Annual report 2005 Malteser International - Ordine di Malta

ON THE SPOT: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Regaining strength with spinach
Income-generating measures in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Potatoes, onions and spinach – Borislav
Acimovic has always cultivated them at
home in his village Humi-Lisan near
Mostar. But he hasn’t been able to for
twelve years. The civil war forced the 64-
year-old Serb to flee his home. He only
returned in 2004 – and had to start again
from scratch. Together with his wife, he
now lives within 16 square metres, but it
is lack of money and machinery that really
affects the couple, not lack of space.
Acimovic found out from friends about
the projects run by Malteser International
to promote income-generating measures
– and a few meetings later, thanks to the
financial support of Malteser International
he bought a petrol-run manual tractor
together with three neighbours. Malteser
International checks each request carefully
to ensure that the project is viable on a
long-term basis and promotes mutual aid
groups amongst the returnees.
In autumn 2005, Acimovic supplied two
old people’s homes in Mostar with 300
kilograms of potatoes and 300 kilograms
of spinach – his repayment obligation
that Malteser International implements to
Borislav Acimovic with his manual tractor, which he
was able to buy thanks to a small loan.
support social organisations. And he’ll be
back next year in gratitude: “I had such
a great harvest that I was able to pay my
debts in two instalments instead of five.
Even though I’ve already covered the
repayment sum, I’d like to donate part of
my next harvest to an old people’s home
again.”
The village community also profits from incomegenerating
measures: Borislav Acimovic gives part of
his harvest to the local old people’s home.
Turkey
Aid for 240 mentally disabled
children and their families
Malteser International has worked in
Turkey since the earthquake in 1999.
Once emergency aid ended, Malteser
International worked out with its local
partners which earthquake victims were
in need of particular attention in the
rehabilitation phase. There were naturally
a lot of supply gaps and a great need
for reconstruction, but one group was
threatening to fall through the developing
supply net: disabled children whose
parents’ livelihood had suffered as a
result of the earthquake. So we decided
to establish a centre for these children
and their parents in which the children’s
physical capabilities could be developed
and encouraged in such a way that it
would later be possible to integrate at least
Care for disabled children and support for their
parents.
a few of them into the working world.
This project has since developed into a
pilot project in Turkey that is receiving a
lot of recognition. Further vital measures
included erecting a health care centre in
the earthquake region and constructing a
first aid training centre.
In 2005, Malteser International continued
cooperation with its Turkish
partner ‘International Blue Crescent’ in
Foundation of a health care centre in the earthquake
region – together with the local partner ‘International
Blue Crescent’.
Izmit and its surroundings, the epicentre
of the severe earthquake in 1999. As
before, the focus of this aid is the centre
for 240 mentally handicapped children
in Izmit. Here, we are continuing to
support training measures and movement
therapies that ease the life of the children
and their parents.
E U R O P E
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