Sometimes we don't even have time to publish an appeal for help. The needs of the families we work with are often so urgent that we must act immediately. This was the case for a family in which five girls, aged between three and fourteen, are being raised by their grandparents. Thanks to the kindness of generous people, we have provided them with firewood for the winter. Now, we are trying to address another problem – the lack of adequate sleeping space.

The story of this family was recently shared on the personal Facebook profile of Foundation Second Director, Belma Mujezinović. Before we even had time to prepare an official appeal, donations had already started coming in.

Behind our posts, photographs, and reports lies a great deal of everyday work that the public rarely sees. Calls from social welfare professionals, visits to families, conversations with donors, and urgent interventions are all part of our daily activities. When a family lacks heating, food, or basic living necessities, providing help comes first. We can always tell the story afterwards.

Five Girls and Two Grandparents Doing Everything They Can to Give Them a Home

The girls' mother has abandoned her five daughters, while their father is unable to care for them. Their grandparents have taken responsibility for raising them and, despite their limited income and numerous hardships, are doing everything they can to provide them with safety, love, and a sense of belonging.

They live in a small, deteriorating house for which they pay 80 EUR in monthly rent. They have repaired and improved the house with their own hands, making it habitable. It is clean and tidy, and their efforts to provide the girls with decent living conditions are evident in every corner.

However, the house has no running water. The water supply was disconnected because of a substantial debt that this family did not incur.

The grandmother works at a local grilled-meat restaurant, while the grandfather is waiting to receive his first old-age pension, which will be the minimum amount. Their income is insufficient to meet the needs of a seven-member household.

The family receives regular visits from the Family and Child Support Service of the Sarajevo Public Institution Home for Children Without Parental Care, with which Foundation Second has been cooperating for five years to support families at risk.

Firewood Purchased – One Major Worry Less

One of the family's most urgent needs was firewood for the approaching cold winter months.

Thanks to donors who responded to the post on the Foundation Director's personal Facebook profile, we raised the necessary funds and purchased the firewood.

For these five girls, it means a warm room, more peaceful winter nights, and the reassurance that they will have somewhere to keep warm. For their grandparents, it means one major worry less.

This initiative has once again reminded us how precious the trust of those who support our work truly is. Thanks to their willingness to help, very little time passed between the initial post and the delivery of tangible assistance.

One More Sofa Bed Is Still Needed

During our visit to the family, we learned that four of the girls share a single double bed.

The youngest girl, who is just three years old, recently received a convertible armchair bed donated by friends of the Foundation, along with a food package.

She immediately claimed the armchair as her own. She plays on it, rests on it, and sleeps on it. And she refuses to share it with anyone.

That is why we would like to provide another convertible armchair bed, so that at least one more girl can have her own sleeping space.

The family also needs a wardrobe, as the one they currently use is so worn out that it is practically falling apart.

In a home where seven people share a modest living space, these pieces of furniture can make a meaningful difference in comfort, privacy, and dignity.

The Help That Often Goes Unseen

Foundation Second's work extends far beyond projects, organised activities, and humanitarian campaigns. A significant part of what we do involves providing direct assistance to families facing difficult living circumstances.

Some of these efforts are never publicly shared. We provide assistance through cooperation with social welfare professionals, friends of the Foundation, and donors, often without issuing public appeals beforehand.

Our goal is not to turn every act of assistance into a story, but to make sure that help reaches those who need it when they need it most.

We are particularly committed to supporting families who, despite poverty and other hardships, strive to provide children with a safe and loving family environment.

The grandparents of these five girls demonstrate every day how much love, responsibility, and sacrifice can exist within a modest home. Their dedication deserves the support of the wider community, and we want to help ease the burden they carry, in whatever way we can.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone whose generosity made it possible to purchase the firewood. Your support is more than material assistance. It is also a message to this family that they are not alone.

We will continue this small initiative until we have secured another armchair bed, and we hope to find a solution for the family's worn-out wardrobe as well.

Donations for this family can be made to Foundation Second's bank account with the following payment reference:

"Mobile Team – Family 13"

Donation details are available here.

Sometimes, easing just one burden is enough to make someone's life a little easier. And when we come together, we can achieve so much more. ❤️