problems, we also plan some actions together…!”
Through her work in this organization she regain her self-confidence, she got strength and will for work. The situation in Srebrenica is better but only older people are returning to Srebrenica and Fazila is very sad due to the fact that youth is not coming back. They also, in her association, think about what they can do to fix that too, for youth to come and to start their life in Srebrenica. Fazila thinks that her activities mean also that she helps for everyone in her community to feel as a part of one big family.
Fazila has opened a flower shop which is placed within the Memorial Centre in Potocari. That is now her small business in which she has found herself. She also takes care of her small garden. She has a greenhouse where she cultivates flowers and vegetables.
Fazila says: “If I do not work and do not pray to God, then I somehow lose my balance. One can find time for everything, it is only important to want something and to know how to arrange all your time.”
Fazila says that she is a witness of suffering of women all over the world everyday, of women who experience things the same way she does and she feels her pain every time as it hers. She would like to send them a message:
“Every mother has strength, big, wide, unimaginable and over all noble strength! You should turn to yourselves and ask yourselves where your strength is the biggest and how you could help, with your strength, to those who currently do not see and can not find it. You will see, you will soon know what that is! But, one should not stop on that, but one should find the way to do it as well! It is not always easy, it is not always painless, there is resistance, but just look into yourselves and you will find the path!
You will sometimes think that you are the one that needs help, and that is fine! But look for it and then you will realize that you can help someone as well! And then, take that road!”
Want to support this project's continued work?
The Impact of Relationship Building for theWomen of Bosnia-Herzegovina
By Ariana LaMagra - Relationship building, September 28, 2009 02:11 PM
When women are socially excluded from going to school, joining community associations, or gaining employment, they become isolated in their own homes and miss opportunities to meet other women and share experiences. Such is the case with many women of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who indicate that the number one reason they join the WfWI program is neither funds nor job skills training, but the associational benefits of meeting other women and making friends. The women of WfWI-BiH prove also that the benefits of joining together go beyond friendship to make real political, social, and economic impacts in their own lives and their communities.
Divna Đokić is a human rights trainer for Women for Women International’s Bosnia and Herzegovina chapter (WfWI-BiH) in Dobrinja. She meets with her group once every two weeks to teach them about their human and legal rights, family health issues, economic and political participation. The structure of the group allows Divna to lead a discussion, but the training is participant-driven. Over time, these groups become very connected and the women build lasting friendships, she says. The women become very close. They arrive to each class at least a half hour early and stay a half hour late just to talk with each other and share stories about their families, or they share their ideas about the day’s discussion over a cup of coffee. “I love these meetings so much!” says Dijana. “And I also love our conversations after them! I feel more and more comfortable and I wish these meetings could happen more often.” The participatory aspect encourages shy and unconfident women to use their voices and express their views and opinions. Senida talked about how the program has helped her to be freer in communication. “I am shy and I was afraid for the group to choose me to make a presentation,” she said in a group discussion one day. “But, when other women did it, I decided to try too. It was not easy, but when the women applauded me I was proud. Well, you have all noticed you hear me talking now more often,” she told the group.
In Women for Women International’s 2008 Outcomes Report, we found that the majority of program participants were motivated to join Women for Women International-Bosnia and Herzegovina (WfWI-BiH) for the opportunity to meet and learn from other women and seek refuge from the isolation of their home life. This is remarkable, given that similar surveys conducted in Kosovo and Nigeria found that women’s primary motivation for joining the WfWI program was to receive the Sponsorship funds or to learn vocational skills. Yet one of the most important aspects of rebuilding a woman’s life after conflict is providing an emotional and social support network. This is also one of the most difficult things to achieve, especially for the women of Bosnia and Herzegovina who live the loneliness of believing no one else shares their difficult past. Worse still are the realities that face many women who were victims of the use of rape as a weapon during the ethnic cleansing of 1992. Thousands of women were detained in rape concentration camps where they endured forced impregnation and mass rapes. These experiences are particularly isolating, physically, and mentally abusive.
In focus groups conducted in 2008, the Bosnian women stressed the importance of the program’s social support benefits. War breeds isolation and loneliness among its survivors, especially for women who have experienced the deaths of loved ones. “… We were all in different areas during the war and all of us suffered… differently… we all went through different things,” one respondent told us during the focus groups. “I wanted to get together with other people and to hear how they managed to survive, what were their stories… this really helped me to calm my own nerves… this was actually most helpful.”
Most of the women (76%) report staying in contact with the other participants even after graduating from the year-long program. Many women reported making new friends as one of the primary benefits they received from the WfWI program.
But the social network-building is beneficial in many other ways. From their friendships, the women build community associations, political organizations, and business collectives. Dijana explained during one group meeting that simple recipe sharing among girlfriends can lead to a lucrative business endeavor. “We realized that all of us make good cakes and cookies, but we all make different kinds. As a group we would have more success. We realized we can find a market easier in this way, share tasks, and have better offers for our products. We learned a lot through this!”
Politically, women in Bosnia and Herzegovina are often limited in their ability to participate in the public sphere. Their views and ideas are not well-respected, and they do not have the support of the men in their communities. During a group meeting with Divna, a program participant named Enisa said, “…We learned now how women can organize, but we also realized why something is done and how to start an action. We could all organize and make an action. We can start from our building or street! It is important to move all women, to get those who are not really interested too. But we can begin!”
In 1997, Women for Women International initiated a Microcredit Lending Program in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program builds upon the associational benefits of women working together and employs a “solidarity group” lending model that requires each individual client to form a group with 3-7 other women pursuing different projects. Among WfWI’s microcredit clients – and recipients of microloans the world over – the solidarty group model has proven time and again to work especially well among women. Within her group, each of the women guarantees the repayment of her group members’ loans and signs a contract agreeing to share the burden in case of a fellow members’ missed payments. The microcredit program in Bosnia and Herzegovina currently maintains a 99.5% repayment rate.
The responses we receive from the participants in Bosnia and Herzegovina show the benefits of simply joining women together. Women empower each other, especially when they experience shared hardships and work together to rebuild each other’s lives. The continued successes that the women of WfWI-BiH achieve – from friendships to solidarity groups - are further testament to the widespread benefits of investing in opportunities for women to join together.
Divna Đokić is a human rights trainer for Women for Women International’s Bosnia and Herzegovina chapter (WfWI-BiH) in Dobrinja. She meets with her group once every two weeks to teach them about their human and legal rights, family health issues, economic and political participation. The structure of the group allows Divna to lead a discussion, but the training is participant-driven. Over time, these groups become very connected and the women build lasting friendships, she says. The women become very close. They arrive to each class at least a half hour early and stay a half hour late just to talk with each other and share stories about their families, or they share their ideas about the day’s discussion over a cup of coffee. “I love these meetings so much!” says Dijana. “And I also love our conversations after them! I feel more and more comfortable and I wish these meetings could happen more often.” The participatory aspect encourages shy and unconfident women to use their voices and express their views and opinions. Senida talked about how the program has helped her to be freer in communication. “I am shy and I was afraid for the group to choose me to make a presentation,” she said in a group discussion one day. “But, when other women did it, I decided to try too. It was not easy, but when the women applauded me I was proud. Well, you have all noticed you hear me talking now more often,” she told the group.
In Women for Women International’s 2008 Outcomes Report, we found that the majority of program participants were motivated to join Women for Women International-Bosnia and Herzegovina (WfWI-BiH) for the opportunity to meet and learn from other women and seek refuge from the isolation of their home life. This is remarkable, given that similar surveys conducted in Kosovo and Nigeria found that women’s primary motivation for joining the WfWI program was to receive the Sponsorship funds or to learn vocational skills. Yet one of the most important aspects of rebuilding a woman’s life after conflict is providing an emotional and social support network. This is also one of the most difficult things to achieve, especially for the women of Bosnia and Herzegovina who live the loneliness of believing no one else shares their difficult past. Worse still are the realities that face many women who were victims of the use of rape as a weapon during the ethnic cleansing of 1992. Thousands of women were detained in rape concentration camps where they endured forced impregnation and mass rapes. These experiences are particularly isolating, physically, and mentally abusive.
In focus groups conducted in 2008, the Bosnian women stressed the importance of the program’s social support benefits. War breeds isolation and loneliness among its survivors, especially for women who have experienced the deaths of loved ones. “… We were all in different areas during the war and all of us suffered… differently… we all went through different things,” one respondent told us during the focus groups. “I wanted to get together with other people and to hear how they managed to survive, what were their stories… this really helped me to calm my own nerves… this was actually most helpful.”
Most of the women (76%) report staying in contact with the other participants even after graduating from the year-long program. Many women reported making new friends as one of the primary benefits they received from the WfWI program.
But the social network-building is beneficial in many other ways. From their friendships, the women build community associations, political organizations, and business collectives. Dijana explained during one group meeting that simple recipe sharing among girlfriends can lead to a lucrative business endeavor. “We realized that all of us make good cakes and cookies, but we all make different kinds. As a group we would have more success. We realized we can find a market easier in this way, share tasks, and have better offers for our products. We learned a lot through this!”
Politically, women in Bosnia and Herzegovina are often limited in their ability to participate in the public sphere. Their views and ideas are not well-respected, and they do not have the support of the men in their communities. During a group meeting with Divna, a program participant named Enisa said, “…We learned now how women can organize, but we also realized why something is done and how to start an action. We could all organize and make an action. We can start from our building or street! It is important to move all women, to get those who are not really interested too. But we can begin!”
In 1997, Women for Women International initiated a Microcredit Lending Program in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program builds upon the associational benefits of women working together and employs a “solidarity group” lending model that requires each individual client to form a group with 3-7 other women pursuing different projects. Among WfWI’s microcredit clients – and recipients of microloans the world over – the solidarty group model has proven time and again to work especially well among women. Within her group, each of the women guarantees the repayment of her group members’ loans and signs a contract agreeing to share the burden in case of a fellow members’ missed payments. The microcredit program in Bosnia and Herzegovina currently maintains a 99.5% repayment rate.
The responses we receive from the participants in Bosnia and Herzegovina show the benefits of simply joining women together. Women empower each other, especially when they experience shared hardships and work together to rebuild each other’s lives. The continued successes that the women of WfWI-BiH achieve – from friendships to solidarity groups - are further testament to the widespread benefits of investing in opportunities for women to join together.
Want to support this project's continued work?
July Update from the Field
By Amanda Jessen - Intern, August 17, 2009 02:26 PM
Check out Dienne Miller's take on progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the month of July:
"In June we received an invitation from local government representatives of the Municipalities of Novi Grad (Sarajevo) and Hadžici, to participate in their traditional week-long cultural events. We were eager to take part so that we could promote the organization and show the community the great work that our beneficiaries were capable of doing. We took great care in designing and preparing the exhibit, involving current and former beneficiaries in the process. We prepared a collection by choosing the best works from among the many beautiful and unique handicrafts made by our beneficiaries during their traditional and non-traditional training."
Although organizing exhibits to display the works of our beneficiaries is always important for us, this exhibit was particularly special because it would provide some of our past beneficiaries with an opportunity to gain new experience in promoting women’s issues in the community. These beneficiaries had received special training to become leaders in their community and to promote women’s rights and issues. They are now members of “Coordinating Boards” that organize activities to promote women’s rights and push women’s issues in the local government. Such Coordinating Boards were established this year in Sarajevo and Hadžici, and the members were thrilled to be a part of our exhibition, where they could promote the Boards' functions to all women in the community. Razija Bošnjak, program coordinator in Bosnia, said it was great to see “women who used to be our students, now participating in and leading these activities with such enthusiasm and devotion.”
We called our exhibit “Treasures Made by Bosnian Women's Hands”. It was opened by Damir Hadžic, the mayor of Novi Grad Municipality, in Sarajevo, and Esma Topalovic, deputy mayor of social activities and a member of the Coordinating Board in Hadžici. In Hadžici, the event took place at a center that organizes various activities and projects to help women living in poverty become more responsible for their lives and make their own decisions. At both events, community representatives were present, along with musicians from Sarajevo's School of Music, the media, hundreds of our beneficiaries and their families visited the openings and exhibits.
Several guests commented on the women's great artistic talent and skill. The beneficiaries were so proud to be a part of the exhibit and thrilled to show what they and their fellow participants were capable of when given the opportunity. They spoke about their work and the opportunities given to them through Women for Women International. The beneficiaries were very emotional when they spoke of the event and of the Organization. Zehra said: “This was the best experience in my life!” Dzena told us: “I feel so happy that I could cry,” while Emsa from Sokolje said: “My happiness would be complete if my sponsor-sister from the US was here today.” And Blazenka said she was “grateful to WWI for giving me this chance to improve my life.”
These events were therefore a great success in two areas: They showed the community the skill and talent of the women, and they provided an opportunity for Coordinating Board members to promote women's rights and issues in the community. Through both, the women in these communities gained greater attention and respect, which is one of the most important goals of Women for Women International in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dienne Miller
Staff Member, Women for Women International - Bosnia and Herzegovina
"In June we received an invitation from local government representatives of the Municipalities of Novi Grad (Sarajevo) and Hadžici, to participate in their traditional week-long cultural events. We were eager to take part so that we could promote the organization and show the community the great work that our beneficiaries were capable of doing. We took great care in designing and preparing the exhibit, involving current and former beneficiaries in the process. We prepared a collection by choosing the best works from among the many beautiful and unique handicrafts made by our beneficiaries during their traditional and non-traditional training."
Although organizing exhibits to display the works of our beneficiaries is always important for us, this exhibit was particularly special because it would provide some of our past beneficiaries with an opportunity to gain new experience in promoting women’s issues in the community. These beneficiaries had received special training to become leaders in their community and to promote women’s rights and issues. They are now members of “Coordinating Boards” that organize activities to promote women’s rights and push women’s issues in the local government. Such Coordinating Boards were established this year in Sarajevo and Hadžici, and the members were thrilled to be a part of our exhibition, where they could promote the Boards' functions to all women in the community. Razija Bošnjak, program coordinator in Bosnia, said it was great to see “women who used to be our students, now participating in and leading these activities with such enthusiasm and devotion.”
We called our exhibit “Treasures Made by Bosnian Women's Hands”. It was opened by Damir Hadžic, the mayor of Novi Grad Municipality, in Sarajevo, and Esma Topalovic, deputy mayor of social activities and a member of the Coordinating Board in Hadžici. In Hadžici, the event took place at a center that organizes various activities and projects to help women living in poverty become more responsible for their lives and make their own decisions. At both events, community representatives were present, along with musicians from Sarajevo's School of Music, the media, hundreds of our beneficiaries and their families visited the openings and exhibits.
Several guests commented on the women's great artistic talent and skill. The beneficiaries were so proud to be a part of the exhibit and thrilled to show what they and their fellow participants were capable of when given the opportunity. They spoke about their work and the opportunities given to them through Women for Women International. The beneficiaries were very emotional when they spoke of the event and of the Organization. Zehra said: “This was the best experience in my life!” Dzena told us: “I feel so happy that I could cry,” while Emsa from Sokolje said: “My happiness would be complete if my sponsor-sister from the US was here today.” And Blazenka said she was “grateful to WWI for giving me this chance to improve my life.”
These events were therefore a great success in two areas: They showed the community the skill and talent of the women, and they provided an opportunity for Coordinating Board members to promote women's rights and issues in the community. Through both, the women in these communities gained greater attention and respect, which is one of the most important goals of Women for Women International in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dienne Miller
Staff Member, Women for Women International - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Want to support this project's continued work?
New Defenition of a Business leader
By Shannon Madlin - Online Marketing Manager, April 18, 2009 05:27 PM
Meryl Streep narrates a film about Women for Women International's programs in war-torn countries empowering women to rebuild their lives. Rights awareness training, job skills education and microcredit loans enable women to sustain an income after graduating from the program - some starting their own businesses. They are the new definition of a business woman.
Links:
Want to support this project's continued work?
Razija's Story
By Shannon Madlin - Online Marketing Manager, April 18, 2009 05:28 PM
Women from the village Vranduk became leaders in their community
Participants of the Women for Women International program from the village Vranduk, Bosnia, completed their program in January of this year. They have become proud and strong women who are actively involved in social, economical and political events in their village and local community.
Women for Women International opened a center in Vranduk with the intention to bring hope together with the financial help to the “forgotten women” who had many worries on how to feed and educate their children, rebuild their homes, pay the bills, earn money for life’s expenses. They lived in a place where nothing was being done to improve the situation and it seems like there were no chances of things ever getting better. But still these women had to be strong, confident and become the backbone of the family. She needed to provide a sanctuary of love and belonging.
This is the reason why the program Women for Women International has been openly accepted by the women in Vranduk. They felt that it was a place where they will, at least for a moment, get away from the harsh day to day life. It was also a place where they would rebuild their strength, where someone would listen to what they had to say, where they could share their sorrow and their fears and where they would gather their strength and optimism.
It started at the graduation ceremony when Merhunisa said, “When you are a housewife, living in a remote place, without all the things that are available to women in the cities, it is like a reward when you get finally get them, a reward for all the hard work that we do for the ones we love, the ones that need us, but often don’t appreciate us. For us it was a place where every day a new window to the world was opened, a window that brought light to our lives. Each one of us has changed something for the better in her life. To some of us vocational skills training has helped start our own business, like tailoring, handcrafts, setting up a greenhouse, buying a cow. We also were eligible to take a micro credit loan and to engage or expand our businesses that enabled us to involve our family members. For most of us the donation money was the first regular and steady money we received. I myself have become stronger and more decisive and self confident. Many other women have also rebuilt their self-confidence and self-respect, many of them felt self-confidence and self-respect for the first time in their lives. We have become stronger and more decisive and ready to actively participate where we have never participated before. The program has enlightened me.”
RenataWhen the program ended, the women from Vranduk continued to meet regularly and talked to women whose place was traditionally in the house. They invited them to meetings, talked about their problems and invited them to participate in the program. At first, there was a lot of resistance and mistrust, especially from men. But this did not discourage the women. They were persistent and didn’t want to give up. Guided by this drive and passion, they were able to encourage 100 more women from their village to participate in the Women for Women International program. The local government gave them a public social building that has been reconstructed and rebuilt for their use as well a regular bus line from the city.
“Step by step, we have become a force that has been recognized. It wasn’t easy, once we were taken seriously, other times we were rejected directly, but we never gave up. It was hard because all of them looked at us with a great distrust. They persistently wondered what we women want, and we explained that we don’t want to be locked away in our houses; we want to work and live of our work. We tried to explain how to use our beautiful nature, our village and our 600 years old fort for the development of tourism. We explained that with a small amount of money the public social building can be renovated and welcome guests and tourists, prepare food, make exhibitions of our handcrafts and organize different events there. Finally we established our association. Today everyone in our local community knows of the Association that we named “Vranduk’s Cherry” because cherry is grown very successfully in Vranduk.” said Hedija.
RenataThe Association was entrusted with organizing of the annual traditional event “Vranduk’s Cherry 2008”. Their influence on the community and their knowledge from our program was becoming apparent by everyone. During the festival, their stands with traditional food and handcrafts were distinctive and surrounded with people all the time, even though they had no leaflets or promotional materials to give out. Their approach and dedication to every visitor was enough. The event gathered 3,000 visitors! It was the most organized and most attended festival thus far. The representatives of the highest authorities from Zenica-Doboj Canton attended the event as well as other numerous guests and the media.
“Up to now, this event has always been organized by men. Through the program Women for Women International we have realized that women could organize it much better and that was what we did, with the support of the local government and the tourist office. They asked to make a schedule for the event and that’s what we did. Then we had to find the money. We got some of the money from the Municipality Zenica, some from the local companies that we turned to.” said Hedija.
Five buses full of participants from our program in other municipalities have come to support women from Vranduk. It was evident how they were looking forward to seeing each other even though they have never met before. It was really impressive to see them embrace one another.
“I embraced Hedija in the name of all of us women from Budoželje and I hope you know how important it is to meet women who are thanks to the program Women for Women International, trying to improve their life and the lives of their families, just as we do. Women for Women International is responsible for establishing a great number of local women associations like this one in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because our association was established as a result of their work and constant support even in our current activities” said Fatima.
“This is a day to remember, a day when our women showed the whole community how capable they are if only given a chance. I trusted your organization because I saw for myself how much the program helped my wife to make changes on her and on our family. I respect and appreciate her more now. Today I am very proud of her.” said Merhunisa’s husband.
Vranduk also looked very different that day. You could feel the positive atmosphere everywhere. Everyone congratulated these brave and hardworking women, inquired about their future plans, showed will and intention to help them.
“Our plans for this summer are to open a traditional Bosnian restaurant in the public social building where Bosnian specialties will be served, to set up a “Bosnian room” where we will offer tourists our handcrafts, souvenirs and other artifacts. We are preparing for the tourist to come and are hoping to earn some money.” said Hedija - the leader of the Vranduk’s Cherry Association.
Participants of the Women for Women International program from the village Vranduk, Bosnia, completed their program in January of this year. They have become proud and strong women who are actively involved in social, economical and political events in their village and local community.
Women for Women International opened a center in Vranduk with the intention to bring hope together with the financial help to the “forgotten women” who had many worries on how to feed and educate their children, rebuild their homes, pay the bills, earn money for life’s expenses. They lived in a place where nothing was being done to improve the situation and it seems like there were no chances of things ever getting better. But still these women had to be strong, confident and become the backbone of the family. She needed to provide a sanctuary of love and belonging.
This is the reason why the program Women for Women International has been openly accepted by the women in Vranduk. They felt that it was a place where they will, at least for a moment, get away from the harsh day to day life. It was also a place where they would rebuild their strength, where someone would listen to what they had to say, where they could share their sorrow and their fears and where they would gather their strength and optimism.
It started at the graduation ceremony when Merhunisa said, “When you are a housewife, living in a remote place, without all the things that are available to women in the cities, it is like a reward when you get finally get them, a reward for all the hard work that we do for the ones we love, the ones that need us, but often don’t appreciate us. For us it was a place where every day a new window to the world was opened, a window that brought light to our lives. Each one of us has changed something for the better in her life. To some of us vocational skills training has helped start our own business, like tailoring, handcrafts, setting up a greenhouse, buying a cow. We also were eligible to take a micro credit loan and to engage or expand our businesses that enabled us to involve our family members. For most of us the donation money was the first regular and steady money we received. I myself have become stronger and more decisive and self confident. Many other women have also rebuilt their self-confidence and self-respect, many of them felt self-confidence and self-respect for the first time in their lives. We have become stronger and more decisive and ready to actively participate where we have never participated before. The program has enlightened me.”
RenataWhen the program ended, the women from Vranduk continued to meet regularly and talked to women whose place was traditionally in the house. They invited them to meetings, talked about their problems and invited them to participate in the program. At first, there was a lot of resistance and mistrust, especially from men. But this did not discourage the women. They were persistent and didn’t want to give up. Guided by this drive and passion, they were able to encourage 100 more women from their village to participate in the Women for Women International program. The local government gave them a public social building that has been reconstructed and rebuilt for their use as well a regular bus line from the city.
“Step by step, we have become a force that has been recognized. It wasn’t easy, once we were taken seriously, other times we were rejected directly, but we never gave up. It was hard because all of them looked at us with a great distrust. They persistently wondered what we women want, and we explained that we don’t want to be locked away in our houses; we want to work and live of our work. We tried to explain how to use our beautiful nature, our village and our 600 years old fort for the development of tourism. We explained that with a small amount of money the public social building can be renovated and welcome guests and tourists, prepare food, make exhibitions of our handcrafts and organize different events there. Finally we established our association. Today everyone in our local community knows of the Association that we named “Vranduk’s Cherry” because cherry is grown very successfully in Vranduk.” said Hedija.
RenataThe Association was entrusted with organizing of the annual traditional event “Vranduk’s Cherry 2008”. Their influence on the community and their knowledge from our program was becoming apparent by everyone. During the festival, their stands with traditional food and handcrafts were distinctive and surrounded with people all the time, even though they had no leaflets or promotional materials to give out. Their approach and dedication to every visitor was enough. The event gathered 3,000 visitors! It was the most organized and most attended festival thus far. The representatives of the highest authorities from Zenica-Doboj Canton attended the event as well as other numerous guests and the media.
“Up to now, this event has always been organized by men. Through the program Women for Women International we have realized that women could organize it much better and that was what we did, with the support of the local government and the tourist office. They asked to make a schedule for the event and that’s what we did. Then we had to find the money. We got some of the money from the Municipality Zenica, some from the local companies that we turned to.” said Hedija.
Five buses full of participants from our program in other municipalities have come to support women from Vranduk. It was evident how they were looking forward to seeing each other even though they have never met before. It was really impressive to see them embrace one another.
“I embraced Hedija in the name of all of us women from Budoželje and I hope you know how important it is to meet women who are thanks to the program Women for Women International, trying to improve their life and the lives of their families, just as we do. Women for Women International is responsible for establishing a great number of local women associations like this one in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because our association was established as a result of their work and constant support even in our current activities” said Fatima.
“This is a day to remember, a day when our women showed the whole community how capable they are if only given a chance. I trusted your organization because I saw for myself how much the program helped my wife to make changes on her and on our family. I respect and appreciate her more now. Today I am very proud of her.” said Merhunisa’s husband.
Vranduk also looked very different that day. You could feel the positive atmosphere everywhere. Everyone congratulated these brave and hardworking women, inquired about their future plans, showed will and intention to help them.
“Our plans for this summer are to open a traditional Bosnian restaurant in the public social building where Bosnian specialties will be served, to set up a “Bosnian room” where we will offer tourists our handcrafts, souvenirs and other artifacts. We are preparing for the tourist to come and are hoping to earn some money.” said Hedija - the leader of the Vranduk’s Cherry Association.
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work?
Read Bosnia Participants' Stories
By Shannon O'Donnell - Online Marketing Manager, February 12, 2009 10:02 PM
IGBALA'S STORY
Igbala Gabela is 40 years old and lives with her husband and two children in Gorazde. During the war, she and her family lived in eight different places and lost many of their belongings. Her husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis and Igbala was forced to support her family by sewing. Igbala was immediately interested when her friend told her about Women for Women International's program. She enrolled in the Bosnian Crochet course, which is a very complicated form of crochet and only the most talented are able to do well. Igbala used the skills she learned in the crochet course to add intricate and traditional designs to her sewing projects, which helped her attract more clients. She used the confidence she gained to apply for a microcredit loan and to expand her business to support her family. Igbala loves the friendships she made through Women for Women International and still helps other women improve their sewing and embroidery skills.
MILKA'S STORY
Milka Kusmuk is 47 years old and has been a microcredit client for three years. She lives with her husband, her three children and her parents outside of Sarajevo on a small farm. When Milka received her first microcredit loan, she began growing raspberries on her farm to supplement the income her family was earning from selling dairy products and vegetables. Now her family's main source of income is from her raspberry business. Over the past three years, Milka's business has grown rapidly and now she wants to expand her business to grow blackberries as well. In addition to earning enough income to support her family of 7, she also employs local citizens during the busy season. Milka has a contract with the largest bakery in Bosnia, and has become Chief of her microcredit center and advises other women who want to start a business.
ZEJNEBA'S STORY
“In one night entire families from my village – fathers, sons, husbands, brothers –disappeared. Women were dying of sadness and helplessness,” recalls Zejneba, a 42 year-old mother of two from Bratunac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her husband’s mother was murdered in front of her eyes. She and her husband took their children and ran. When the children could no longer walk, they carried them. Zejneba has been a microcredit client since 1997, when the program was introduced in Bosnia. With a loan from Women for Women International, Zejneba bought a cow, then land and ultimately established a dairy products business that supports the whole family. “When I finish my work late at night, I thank God for giving me an opportunity to survive the horror and for helping me find women who give me self-confidence,” she says. Today she is continuing her dairy business and is growing and selling potatoes.
Igbala Gabela is 40 years old and lives with her husband and two children in Gorazde. During the war, she and her family lived in eight different places and lost many of their belongings. Her husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis and Igbala was forced to support her family by sewing. Igbala was immediately interested when her friend told her about Women for Women International's program. She enrolled in the Bosnian Crochet course, which is a very complicated form of crochet and only the most talented are able to do well. Igbala used the skills she learned in the crochet course to add intricate and traditional designs to her sewing projects, which helped her attract more clients. She used the confidence she gained to apply for a microcredit loan and to expand her business to support her family. Igbala loves the friendships she made through Women for Women International and still helps other women improve their sewing and embroidery skills.
MILKA'S STORY
Milka Kusmuk is 47 years old and has been a microcredit client for three years. She lives with her husband, her three children and her parents outside of Sarajevo on a small farm. When Milka received her first microcredit loan, she began growing raspberries on her farm to supplement the income her family was earning from selling dairy products and vegetables. Now her family's main source of income is from her raspberry business. Over the past three years, Milka's business has grown rapidly and now she wants to expand her business to grow blackberries as well. In addition to earning enough income to support her family of 7, she also employs local citizens during the busy season. Milka has a contract with the largest bakery in Bosnia, and has become Chief of her microcredit center and advises other women who want to start a business.
ZEJNEBA'S STORY
“In one night entire families from my village – fathers, sons, husbands, brothers –disappeared. Women were dying of sadness and helplessness,” recalls Zejneba, a 42 year-old mother of two from Bratunac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her husband’s mother was murdered in front of her eyes. She and her husband took their children and ran. When the children could no longer walk, they carried them. Zejneba has been a microcredit client since 1997, when the program was introduced in Bosnia. With a loan from Women for Women International, Zejneba bought a cow, then land and ultimately established a dairy products business that supports the whole family. “When I finish my work late at night, I thank God for giving me an opportunity to survive the horror and for helping me find women who give me self-confidence,” she says. Today she is continuing her dairy business and is growing and selling potatoes.
Links:
Want to support this project's continued work?
American Express Members Project
By Shannon O'Donnell - Online Marketing Manager, September 29, 2008 09:27 PM
Women for Women International's project Help Women and Children Survivors of War Rebuild, makes it to the top 5 in the American Express Members Project. To nominate this project for potential funding, please go to Help Women and Children Survivors of War Rebuild. Please click the link on our project and click Nominate — and ultimately vote so we may share in the $2.5 million in funding from American Express. If you do not have an American Express website login, just click “Guest Member” provide a little information and you can then Nominate and vote.
http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/AM0MV5
Thanks for your Support!
http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/AM0MV5
Thanks for your Support!
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work?
Microcredit Loans Help Bosnian Women
By Women for Women International - Project Sponsor, June 08, 2007 12:17 PM
Letter from Zainab Salbi, President and CEO of Women for Women International:
Zeynapa is a survivor of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. Her husband was in a concentration camp for two years. By the time he was released, he was severely handicapped from the beating and torture he endured. The war left Zeynapa vulnerable. She lost her home, her stability and the health of her husband. Zeynapa told me about her teenage son and young daughter. She was an internally displaced person when we first met years earlier at the women’s center. “I was so eager to join Women for Women International when I first learned about the organization. I had nothing at the time. My family was sleeping on cardboard. But what worried me the most was my son. I did not want to fail him as a mother. I wanted to make sure that I provided him with a decent life. I was so afraid that he would be tempted to steal if I couldn’t give him the very basics. That was my nightmare. I didn’t want my son to be a thief. I wanted to be a good mother and to provide for my children a decent life.” With tears in her eyes, Zeynapa said, “Everything is okay now. Everything is okay.”
After graduating from Women for Women International’s sponsorship program, she secured a loan through our microcredit program. Zeynapa bought a cow with the first loan, then a second and a third, and when she had seven cows, she was able to sell them and buy a small home. She now runs a family business with her husband, who has since recovered from his injuries. She has been working with cows, sheep and chickens. Zeynapa taught me that we can talk about aid, charity and assistance as much as we want, but at the end of the day, women want the dignity to provide for themselves, to stand on their feet and to be good mothers that can provide a decent living for their children. I learned that our work is never complete if it does not include tangible opportunities to provide jobs for the women we work with. This is why business training and vocational skills training is seen as a crucial part of our work for the women we serve. The training is a major part of the one year program provided to each sponsored woman. We are also constantly exploring opportunities that can create more jobs and more income for the women we serve. For some, that means access to a microcredit loan to start a small business, for others it means being able to sell their products in a cooperative organized by the organization. For someone who has lost loved ones, a home and a support network during war, a drop of hope for a better future means the whole world to them. This is why Women for Women International believes that we must deliver on every word we promise to help move women from victims, to survivors, to active citizens. Anything less is cruel and unfair. It is necessary to address women’s economic needs in order for women to make this transition. This transition is not only for the welfare of the woman and her family, but for the ability to stabilize communities and countries, economically politically and socially. This is why we integrate rights awareness trainings with the vocational and business trainings. When women gain economic independence and access to resources, it is also crucially important to increase their negotiating power within the household and let them know that they have the right to make decisions that impact their families.
-- Zainab Salbi
Zeynapa is a survivor of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. Her husband was in a concentration camp for two years. By the time he was released, he was severely handicapped from the beating and torture he endured. The war left Zeynapa vulnerable. She lost her home, her stability and the health of her husband. Zeynapa told me about her teenage son and young daughter. She was an internally displaced person when we first met years earlier at the women’s center. “I was so eager to join Women for Women International when I first learned about the organization. I had nothing at the time. My family was sleeping on cardboard. But what worried me the most was my son. I did not want to fail him as a mother. I wanted to make sure that I provided him with a decent life. I was so afraid that he would be tempted to steal if I couldn’t give him the very basics. That was my nightmare. I didn’t want my son to be a thief. I wanted to be a good mother and to provide for my children a decent life.” With tears in her eyes, Zeynapa said, “Everything is okay now. Everything is okay.”
After graduating from Women for Women International’s sponsorship program, she secured a loan through our microcredit program. Zeynapa bought a cow with the first loan, then a second and a third, and when she had seven cows, she was able to sell them and buy a small home. She now runs a family business with her husband, who has since recovered from his injuries. She has been working with cows, sheep and chickens. Zeynapa taught me that we can talk about aid, charity and assistance as much as we want, but at the end of the day, women want the dignity to provide for themselves, to stand on their feet and to be good mothers that can provide a decent living for their children. I learned that our work is never complete if it does not include tangible opportunities to provide jobs for the women we work with. This is why business training and vocational skills training is seen as a crucial part of our work for the women we serve. The training is a major part of the one year program provided to each sponsored woman. We are also constantly exploring opportunities that can create more jobs and more income for the women we serve. For some, that means access to a microcredit loan to start a small business, for others it means being able to sell their products in a cooperative organized by the organization. For someone who has lost loved ones, a home and a support network during war, a drop of hope for a better future means the whole world to them. This is why Women for Women International believes that we must deliver on every word we promise to help move women from victims, to survivors, to active citizens. Anything less is cruel and unfair. It is necessary to address women’s economic needs in order for women to make this transition. This transition is not only for the welfare of the woman and her family, but for the ability to stabilize communities and countries, economically politically and socially. This is why we integrate rights awareness trainings with the vocational and business trainings. When women gain economic independence and access to resources, it is also crucially important to increase their negotiating power within the household and let them know that they have the right to make decisions that impact their families.
-- Zainab Salbi
Pictures:
