In Bosnia, three-year-old Peace Village
provides hope for young victims of war
By Ron Jensen, Bosnia
bureau
Ivana Avramovic / Stars and Stripes
Bosnian children living in the Peace Village, and their neighbors from Turija village
perform a traditional dance during the third anniversary of the facility. |
TURIJA, Bosnia and Herzegovina — A place that by nature looks to the future took
time Friday to look back. And it liked what it saw.
"We have had a good experience with our children here," said Lutz Heer.
"They are smiling. They are laughing."
That’s a far cry from the state of the children who came here three years ago when
the Peace Village opened its doors and accepted those who had become orphans during the
three-year war.
Heer is general manager of the Rudolf Walther Foundation in Gründau, Germany. The
foundation built this village just as it has others in Guatemala and Romania.
The facility allows as many as 150 children to live in a clean and safe environment,
with widows from the war serving as their surrogate "moms." Several one-story
buildings encircle a grassy mall filled with playground equipment, a frog pond and a
basketball court.
On Friday, the basketball court was festooned with colorful balloons as children from
the Peace Village and the nearby town of Lukavac-Turija entertained with folk dances,
songs and a demonstration of martial arts to mark the center’s third anniversary.
Attending were Bosnian officials and about 50 German benefactors — the home’s
"godfathers" — many of whom endured a 20-hour overnight bus ride to see the
fruits of their effort.
The center is now home to 120 orphans and children who have lost one parent, including
80 who are victims of the war. They receive treatment here for the psychological trauma
they have suffered.
Plus, they receive love and a family atmosphere, attending schools in the local
village. When they reach the end of their high school education, the center helps them
find jobs and places to live.
Ivana Avramovic / Stars and Stripes
Younger members of the Peace Village perform a skit about an elephant and a butterfly for
their German sponsors, social workers, government representatives and U.S. guests during
the third anniversary of the facility. |
When the Peace Village was built on a hill overlooking the Modrac Lake west of Tuzla,
the American military at nearby Eagle Base offered equipment and security patrols.
Since then, they have been frequent visitors to the village. A handful attended the
ceremony Friday.
"It gives me a lot of hope," said 2nd Lt. Beth Hoettels-Kelso, a civil
affairs soldier at Eagle Base. "These are the kids who are going to change this
country."
A fan of folklore of all types, she was particularly interested in the dances and
traditional regalia, asking questions and taking photographs.
"They’re all smiling," the soldier said of the children. "Kids are
kids anywhere in the world. They love to laugh, run, eat ice cream."
The ceremony was light on speeches and heavy on entertainment.
Children from high school age down to kindergarten performed for the 150 visitors.
At the opening of the event, three children read a greeting — in Bosnian, German
and English — that noted the symbolism of the village.
"We are like birds that get their strength here," they said. "Tomorrow,
we will spread our wings and bring love and peace far beyond the borders of this
village."
Sead Avdic, president of the Bosnian parliament, told the crowd the day was a chance to
note the effort required for Bosnia to be a place of peace and justice.
"The message is quite clear," he said. "We hope that there is never a
war again in Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Balkans or the world. We must not forget, but
we must forgive all that happened in the war. We need to have strength, patience and a lot
of tolerance."
But the day belonged to the children, who showed by their performances the effort they
made to prepare for this day.
"I have a feeling they look forward to events like this," said Osman
Pozderovic, the director of the village. "They know their ‘godfathers’ are
coming. Their pen pals are coming. They know they are bringing them something, if only a
warm word."
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