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FROM THE FIELD

Bosnian Day-Care Centre blooms with a little ray of sunshine
24 Jan 2009 05:36:26 GMT
 Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)
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Children in the 'Sunflower' Day-Care Centre blossom in their new surroundings. Photo by Armin Alijagic
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Children in the 'Sunflower' Day-Care Centre blossom in their new surroundings. Photo by Armin Alijagic
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org

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The once neglected Olovo Suncokret 'Sunflower' Day-Care Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is now blooming thanks to renovations and equipment funded by World Vision in the United States.

"I'm a monkey! I'm a monkey," shrieks a happy, rosy-faced toddler as he runs around the shining new playroom. It is playtime at the Day-Care Centre and the children are no longer at a loss for things to play with.

Despite being a little under a year old, Olovo Sunflower Day-Care Centre, was in dire need of some sunshine. Poor heating and sanitation conditions, a lack of serviceable utilities, peeling paint and poor flooring, all indicators of the economic hardship still facing local communities throughout BiH, had made it difficult for the centre to operate effectively.

A donation of US$10,000 by World Vision US has equipped the centre with brightly coloured proprioceptive games, vivid foam alphabet letters, blocks, playmates, wooden toys, and a new coat of paint- transforming the facility into a child's paradise.

Olovo Sunflower Day-Care Centre located some 50km from the capital Sarajevo is the concept of Hasna Vatres who saw the need for a space in which local children could interact and develop. "Socialisation of the young is essential, especially in our small and somewhat isolated community which never had a day-care centre, even before the war of 1992-1995," commented Hasna.

Since the centre's opening a year ago, Hasna sought funds and sponsorship from the local community. Despite local donations the considerable amount needed to properly equip and furnish the centre could not be met.

Put simply, "we had the vision but unfortunately not the funds and were forced to improvise', she explained. Second-hand furniture was sourced from a nearby primary school and the centre began operating.

Local parents at first were skeptical but initial enrolments have increased almost three-fold and the centre is now considering running two shifts. Besides being a welcome addition to the children in the community, the centre is also providing employment.

"We now employ one full-time teacher and two part-time staff. The salaries are not so high now, at this early stage, but we hope to offer better conditions with time," said Hasna.

Staff and parents are ecstatic about the boost given to the day-care centre.

"We really had a shortage of suitable materials. Even the desks with their sharp corners were not designed for toddlers and children could easily hurt themselves on the edges, so we are so grateful for the donation. The community needed this centre, it is so important that our children can learn to get along well and here is a small but significant step in developing a healthy future for our kids," said fulltime day-care centre teacher, Emina Hejla.

-Ends-


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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