The Center for Emotional Support "Cat Barn" in the village of Ledići on Mt. Bjelašnica is the first in a series of projects that Foundation "Second" from Sarajevo plans to implement in cooperation with Home for Children without Parental Care "Bjelave".

At the end of last year, 87 residents from the Home "Bjelave" were given a two-story ethno-house with its land to be used for 99 years. One of the ruined buildings in the vicinity has been ceded for the purpose of building a facility, where therapy cats that were previously rescued from the streets, rehabilitated and socialized, will be accommodated.

"In the last few years, therapy animals have become increasingly popular, because the idea of receiving emotional support from animals is widely accepted. While therapy dogs are not new, cats that provide emotional support are becoming more included in therapies with children," explained Belma Mujezinović, director of the Foundation "Second".

Thanks to their natural connection with people, soothing behavior and purring, cats are ideal for relaxation and help on the way to healing. They provide emotional support to those who need it. For example, if a child has recently lost a parent, therapy cats can be essential in coping with the emotional trauma.

Therapy cats are especially effective for children struggling with depression and anxiety disorders. These symptoms can make it difficult for someone to connect with other people, or even get out of bed in the morning. A therapy cat works to alleviate these symptoms and provide a stress-free emotional connection.

"In Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are faced with an insufficiently solved problem of abandoned animals and the problem of social acceptance of people who belong to often neglected categories of society, whether due to loss of parental care, difficulties in development, illness, trauma, etc. Through these two problems, we recognized the model of solution that combines the rehabilitation of abandoned animals and their implementation in work with neglected social categories of society", explained Mujezinović.

The advantage of associating children from Dom Bjelave with cats, as part of the Cat Residence project, was also recorded in the documentary film "Little Holiday House", which was broadcasted at National BHT in February. The film also talks about the importance of children staying on the mountain, and what is needed to make it happen soon.

"We believe that there are good people who will help us to finish everything we have planned by the summer. Our funds are limited, as well as our possibilities, but we have many friends who, we believe, can help and facilitate us at least in one part. This is a beautiful story that means a lot to children, but also to all other categories that are in the care system", said Tarik Smailbegović, director of the Bjelave Children's Home, and emphasized that this facility will be used by children from other homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well.

In accordance with the signed agreement between the Foundation "Second" and the Home for Children without Parental Care "Bjelave", donations for the construction of the Cat Barn, the project designed by architect Merima Delić, and the implementation of the project with therapy cats can be made to the account of the Foundation "Second":

EUR/USD IBAN: BA391413115310005729, SWIFT: BBIBBA22XXX, Bosna Bank International DD Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or via PayPal: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Beneficiary: Foundation "Second", Sarajevo - Nurije Pozderca, Bosnia and Herzegovina

All funds will be used for the Cat Barn, whose estimated costs of project development, obtaining a permit and construction amount 50.000 EUR.