Breza, located 30 kms outside of Sarajevo, is a town very affected by the war, where unemployment is extremely high, the educational infrastructure weak, and availability of sports activities and equipment lacking. When we were in Breza presenting our Mine Awareness and Drug Prevention programs in the schools of that area, the local authorities requested our help, which led to us organizing a program of vocational activities, conducted exclusively by our BRM team, and presented without cost to the community.

The local Red Cross provided the facilities: an office, classroom, furniture and a blackboard, as well as kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Bernadine teaching at the Breza vocational center.

Opening of Breza vocational center - The mayor (second from left) came for the inauguration of the project

The Breza Vocational Center project operates under the umbrella of the Bosnian Red Cross, while we handle the subject curriculum. The Red Cross have expressed their appreciation and told us how important this program is for the children attending and also for the parents and teachers. A large display on "Special Activities" with photos and captions hangs in their office, most of the photos focusing on our Vocational Center.

Students showing off their Certificates of Attendance & Satisfactory Progress at end of term.

Here we have just made a trip to Croatia where picked up a donation of 50 large boxes of new warm winter clothing that had been donated by companies in Sweden. We coordinated the donation for the Bosnian Red Cross (Breza center), and the president of the Red Cross and staff expressed their appreciation for this donation. Some of the nice sweaters were used as prizes for the Mine Awareness program contest we participated in.