Oxfam in Bosnia - Koraci Nade: Steps of Hope
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Children enjoy a cut and paste session at Koraci Nade |
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Photo: Howard Davies/Oxfam
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Disabled people in Bosnia are a neglected group. The Koraci Nade
centre (see picture) was set up by Oxfam in 1994, after parents
of disabled children asked for support. Before the centre was built,
disabled children used to spend most of their time at home. They
seldom met kids of their own age and were not able to go to school.
At the Koraci Nade centre, children have a safe place to play and
learn. Their mothers can also meet, giving each other support and
advice. One young visitor at the centre is Amela Zulcic. Her father,
Njaz, explains how the war affected Amela and the family:
"Amela had a hard time during the war. Before, we had everything
we wanted – a house, a garden… In January 1993 we were
forced to leave our home by the Serbian authorities, so we went
to stay in the house of a friend who had already left because of
the war. We hid inside the house for a year and a half – it
was just like being in jail.
After Amela started coming here, actually in a very short time,
she really progressed. At the weekends she just waits until Monday
when she can come here again; she loves it and it is having lots
of positive benefits in her life. This country needs lots of centres
like this. We cannot ignore the needs of disabled children –
they are part of our society too."
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