I have faith in God and people

Thursday, September 25, 2014

World Vision support for child-oriented space helps one family cope with their loss

“I regret that God took my mom away so early,” says 19-year-old Danijela, trying to hold back her tears. Her sister, Nikolina, approaches her and gently helps her clean the tears from her cheeks. It's been less than 40 days since their mom, Petra, drowned in record-breaking floods that hit Bosnia and Herzegovina in August. Petra was with her neighbour who offered to drive her home when their car was hit by a torrent of flood water that sent the car into overflowing creek. Petra was trapped in the car. She was 42 and single mom to three children: Danijela, 19, Bojan, 15, and Nikolina, 13, when she died.

With the death of their mother, Danijela became the guardian of her siblings. For a family that was already amongst the most vulnerable, life became even harder. They continue to live in a rented house in the rural area with no water. Every day, Danijela, Bojan and Nikolina carry canisters of water from their neighbour’s house, a 15-minute walk on foot.

Danijela finds her strength by going to church every Sunday where she prays for the health of her family, for her brother and sister and their mum. 

 

“I carry 10 and 6 litre canisters,” says Nikolina, who is also a talented football player, proudly. “We carry [the water] once every weekday and twice on Saturdays and Sundays,” she adds, noting that her sister can carry 20 litres.

Depending on the weather, it takes about an hour and a half to walk from their humble home to the nearest school. Despite the distance, the children tread through the woods and muddy puddles every day.

Even during the summer, when the school was closed, Nikolina and her brother regularly made the journey to attend the Child Friendly Space that was opened by World Vision as a way to help children in areas affected by floods cope with trauma and stress.

Dijana, one of World Vision’s local staff in Bosnia and Herzegovina, recalls how, on the morning after her mother drowned, Nikolina walked the eight kilometres to the Child Friendly Space.

“I liked the Child Friendly Space,” she says. “They [World Vision’s staff there] took care of us,” she adds. “When the weather was nice we participated in sports competitions and on rainy days, we made drawings,” she adds.

Nikolina and Bojan are also beneficiaries of Day Care Centre called “Nest” that is run by the local non-governmental organization called the Educational Rehabilitation Centre. Nikolina and her brother hurry to the Centre as soon as their classes finish. They spend time here doing homework, studying, and playing with other children.

“The centre works with children from vulnerable and families, providing them with guidance, space and things to do,” says Marina Sajinovic, the director of the centre. “In our community there is not much for children,” she explains.

Like many other buildings in the community the Day Care Centre was flooded in May. It took three months for the repairs to be completed through joint efforts of the community, InFoundation and World Vision.  “When I look back, that was one of the most difficult periods in my life,” she says.

Danijela is happy that there is place like this for her brother and sister. “It makes things easier for me,” she says. “I know where they are, I know what they do there, I don't have to worry about them,” she adds.

“I have faith in God and people," says Danijela. 

Danijela knows that she must be strong as she is now the eldest in her family. She finds her strength by going to church every Sunday where she prays for the health of her family, for her brother and sister and their mum. “I have faith in God and people. There are a lot of good people,” she says as tears begin to fall.  Although she is trying to be strong for her siblings, Danijela admits, “I still miss mum,“ she whispers through tears.

Although the future is uncertain, Danijela has big dreams for herself and her siblings. “My wish is to buy a house,” she says. “We are trying to collect money,” she says, optimistically. “I have faith. I believe my wish will come true,” she says.

In May 2014, Bosnia and Herzegovina was hit by the worst floods and subsequent landslides in 120 years: 25 people died and more than one million were affected. Many were just beginning to recover when a second wave of floods hit the country in August.  As a result and according to the Government estimates, more than 43,000 families still need appropriate housing, as their homes were either completely destroyed or badly damaged by floods and subsequent landslides.

World Vision has been working in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 20 years. In the wake of the floods and landslides, World Vision distributed emergency food and hygiene kits to those whose homes were affected, reaching more than 54,000 people. With its partners, World Vision also established 19 Child Friendly Spaces to provide children with safe places to go and process what they have been through as well. It is expected that, once all activities are completed, World Vision relief efforts will reach around 200,000 people.