Bosnian Projects

Our link with Bosnia dates back to Autumn, 1992, when Civil War broke out amongst the ethnic communities of Bosnia and Herzogovina, i.e Serbs (Orthodox Church), Muslims and Croats (Catholic). The Serbs, with the help of Serbia, took control of much of Northern Bosnia and laid siege to the capital, Sarajevo and to Bihac, a major town in the South-West. They drove non-Serbs from their homes and massacred many of the males over 14.

Many families fled to refugee camps in the neighbouring country of Slovenia. Through the Diocese, we learned that the refugee camps were overcrowded and short of food and that many people could die during the coming winter.

In conjunction with the churches at Ash Vale and Ockham, we sent out a bus with a mission to deliver food, blankets and medical supplies to the camps and to bring back vulnerable families selected by the Red Cross.

We brought in 31 refugees, whom we helped and guided during their stay in the UK.

We also sent supplies to the besieged towns of Sarajevo and Bihac via Edinburgh Direct Aid.

After the war ended in late 1995, we helped most of our refugees to return to Bosnia.

With EDA and Rotary we have carried out many projects including:

• Supply of a reconditioned ambulance and new garage

• House repair

• School rebuild

• A sewing co-operative

• Chicken farms for widows (the result of a Lent Appeal)

• Business training carried out by one of our members together with one of our former refugees.

• Regional Development.

• A Sawmill operated by Serbs and Muslims together (£1,000 from the Church matched by Rotary, EDA and the EU led to the setting up of a sawmill now employing 40 people)

This work continues.

Most recently, we have funded an outreach worker from the Christine Witcutt Centre for handicapped children.

The Centre is a memorial to a lady shot by a sniper whilst delivering supplies to Sarajevo.

Geoff Morris