Days of Joy - Recovery from War

In June 2008 we want to offer therapeutic recreation for war-traumatised children from East-Bosnia - together with their mothers - at the seaside.

The German Women's Organisation SEKA Hamburg e.V. supports and mainly funds the women's peace project SEKA in East Bosnia.
SEKA is a Center for therapy, education and recreation. After 10 years of work on the Adriatic Island of Brac the project moved to the town of Gorazde in Bosnia and Herzegowina in September 2007.

Even 12 years after the end of war through the Dayton-agreement the population in Bosnia and Herzegowina still suffers from the psychological and social consequences of war.
The population of the town of Gorazde is severely war traumatized - people suffered from almost four years lasting siege, shelling, and hunger.

Since September 2007 project SEKA offers (trauma)therapeutic and psycho-educative help for women and children in individual and group work.
Every summer the project organizes therapeutic recreation at the seaside for traumatized women and children.
In June 2008 we would like to invite a group of 20 traumatized women and children for therapeutic recreation in Neum at the Adriatic Sea.
10 - 14 days (it depends from our finances) four therapists will give psychological-pedagogique assistance to the children and their mothers in group-work and through individual talks. Besides this, of course, women and children will enjoy the sea, the beach and further activities the colleagues will offer them.
Through these "days of joy" women and children will - at least to some extent - overcome their painful experiences and regain self-esteem, trust and joy of life. After returning to their home town Gorazde, Project SEKA will offer them further support, if necessary.

The project is financed entirely by donations: For 20 women and children we need 16.770,- € for 12 days. As being more and more difficult to find the donations for this kind of project, we ask the community of betterplace for their help.