August 2023 - Report on Activities for the 2022-2023 School Year
Naturally, we continue to monitor safety (COVID, the situation in Ukraine, etc.). We've noticed that schools, parents, and students are still very cautious and unsure whether they should travel. A war so close to home plays a major role in this.
There is a growing awareness of the environmental impact of air travel, and more and more people are choosing more environmentally friendly travel options to reduce their carbon footprint. Buses and trains emit fewer greenhouse gases per passenger than airplanes and are more efficient in terms of fuel consumption per passenger kilometer. Therefore, we prefer to travel by bus whenever possible. Not only to reduce the burden on the environment, but also because it offers the greatest flexibility.

 

EMERGENCY AID
In the past project year, we were able to support hospitals in Ukraine with medical supplies.

 

SCHOOL PROJECTS
In Macedonia, collaborative projects were established between Dutch and Macedonian young people, seeking and finding solutions to challenges in their neighborhoods. In Georgia, the collaboration with the youth center was expanded, and wonderful results were achieved by renovating the center and professionalizing the programs.
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, no fewer than 14 schools, 3 daycare centers, an orphanage, a nursing home, and an institution for people with disabilities were renovated, and a playground was built. Exchange projects were organized with nursing students, and medical, dental, and pharmacy assistants were introduced to working in a different culture, with different challenges. In addition, (educational) activities were organized for all target groups.

 

CARE CLOWNS
In addition to their cheerful visits to institutions and nursing homes, our clowns also visited a refugee camp, where wonderful interactions took place with the residents.

 

FUTUREA KIDS FESTIVAL
The FutureA Kids Festival was once again a huge success. We visited the towns of Busovaca, Gorazde, Konjic, and Capljina.

 

HOLIDAYS
During the summer holidays, we were able to offer children from at-risk families an unforgettable week's holiday at our hostel, Veliko Srce, in Lisicici.

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Aug 2022 - Report on activities carried out for the 2021-2022 school year
Because projects were not possible for a year and a half, we didn't know what to expect from the post-corona period. But after the travel advisory for our project countries changed from orange to yellow, schools, teachers, and students indicated they didn't want to wait any longer to travel.
Since March 2022, we have therefore been able to delight many project locations with the enthusiasm of our student groups.

 

EMERGENCY AID

In the Netherlands, we delivered four sponsored trucks full of collected materials to various locations during the emergency in Ukraine. We also delivered school supplies and backpacks to a childcare center near the Ukrainian border and to an emergency shelter in the Netherlands.

SCHOOL PROJECTS
In Macedonia, activities were organized for the children of SOS Children's Village in Skopje.

In Georgia, a youth center was renovated, and we went on outings with the youth from Tbilisi.

In Bosnia & Herzegovina, renovations were carried out at seven primary schools and an orphanage. The children were also entertained with all kinds of fun and educational activities. And the gymnasium at Os Olovo was beautifully refurbished.

We were finally able to visit the clients in the institutions again, where we, together with our young people, were able to put a smile on their faces.

HOLIDAYS

At the end of July, we were able to offer a group of street children from Zenica an unforgettable week-long holiday at our hostel, Veliko Srce, in Lisicici, where the residents of the Zavod Drin institution are currently also enjoying a wonderful time.

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CARE CLOWNS
In addition to their cheerful visits to institutions and nursing homes, our clowns also visited a refugee camp, where they gave a workshop for the staff and volunteers and performed for the residents.

FUTUREA KIDS FESTIVAL
After a two-year absence, we were able to organize the FutureA Kids Festival again. In Busovaca, Travnik, Capljina, and Jajce, it was a party like always.

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Aug 2021 - Report on Activities for the 2020-2021 School Year
We intended to resume projects starting in March 2021. Unfortunately, this was not yet possible due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

We admired the staff in hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, and so on. We also observed the rapid adjustments in education, where the shift from classroom to online instruction presented a challenging task. We, too, remain positive and hope for a change that will lead to a new project year where the challenges we face can be transformed into valuable experiences.

We found this challenge
in collecting laptops, tablets, and phones. These were inspected and distributed to healthcare institutions, so that isolated elderly people could be helped communicate with their families.

Care materials were collected and delivered to home care and nursing homes to ensure our caregivers were well-protected.

We organized an online Kids' Festival with all kinds of fun digital games, videos, and challenges.

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Aug 2020 - Report on Activities for the 2019-2020 School Year
SCHOOL PROJECTS
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, a record number of projects were planned for this school year, no fewer than 45. We were able to realize three of these projects together with three groups of students:

Renovating the boarding school in Doboj, brightening up a nursing home in Tuzla, and a project within the Zavod Drin institution.
Subsequently, travel became irresponsible due to COVID-19. All planned projects were therefore canceled or suspended.
In the Netherlands, we collected, upgraded, and distributed laptops to nursing homes in Brabant and Limburg. A collaborative project with various COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) is in preparation.

Dutch COVID-19 protocols were translated and implemented in institutions in our project areas, and Dutch experts were linked to project locations to provide sounding boards on COVID-19 approaches.

FUTUREA
The FutureA festival was postponed to May/June 2021.

HOLIDAYS
Unfortunately, this school year could not take place, much to the dismay of all the clients of the Pazaric and Zavod Drin institutions, who were supposed to travel to Lisicici in July and August for a wonderful holiday.

We look forward with great hope to resuming our activities as soon as we can travel safely again.

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Aug 2019 - Report on activities carried out for the 2018-2019 school year
SCHOOL PROJECTS
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, with your help, no fewer than 17 primary schools were renovated, including gymnasiums, classrooms, and playgrounds. Eight student groups worked at an institution for people with psychiatric or intellectual disabilities. Three groups worked at a hospital, and our clowns worked at various institutions and schools. A dental project was set up at the Zavod Drin institution. And an eye-check project in primary schools.
In Georgia, two groups renovated a school, and in Macedonia, two groups worked at the children's hospital in Skopje. And in Nepal, the first school was renovated. Money was also raised to help a Nepalese girl with surgery, recovery, and her future.

FUTUREA
At the end of May, the FutureA festival visited Fojnica, Travnik, Capljina, and the new city of Jajce.
During these four days, we were able to give around 25,000 children a wonderful day.
Filled with familiar but also new workshops, and concluded with the best show ever!

HOLIDAYS
In Lisicici, we were able to offer 180 clients and caregivers from the Zavod Drin institution a wonderful holiday this summer. They swam, danced, and enjoyed the mountains and the lake. A multicultural holiday week was also organized for children from all over BiH.

At 41 locations in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Georgia, Nepal, and the Netherlands, you organized activities for children, young people, and people with disabilities who will never forget the days they spent with you!

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Aug 2018 - Report on activities for the 2017-2018 school year

 

SCHOOL PROJECTS
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, with your help, no fewer than 15 primary schools were renovated, including gymnasiums, classrooms, and playgrounds. Seven groups of students worked at an institution for people with psychiatric or intellectual disabilities. Construction continued on Veliko Srce (our hostel in Lisicici). Four groups worked at a hospital, and our clowns once again brought smiles to many faces.
In the Netherlands, students worked on a Kids' Festival at an asylum seekers' center and on a project with the homeless. In Georgia, two groups renovated a youth center in the village of Kvemo Chala, and in Macedonia, two groups worked at the children's hospital in Skopje.

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FUTUREA
At the end of May, the FutureA festival visited Fojnica, Zenica, Travnik, and the new town of Capljina.
During these four days, we were able to give around 25,000 children a wonderful day.
Filled with familiar and new workshops, and concluded with the best show ever!

HOLIDAYS
Thanks to the extra bungalows, we were able to offer 179 clients and caregivers from the Zavod Drin institution a wonderful holiday this summer at our Veliko Srce hostel. They swam, danced, and enjoyed the mountains and the lake.

You organized activities at 40 locations in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Georgia, and the Netherlands for children, young people, and people with disabilities who will never forget the days they spent with you!

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August 2017 - Report on Activities for the 2016-2017 School Year
SCHOOL PROJECTS
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, 9 primary schools, a special education school, 2 municipal hospitals, 6 institutions for people with intellectual disabilities, 1 secondary school, 1 gymnasium, 1 orphanage, and a scouting building were renovated. Three schools were provided with a beautiful playground.
In Macedonia, a Roma school was renovated, and in Georgia, 2 community centers.

At 39 locations in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Georgia, our volunteers organized activities for children, young people, and people with disabilities who will never forget the days they spent with you!

FUTUREA
In March, a FutureA festival was organized at the Venlo asylum seekers' center for refugee children. That was also a great party. Not only for the children, but also for the parents and the organizing students!

At the end of May, the FutureA festival visited Fojnica, Zenica, Konjic, and the new town of Travnik.
We were able to give around 20,000 children a wonderful day during these four days.
Filled with familiar but also new workshops, and concluded with the best show ever!
More information: www.futurea.nl

HOLIDAYS
In Lisicici, we were able to offer 181 clients and caregivers from the Zavod Drin institution and 22 children from the emergency shelter in Zenica a wonderful holiday this summer. They swam, danced, and enjoyed the mountains and the lake.

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August 2016 - Report on Activities for the 2015-2016 School Year
SCHOOL PROJECTS
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, with your help, 10 primary schools, a children's hospital, 3 municipal hospitals, 2 youth centers, a refugee camp, 7 institutions for people with intellectual and/or psychiatric disabilities, 2 daycare centers, and 2 gymnasiums were renovated. Two schools were provided with new furniture, 2 with new laptops, and a gymnasium was set up. In addition, 3 beautiful playgrounds were built.

In Kosovo, one primary school was renovated, and in Macedonia, a daycare center and a ward of a Roma hospital were renovated.

At 41 locations in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Macedonia, you organized activities for children, young people, and people with disabilities who will never forget the days they spent with you!

FUTUREA
At the end of May, we were able to organize the Futurea Festival for the first time. A kids' festival that we brought to the children.
In four cities (Fojnica, Zenica, Mostar, and Konjic), we welcomed the children with 168 volunteers and presented a wonderful range of activities and a fantastic show. Thousands of children no longer had to sit on a bus for long periods of time, but could experience the festival in their own region. It was one big party. More information: www.futurea.nl

 

VELIKO SRCE
In Lisicici, we were able to offer a wonderful holiday this summer to 172 clients and caregivers from the Zavod Drin institution and 15 children from a crisis shelter in Zenica. They enjoyed the sun and the lake, dined in the city, participated in all kinds of fun activities, and went on excursions.

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August 2015 - Report on Activities for the 2014-2015 School Year

With their creativity, dedication, and tremendous commitment, our volunteers worked last school year at 14 primary schools, a shelter for children from troubled families, a hospital, a youth center, two refugee camps, six institutions for people with intellectual disabilities, a sports organization, an outpatient clinic, two refugee camps, and our hostel, "Veliko Srce." In addition, the Sarajevo Kids' Festival was organized for the 12th time.

At 36 locations in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Macedonia, our volunteers organized activities for children, young people, and people with disabilities who will never forget the days they spent with you!

The icing on the cake: thanks to sponsorship, we were able to make the Veliko Srce hostel wheelchair accessible. This, along with the dedication of our volunteer counselors in Lisicici, allowed us to offer 180 clients of the Zavod Drin facility in Fojnica a wonderful holiday this summer.

From the bottom of our hearts, and on behalf of all our project locations, THANK YOU SO MUCH!