News & reports

Badrummet faller sönder – vi behöver ditt stöd för att stoppa läckorna!

Ett badrum i fritt fall – och vi har nått bristningsgränsen

Vi befinner oss i en mycket pressad och allvarlig situation som vi tyvärr inte längre kan lösa på egen hand. Vårt badrum har drabbats av så omfattande skador att det nu läcker ner till våningen under. Varje dag som går ökar risken för ännu större vattenskador, vilket skulle kunna leda till ofantligt stora kostnader och risker för både fastigheten och verksamheten.

Toalettstolen är trasig och går inte längre att använda som den ska. Cisternen läcker vid varje spolning, och vi tvingas nu ha en hink stående bredvid toaletten för att fånga upp det vatten som rinner ut. Duschkabinen är uttjänt och tätskikten i väggar och golv är så skadade att de inte längre fyller någon funktion. Allt måste

Swish: 900-4813
Insamlat mål: 100.000 kr

Med din gåva kan vi:

🔸️ Stoppa pågående läckor och förhindra mer omfattande vattenskador
🔸️ Installera en ny toalettstol och en säker, modern duschkabin
🔸️ Lägga nytt tätskikt som skyddar i många år framöver
🔸️ Sätta nytt kakel och klinker som gör badrummet hygieniskt och hållbart

Tillsammans kan vi lösa detta – men vi klarar det inte utan dig

Vi står inför en akut renovering som måste genomföras för att skydda både vår verksamhet och alla barn och unga som vistas här varje dag. Ditt stöd – oavsett stort eller litet – gör att vi kan fortsätta erbjuda en trygg, säker och välkomnande miljö.

Tack för att du är med oss i en av våra tuffaste stunder.
Tillsammans gör vi skillnad 🧡

Four years ago, these photographs were published, simultaneously exposing the abuse of children at the Institution for the Care of Mentally Disabled Children and Youth in Pazaric.

The children were strapped to furniture and radiators and forced to spend long hours in unacceptable positions. These shocking details, brought to light by Sabina Ćudić, then a member of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, outraged society and demanded action. The “Our Children” Foundation has played an immensely important role in pursuing justice and ensuring protection for these children and young people. Through our courageous and persistent efforts, we have succeeded in drawing attention to and exposing the horrifying conditions at this institution.

Today, four years later, Al Jazeera released a new video clip showing a female staff member at the Pazaric Institution striking a user with a disability. In other words—the very thing that must never happen is happening. No one! Never!

“Our Children” will NOT cease fighting to protect these youths, children, and even adult residents at the Pazaric Institution, by all means necessary. We also hope you will support us in this struggle!!

One of Our Children’s largest areas of activity is Independence. Our vision is to help orphaned youth and young people with disabilities become independent and self‑sufficient. We do this in various ways, often through different projects.

Since March 2023, Våra Barn, together with UG Naša djeca – Our Kids in BiH, has been part of the project “Increased Psychosocial Support for Orphaned Youth.” The main goal of the project is to support orphaned children and young people by promoting and protecting their rights. Since the project began, our youth have participated in several different activities. One of those activities was visits to local businesses. Among others, they visited the local wine producer Hepok Mostar. There, our young people were able to observe and familiarize themselves with the company’s production methods, technology, operation of wine-production machinery, and how the wine is stored, packaged, and sold.

Furthermore, our youth have participated in several workshops, also as part of the “Increased Psychosocial Support for Orphaned Youth” project. One of the workshops, “How to Improve Your Self‑Esteem in the Process of Securing Your First Employment,” focused on the importance of strengthening the socio‑emotional competence of orphaned youth. Much of it dealt with how the participants can become more aware of—and articulate—their own skills, what the concept of self‑respect entails, and more.

We continue the fight for our youth! Would you like to join us too? Support us by Swishing your donation to 9004813 or by becoming a monthly donor! You choose the amount you want to give each month. Every contribution counts, and no amount is too small.

We at Våra Barn would like to share some especially joyful news with you.

Aida, one of our residents at the Vrapcici halfway house, has gotten married! Aida is one of those who has lived the longest in our youth residence.

We have watched Aida grow from a teenager into a warm, responsible, and ambitious young woman who has now also found a husband to share her life with. Seeing the photos from her wedding—where all of our youth were present—fills us with immense pride and warmth. It reminds us that we truly make a difference, together with all of you who support Våra Barn.

We need your help to be able to continue our mission and to ensure that more orphaned and disabled children and young people have a fair chance at a normal life with everything that entails: someone to support them, a roof over their heads, adequate education or vocational training, a job, and above all—love.

Outcome of the high‑profile case in Pazaric, Bosnia.

The Our Children Foundation is proud of the decisive role we have played in pursuing justice and protection for children and youth with intellectual disabilities. Through our courageous and persistent efforts, we succeeded in drawing attention to and exposing the horrifying conditions at the Institution for the Care of Mentally Disabled Children and Youth in Pazaric.

Our report on TV4 shone a light on the unacceptable treatment of the residents—especially the children—by showing footage and describing how they were strapped to furniture and radiators and forced to spend long hours in intolerable positions. These shocking details, brought forward by Sabina Ćudić in her then‑capacity as a member of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, shook society and demanded action.

Through our determination and impact, this information reached the Bosnian justice system, and charges were brought against the responsible directors. The District Court in Sarajevo has now handed down four‑year prison sentences to each of Jasmin Ćerimagić, Senada Muharemović, and Redžep Salić for their gross negligence and violations of the inmates’ rights during their tenures as directors. This verdict marks a victory for Our Children and our pursuit of justice and reform. By exposing the abuses and pressing for accountability, we have successfully contributed to changing the situation for the most vulnerable members of society.

Our Children has become a powerful voice for children and youth with intellectual disabilities, and our campaign for better care and protection has paved the way for change. Our efforts demonstrate that by standing up for the vulnerable and demanding justice, we can create a safer and more dignified life for all. You can support Our Children’s campaign for better conditions for children with special needs by becoming a monthly donor. By making a regular financial contribution, you help ensure that Our Children can continue its vital work for justice and care.

Contact Our Children to learn how you can become a monthly donor and help make a real difference in these children’s lives.

The 6th Bosnian‑Herzegovinian Book Fair took place on February 25 and 26 at the Gothenburg Literature House. A huge congratulations to Professor Midhat Ajanović, who was awarded the 2023 “Meho Baraković” Literature Prize for his invaluable contributions to Bosnian literature and culture, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across Scandinavia.

We at Our Children want to extend our deepest THANKS to Professor Midhat for donating the entire prize sum—10,000 SEK—to the Our Children – Naša Djeca BiH Endowment Foundation!

An additional heartfelt THANKS to author Branko Nikolić, who is dedicating the proceeds from sales of his new book Levat to Our Children – Naša Djeca BiH.

It is thanks to passionate champions like Midhat and Branko that Our Children can continue its work. Once again, a huge THANK YOU!