"I had nothing to prepare for her iftar, so I asked my neighbor for an egg, just to make her some pancakes. And that’s what she broke her fast with," says the mother of a 14-year-old girl who, despite difficult living conditions, does not give up fasting and worship during Ramadan.
She is an exceptional student and dreams of enrolling in high school and later attending university. However, her parents fear they will not be able to finance her education. Due to prejudice, they struggle to find work because they are of Roma nationality. The father occasionally earns a daily wage in construction, while the mother cleans – and because of her dedication and meticulousness, everyone who hires her once calls her again.
This is also reflected in their home – clean and tidy, despite being dilapidated and lacking basic living conditions. They have lived there for over ten years, but now they must leave because the owner has sold it, and the house will soon be demolished.
They have nowhere to go. Besides their daughter, they have two young sons, aged six and eight. Because of this, they are at risk of being separated and placed in alternative care institutions. Their situation is being monitored by the Family and child support service of the Home for children without parental care Sarajevo. In accordance with a signed agreement, Foundation Second has been cooperating with this institution for over three years.
At the beginning of Ramadan, the director of the Foundation, Belma Mujezinović, visited the family, bringing them bags full of groceries—a Ramadan package provided by the Foundation’s donors—which the boys excitedly examined.
"How do you make a living?" I asked the mother.
"Can I tell her that we collect things from garbage bins?" the mother turned to the head of the Service, Amina Pohara.
"Of course, you can," she replied.
The mother then told us how she roams the neighborhood almost every day, looking for something she can resell to provide a meal for her children.
"I will educate them as long as I can. I want them to finish school, but I don't know how... Now we have to leave this house, and we can't afford to pay 500 KM in rent per month," the mother explained.
Thanks to donors, Foundation Second has already provided significant assistance to this family, securing firewood, furniture, and clothing for them. Additionally, the daughter and her brother spent five unforgettable days at the Pegasos horse-riding camp, where they experienced the carefree joys of childhood for the first time.
"At first, she was afraid of prejudice, even before she went to camp. She feared being teased, feeling like she didn't belong there. But the opposite happened – the children accepted her warmly, she made friends, and truly enjoyed herself," said Amina Pohara.
Now, we are launching an appeal to fund a scholarship for this determined and talented girl and to secure at least one year of rent so that she and her family can have a new beginning. We also call on kind-hearted people to help find jobs for her parents so they can provide their children with education and a dignified life.
How can you help?
📞 Call 17077 to donate 1 EUR, or make a larger contribution to our account:
💳 Second Foundation
Sarajevo - Nurije Pozderca 8
1413115320025053
Reference: Mobile team: Family 7
🌍 For international donations:
IBAN: BA391413115310005729
SWIFT: BBIBBA22XXX
Bank: Bosna Bank International DD Sarajevo
💻 PayPal: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
‼️ Second Foundation protects the identity of those we help to ensure their privacy and dignity. It is crucial that individuals in need are not exposed to the public, as this could cause additional stress, stigmatization, or feelings of shame. Our goal is to provide support and assistance discreetly, enabling them to focus on recovery and a better life without fear of judgment or unwanted attention.
Thank you for standing with us! 🙏❤️