Oxfam in Bosnia - Rebuilding lives in Tuzla
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Workshop for women refugees, making carpets and clothes |
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Photo: Mike Goldwater/Oxfam
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The war in Bosnia drove many thousands of people from their homes.
Often, they fled with nothing but the clothes they were wearing,
leaving behind all that was familiar. Many families sought shelter
in collective centres, which were set up in schools and other public
buildings. Often up to 200 people lived in community halls, in poor
conditions and with no privacy. In such circumstances, simple measures
can make a big difference to people’s lives.
Oxfam set up workshops in collective centres so that women could
come together and begin to earn a living again. Many of these workshops
continue today. As women make carpets and clothes, they can talk
about their experiences of war and exile. The money they earn by
selling what they make pays for medicines and other necessities
for their families. But of equal importance is the self-confidence
that the women gain by working: they can once again begin to plan
for the future.
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