Bracelets that pay bills

Two years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that World Vision’s small project in Majevica Area Development Programme in Northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina would continue with such a success, even after World Vision’s financial support ended.

It’s Friday, one of the busiest days in Sarajevo, especially as its inhabitants prepare busily for what is forecasted to be a sunny weekend. In one of the bigger shopping malls in the city, people are buying their food supplies, strolling around, looking in shop windows, while others are simply using the opportunity to pay their bills in small postal office.

Munira, 41, however, came to Sarajevo with a purpose. She and two of her friends woke up at 5 a.m. They made the three-hour journey to the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is tired, but that won’t stop her from staying in the shopping mall until it closes at 9 p.m. After all, she came with a good cause: to sell handmade bracelets created by children with special needs from her small community.

Bracelets of all colours shine under the glass ceiling of the shopping mall. Munira stands behind the improvised stand and waits for buyers. At 1 Euro each sales are slow, but Munira is not one to complain.

“We pay our bills from these,” says Munira, who is one of the leaders of Association of parents of children with special needs “Smile of Hope,” as she points to the jewellery stand. 

Two years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that World Vision’s small project, Association “Smile of Hope,” from Majevica Area Development Programme in Northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina would continue with such success, even after World Vision’s financial support ended.

“At the beginning of our cooperation, [the] association had passive attitude,” remembers Maja Tursunovic, Majevica Area Development Programme Lead. “They thought that the existence of their association had to be supported by others because their vulnerable status. We involved Association representatives into intensive education on leadership development and their active engagement was rewarded in the way that World Vision supported their project, “Creating hand-made jewellery.”

For Maja, a random meeting at the Association “Smile of Hope” recently, provided her an unexpected surprise. “I was positively surprised to see what the Association had achieved independently after the completion of our [World Vision’s] project. I learned that they are successfully placing their jewellery on the market, in cooperation with big shopping malls, [and] they earn enough money to self-finance their work!” she explains adding, “thanks to enthusiasm of Association’s leadership and cooperation with World Vision, the Association managed to build their self-sustainability and not be dependent on anyone.”  

Practically speaking, the fact that the Association is now financially self-sustaining guarantees the on-going care and support for children with special needs in their community. They use the proceeds to pay for the upkeep of their office, where they meet for activities and additional trainings. They also use some of their income to visit children who because of their situation cannot make it to the office. In the rural community where they live, there are no other special services designated for children with special needs so “Smiles of Hope” fills a significant need. 

Munira also remembers how the idea to make jewellery all began: “In our project “Creating hand-made jewellery we taught children with special needs to create necklaces and bracelets.” At first, the workshops were organized for five special needs children and their parents. Later, more children and their parents joined and group grew.

Today, the Association “Smile of Hope” has more than 60 members. Three of their members are also sponsored through World Vision’s Sponsorship project.  The jewellery they create is sold to pay the bills of the Association and earn money for new materials so that the whole process can continue and new workshops can be organized.

And, not only did they learn important income-generating skills, but the workshops also proved to be a way for children to meet each other and to feel useful. “You can see happiness in their eyes during workshops,” says proudly Munira.

Majevica Area Development Programme is supported by World Vision Taiwan.