EUFOR Spanish Contingent Donate School Material to the SOS Children Orphanage in Sarajevo

16th September 2009 - Personnel from the EUFOR Spanish Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) carried out a cooperation project in the city of Sarajevo. At the beginning of a new school year, the Spanish Contingent donated stationery worth KM 3,500 to the SOS Children’s Village.

“This is a direct donation of the Spanish Government, which is being implemented through our contingent. The SOS Children’s Village is important to us because children, who have been forgotten by the rest of society, are staying here and they are fully taken care of,” said Captain Pablo Rumeu Casares of CIMIC, who handed over a certificate of appreciation to Director Suada Colic.

In the orphanage no more than six or seven children live in every family house, thus making an SOS family. Children in the family address each other as brothers and sisters. Biological brothers and sisters live together. Every SOS family is integrated into a community and participates in its life. Therefore, the children are given the opportunity to establish relationships with others learn the life skills and develop self-confidence. The children are given the opportunity to grow up in a warm family atmosphere. At the SOS Children’s Orphanage in Sarajevo there are 16 family houses in which 88 children live, 3 youth houses in which 40 youth persons live.  Also as part of the Orphanage there are 12 young persons who live a semi-independent life and 5 totally independent young persons.

This project is one of the several developed by the Spanish EUFOR CIMIC personnel.