Some forms of support cannot be measured in money alone. Sometimes, it is the time, knowledge and skills that someone chooses to give where they know they will make a real difference.

Hamza and his colleague from Dimnjačar Brkić recently came to Ledići. They travelled from Kakanj with one goal – to clean the chimney at the Small Family Home in Ledići completely free of charge.

And then they did something more.

Not only did they refuse to charge for their work, but they also made a financial donation for the children who stay at the house.

A chimney that had not been cleaned for a long time

The house in Ledići was built back in 1922 and today has a very different purpose from the one it had throughout more than a century of its existence.

The proBITR-a Foundation entrusted it to KJU Home for Children without Parental Care Sarajevo for use for the next 99 years. Following its renovation, it became a place for rest, friendship, learning and new experiences for children without parental care and other children who need a place like this.

Since the house was entrusted to the Home, we had not had the chimney cleaned.

The house now has a modern heating system consisting of a heat pump, an eco-block and fan-coil units, thanks to donations from Thermoflux and the British Embassy, so the old chimney had not been in use. Nevertheless, we wanted to have it inspected, cleaned and made ready for use again.

Because no matter how practical modern heating may be, it is difficult to replace the feeling of lighting a fire on a cold winter day, smelling the burning wood and hearing it crackle in the room.

Especially in Ledići, where winters can be long, cold and full of snow.

We even rescued a little crow from the chimney

An unusual situation during the summer reminded us that a chimney requires attention even when it is not being used.

A little crow became trapped inside it.

Fortunately, we managed to find it and get it out alive, but the incident was another reminder that a chimney needs to be inspected and maintained even when no smoke has passed through it for months.

That is where Dimnjačar Brkić stepped in.

Hamza and his colleague did not simply arrive, clean the chimney and leave. They carried out every part of the job with exceptional care, responsibility and attention to detail, while also explaining what they were doing and giving us useful advice on how to maintain the chimney in the future.

It is precisely this approach that has earned them recognition among their clients. Dimnjačar Brkić provides mechanical chimney cleaning and inspection, removal of tar deposits, chimney unclogging and repairs, as well as other chimney-sweeping services. Publicly available customer reviews particularly highlight their professionalism, punctuality and the cleanliness they maintain while carrying out their work.

From Kakanj to more and more rooftops in Sarajevo

Their story began in Kakanj.

Before starting their own business, they worked alongside more experienced colleagues from whom they learned the trade. These experienced chimney sweeps helped them gain practical knowledge, become familiar with the different problems that can occur in chimneys, and select quality tools needed to carry out the work properly and safely.

Today, they carry out a large part of their work in Sarajevo, where their services have become highly sought after.

And perhaps the fact that they gained their own knowledge thanks to people who were willing to share their experience explains why they are now so willing to pass that knowledge on to others. As they work, they explain, advise and point out the things property owners should pay attention to.

And in Ledići, they decided to share something more – their time and their work.

"We will come back every year"

At the end of the visit, Hamza told us that this would not be their only visit.

He offered to come to Ledići every year and clean the chimney of the Small Family Home completely free of charge.

For a house that is more than a century old, this kind of support means a great deal.

But what means even more is knowing that there are people who, when they hear who this house serves, do not ask how much they can charge – but rather how they can help.

So, a heartfelt thank you to Hamza Brkić and his colleague for making the journey to Ledići, donating their time and work, sharing their knowledge and advice, and then making a financial donation for the children as well.

Thank you also for promising to take care of our old chimney in the years to come.

The house, built in 1922, which has witnessed many different times and is today also a monument associated with the National Liberation War, has gained two more friends.

And we are already looking forward to lighting the first fire.

To that special winter moment in Ledići when, as the snow falls outside, we will once again hear the crackling of wood and smell the fire inside a house that, after more than a hundred years, has found a new purpose – to be a place of safety, rest, play and beautiful memories for children.