The drawings that set off from Sarajevo on a special journey have arrived in the Netherlands, and some of them have already found their new homes. One artwork carries a particularly special story – a painting that for a long time adorned the wall of our Small Family Home in Ledići will now continue its journey at a mosque community in Rotterdam.

At Bosnian Ladies Day, held on 27 September in Rotterdam, Stichting Amanet presented its humanitarian work and the projects it carries out in Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with Foundation Second.

A special place at their stand was reserved for artwork created by children from the KJU Home for Children Without Parental Care Sarajevo, which we collected from the Home before the artwork began its journey to the Netherlands.

A fair that brings people together, builds connections and helps others

Bosnian Ladies Day was organised with several important goals – to bring women together and connect them, give them an opportunity to meet one another, showcase their work and support each other, while also contributing to a humanitarian cause.

During the event, funds were raised for a mosque in Rotterdam, while the organisers also gave Stichting Amanet the opportunity to present its own humanitarian work at its stand and separately collect donations for the projects it carries out in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Visitors to the stand therefore had the opportunity to learn more about the joint projects of Stichting Amanet and Foundation Second, as well as to support them directly by purchasing the displayed items and children's artwork or by making a donation.

A painting from Ledići finds its way to Rotterdam

Among the exhibited works was a painting of the Small Family Home in Ledići, which had adorned the wall of the Home since its opening.

It has now travelled more than a thousand kilometres and found its new place in Rotterdam.

The painting was purchased by a mosque community in Rotterdam and will now adorn its premises.

This artwork has a special meaning for us. From a place where children without parental care stay throughout the year – spending weekends and school holidays, learning, socialising, caring for animals, exploring nature and creating memories – the painting will now find its place on the wall of a mosque community in the Netherlands.

In this way, a small piece of Ledići will remain in Rotterdam and continue telling the story of the place and the children who inspired it.

Another piece of children's artwork was purchased by a visitor to Bosnian Ladies Day and will now adorn her home.

Around €1,400 raised for Stichting Amanet projects

Thanks to visitors, the sale of displayed artwork and other items, as well as the donations received, Stichting Amanet managed to raise around €1,400 for its humanitarian projects during the event.

The funds raised will be directed towards projects that Stichting Amanet carries out in Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with Foundation Second, particularly activities dedicated to children without parental care.

But this story does not end with Bosnian Ladies Day.

The remaining children's artwork, as well as other items displayed at the Stichting Amanet stand, will be made available online, giving those who were unable to attend the event an opportunity to purchase them as well.

From Sarajevo and Ledići to Rotterdam – and back to the children

When we collected the artwork created by the children from the Home for Children Without Parental Care Sarajevo two weeks ago, we knew it was about to embark on a special journey.

Now we know where that journey has taken some of the pieces.

One child's artwork will adorn a family home in the Netherlands. The painting that had been part of our Small Family Home in Ledići since its opening will now adorn a mosque community in Rotterdam. The remaining pieces are waiting to find their new owners online.

And most importantly, the support these works received in the Netherlands is returning to Bosnia and Herzegovina through projects and activities dedicated to children.

From Sarajevo and Ledići to Rotterdam – and then back to the children.

Sometimes a child's drawing can travel more than a thousand kilometres. And sometimes a painting from the wall of a small home on Bjelašnica finds a new wall in Rotterdam – connecting, along the way, people who may live far apart but share the same desire to do something good.