MAKE A DIFFERENCE

73 Years after World War II, there are still wars raging with sickening examples of man’s inhumanity to man.

In 1992, Serif Jelovac, had his world shattered. Fighting had hardly started in Bosnia when a gang of militant fellow-citizens broke into the village home he shared with his mother and sister. They roughly abducted the women for a fate possible “worse than death”. Miraculously his sister was saved, but his mother’s fate was unknown.

Serif joined the army to help bring peace to his people. ”I saw things no human should see or experience. Many friends died next to me, many of us were critically injured,” recalled Serif looking haunted.

Serif returned to Bosnia-Herzegovina after the war, hoping for a fresh start. For years he never stopped worrying about his mother. The shock discovery of a mass grave near his village brought this command, “Please come and identify your mother’s body.” Serif had to accept his mother was dead and experience fresh grief.

Life went on. In 2005 it took another turn. “I was hospitalized and eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” Back home his wife and best friend, Sabina, decided to fight his illness. In 2013 Sabina developed breast cancer. Not knowing how they would cope, Serif, was desperate. But God had a plan.

Mission Without Borders (MWB) stepped in. “It has been a wonderful 5-year journey of happiness. Whenever we’ve felt low, they have lifted us up, materially, emotionally and spiritually. MWB has tied a knot between us.”

About 400 000 people in Bosnia-Herzegovina suffer from PTSD. Through our Family to Family programme, MWB offers a lifeline to families battling the issues. With the help of supporters like you, we can take many more families on their own journey to self-sufficiency and happiness.

Remember, every time you contribute to those suffering from the world’s inequalities, you are also contributing to a more peaceful planet.