History

MWB began working in war-torn Yugoslavia in 1991 and established MWB Bosnia-Herzegovina soon after. Based in Mostar, employing only Bosnian/Herzegovinian nationals, MWB has established various aid, emotional, health and Christian programmes aimed at meeting the needs of some of MWB Bosnia-Herzegovina’s most vulnerable people.

The 1992-1995 war had a devastating impact on the whole of the country.  Thousands died.  About half of the population was displaced.   Neighbours fought neighbours.  Towns and cities were destroyed.  Farmland was rendered useless by the widespread use of land mines.  The economy collapsed.  Bosnia-Herzegovina’s people were left impoverished and traumatised.

MWB’s programmes have therefore endeavoured to cater for more than people’s physical needs, but their emotional and spiritual needs as well.   With a particular emphasis amongst the young, we encouraged reconciliation rather than revenge.  In 1999, MWB’s work expanded to support 2,500 ethnic Albanian Kosovar refugees.

 

Today

Although there has been a lot of rebuilding since the war, about one fifth of the population live in abject poverty.   Many lack access to basic needs such as safe drinking water.   Ethnic tensions still run high.  MWB continues to offer assistance to people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.   We’ve developed Vocational/Educational projects and scholarships to prepare orphaned or abandoned children for a fulfilled adult life.   Refugees continue to receive material and emotional help.   Our introduction of Micro-Enterprising is helping families to become self-sufficient and in turn benefit their own society.   It is so easy for the elderly to feel alone and embittered.   Therefore our support of the feeding centres ensures that the elderly are given good nutritional food daily, helped emotionally, and given clothing, medicines, etc on a regular basis.  

Read Ivana’s story and learn how one girl has been helped.

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Additional Resources:BBC Fact File - if you click on the link then a new browser window will open to display a page on the BBC web site