On Thursday 14 September 2017, a team of EUFOR House soldiers from Banja Luka attended the primary school Branko Ćopić, Gornji Bušević, Krupa na Uni. During their outreach visit the EUFOR Chilean soldiers told the children about EUFOR as well as information about Chile including national dress and traditional dance. The EUFOR soldiers also then presented each of the children with gifts which had been donated by the EUFOR House and Chilean companies.
At the end of the outreach program the children participated in a football match against the EUFOR House soldiers which all of the children loved, and they won the match!
The school principal Dragana Todić said: "At least once a month EUFOR House personnel are in contact with the school, asking if we need any assistance and offering help, and for this assistance I want to express a deep hearted gratitude, professionally and privately to the EUFOR House team, and thank them in the name of our school, teachers and pupils."
"This year, the EUFOR House wanted to do something special and not related with the normal meetings or Mine Risk Education work that we do, so we decided to gather funds in order to do this donation to the children. With the help of all the 15 Chileans in the Mission and the Ambassador of Chile in Hungary, we gathered the amount needed to buy the Sport Outfits and the equipment that we are donating today. This kind of manifestations has a beneficial multiplier factor, and we are planning to go for another one, especially in far away and less affluent schools like this one at Krupanauni. As always money is a limiting factor, but hard work and imagination is not." Said Major Nicolas Schnyder Bertens, OC Chilean LOT Team Banja Luka.
Mara ĆULIBRK, a teacher at the primary school Branko Ćopić, said: "EUFOR House personnel organized similar activities in last 5 years but this time they prepared special program that we all liked very much, including teachers, children and parents who were present too."
Captain Pablo Sayago Barros of the Chilean Army and the 2IC of the EUFOF LOT House in Banja Luka said: "As an EUFOR LOT House, we are the "eyes and ears of the Commander EUFOR", so part of our mission is to be in contact with the local people, that's how we came in contact with the School Branko Ćopić in Krupa na Uni, where we are going today to give our donation and a moment of happiness to the children who attend that school." He went on to add "The mission of EUFOR is a mission for the future of the country, that is why we think that the best way to change and develop BiH, is through their children, so we are taking a little step towards the days to come, so they can bring a bright nation to this wonderful land where they live."
There are 17 EUFOR Houses throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. The soldiers living in these houses are EUFOR's link to local authorities and communities. Being aware of the concerns of BIH citizens and the support to them enables EUFOR to maintain a safe and secure Bosnia and Herzegovina.
