18 November 2019 | HUIS TER HEIDE, Netherlands [tedNEWS]
Dutch Toyota dealer, Louwman Roosendaal, has donated a Toyota HiAce Van for use in Bosnia and Herzegovina [BiH] to transport clothing for charity. Their current van is broken beyond repair. Meanwhile ADRA BiH is also supporting desperate migrants facing winter conditions in less than adequate camps.
ADRA BiH had no funding to replace the van for this essential service so, in cooperation with ADRA Netherlands, Louwman Roosendaal decided to sponsor the used Toyota HiAce Van. The van will be used for the ‘Textile bread’ project that collects used clothes and repurposes them for socially disadvantaged people, for sale in charity shops to provide further services, or, if the clothes are too worn, to turn them into industrial cloths which again generate funds for ADRA projects.
Branch manager, Richard Zwagers, stated, “When the foundation ADRA Netherlands approached us with the request to help, we were struck by the story and passion with which these people are committed to help fellow human beings. The passion to move people is in Louwman’s DNA and that’s why we decided to sponsor a used Toyota HiAce Van.
Christa Breure is part of the ADRA Netherlands team. She said, “We wished to find a new van for our sister foundation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and could not have dreamed that this would work out like this. This Toyota HiAce is exactly what we need, a reliable and super practical van, which is perfectly equipped for the purpose.”
Breure received the van on behalf of ADRA and will drive it to the Balkans together with her husband Pieter before handing it over the local ADRA director, Božidar Mihajlović.
ADRA BiH supporting migrants in desperate winter conditions
ADRA is highly respected in Bosnia and Herzegovina following their impartial service during the Balkans crisis of the 1990s, including the siege of Sarajevo. Today, together with the Red Cross, they are one of the few charities providing desperately needed support for the forgotten refugees stuck in BiH in desperate winter conditions. A series of BBC reports have recently highlighted their plight.
ADRA is active at Ušivak camp near Sarajavo, where they are providing support to single men, families and children. This camp was established in 2018 in old military base. Before establishing of the camp migrants were camping in disused warehouses and other empty buildings, or sleeping rough on the streets in winter conditions. Conditions at the camp are less than perfect, but ADRA is committed to help as best it can.”
That help is also extending to the local community with a primary school next to camp that many migrant children are attending along with local residents. It is a poor community and the school is in a bad condition. Now, during the lead up to Christmas they will distribute ADRA Christmas’ parcels to provide some needed joy to the children. This is part of ‘Djeca pomažu djeci’ (Children helping children), a partnership with ADRA Germany.
ADRA BiH is achieving miracles with very limited funding and resources. In an almost forgotten migrant situation they are providing the best support they can, and are grateful for the support of partners like ADRA Netherlands and others in the ADRA network along with committed church members.
While we remember the Christ child, who was himself a refugee facing difficult and inhumane conditions, ADRA BiH is grateful for support for those who face a similar crisis today.
To find out more about the activities of ADRA BiH, visit their Facebook page or website.
For more photos, see Trans-European Division Facebook page.
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Deana Stojković, associate editor
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