TWI for the Children has established a draft itinerary for this summer’s activities. Before we can publish this itinerary, we must determine who will be part of our team and finalize the dates of our Training Workshops. Then we can work with our coordinators to obtain workshops and logistics. We know that the Bosnians’ will not be able to participate in our Training Workshop programs, but we hope to be able to conduct camps in Sarajevo and Mostar. Our funding is a critical factor and we hope to receive donations to allow us to accomplish our programs. Another critical factor is the increased cost of airfare to Europe. We are keeping our fingers crossed that everything will come together soon.
2011 TWI for the Children Summer Program
During July 2011, TWI conducted a very successful program of Camps for Kids and Leadership Workshops. Camps for Kids were held in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo Orphanage, Roma Community, Zenica Orphanage Picnic, Disabled Children Picnic and Mostar Orphanage); Kosovo (Two villages); and, Montenegro (Bijela Orphanage). A total of 600 children in these schools and orphanages received a day of fun, games, stories, crafts, and dance along with snacks and drinks. Each child went home with an individual photo in a frame as well as a TWI backpack for their school supplies. Leadership Workshops were held for University age students in Paracin, Serbia; Sveti Novi, Macedonia; Kosovo; and in Montenegro. A total of 300 students attended the seven workshops. The workshops were taught by two American businessmen on the subject of organizational and personal leadership. The students received lecture as well as working group activities during the more than four hours of instruction. A Certificates of Instruction was provided each student. The team traveled for 18 days to five countries (Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro). This was the fourteenth year that TWI for the Children has conducted camps for children and Training Workshops in the Balkans. Our thanks go to our coordinators in each of the countries for their help in arranging all of the locations for the camps and workshops as well as the many administrative details that must take place for our team. We also thank our driver and interpreter who took such good care of our transportation and luggage and helped in every camp activity. This will be our final Blog for 2011 and thank you for following our activities.
The GREAT TWI Team
21 July 2011: Picnic camp for Disabled in Sarajevo
Team took 35 persons to a great picnic in the beautiful park near Sarajevo. Stories were told and food was funded by the New Jersey Camps donation. Weather was beautiful and fun was had by all. Dzanan brought several families by van and families brought the others in their cars. Bobby’s story of the Bull and the Cowboy was a super hit and as the horses and carriages coming through the park made the story more realistic. It was great to see the children and their families. Last year TWI had to stop funding the Learning Center for Severely Disabled Children and the Center had to close. This picnic was one of the few opportunities that the children and their families had to leave their apartments. Pictures show the picnic.
Story of Bull and Cowboy
Team ArrivingStory of Bull and CowboyGroup Picture
20 July 2011: Final camp in Mostar and Return to Sarajevo
Team held its final camp for kids in Mostar Orphanage this morning. The majority of the children were on a funded trip to Italy to raft, but there were a number of small children and others that remained behind. Team left after lunch for Sarajevo and arrived in the late afternoon, tired but happy. They are preparing a small camp for the disabled children from the former Learning Center for Disabled Children to be hosted on the 21st. The team stopped at the beautiful lakeside restaurant on the road back to Sarajevo.
Team at lakeside restaurant
Lake on road to Mostar
19 July 2011: Trip to Mostar Orphanage
Trip to Mostar was safe and beautiful. Hated to leave the seaside, but duty calls. Emily and Dzan continued to Sarajevo by bus, but with Aldin and Dzanan, Vjeko and Azra, we can manage. Had a great message from David (en-route to Brisbane Australia) that we need to share.
Dear Bobby and the 2011 TWI team:
Thank you all for a wonderful past two weeks traveling around the Balkans. My time with the group will not soon be forgotten.
Bobby, I wanted to thank you for giving me the opportunity to join team again this year and all of the support you gave me throughout the trip. If it wasn’t for “David’s Bobby” I really don’t think I would be the man I am today. Your hard work and dedication to the well-being of the children living in adverse conditions throughout the Balkans is truly heart warming.
Ken, what can I say, your trainings were top notch and the crucial conversations topic is one that will help our participants deal with some tough issues along the road ahead. Not to mention, you are a heck of a roommate. Drew, as always, your experience working first hand with businesses around the World caught the attention of all our participants and gave them not only insight into your work, but the courage and drive it takes to set out on your own and succeed today. You and Ken brought a lot to the table this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing how you guys ‘one-up yourselves’ next year.
Lisbeth, as always you found new and imaginative ways to get me to do things that I didn’t even realise I was doing until I found myself doing them. Your kind heartedness and positive attitude kept us going throughout the trip and provided an amazing example to the kids in our camps of how to live your life with a smile on your face, no matter the circumstance.
Emily, you joined us late in the trip, but as always our annual date went to plan. After watching you work with the kids in Bijela, pack the bags, clear out the conference room, then help load the bags, I’m positive that we wouldn’t have arrived in Croatia until midnight if you weren’t there to keep us on track.
Dzenan and Aldin. If it wasn’t for you we would have never made it, and I mean that literally. Dzenan, without your skill of driving while reading a map, checking the iPad, eating kifla, sending a text and keeping half an eye on the road simultaneously we would have been lost. Not to mention your ability to get past a police road block with a bat of the eye. Aldin, you have no idea how much your good humour and constant positivity helps the team. Even after, training, camps and an 8 hour van ride, with several push starts along the way, you always had a smile on your face. I don’t know about the rest of your team, but for me it’s impossible to be in a bad mood once I see you crack a smile. Thank you both for all the hard work you did behind the scenes during this years camp!
Finally, Azra and Vjeko. What can I say, but that if it wasn’t for you TWI wouldn’t be were it is today. You guys do so much work for the people in the Balkans it is truly inspiring.
Thank you all for another amazing summer with TWI. The words I’ve written can’t begin to express my gratitude.
Love you all,
Dave
18 July 2011: Fun at the Seaside
Team up early and off to explore the delights of Lorcum Island and others to relax beside the sea. The area is very beautiful and even if the water is cold, it is refreshing. This evening the team will meet in Dubrovnik for a final dinner, shopping and exploring this old and beautiful city before saying goodbye to Drew and Ken and heading North to Mostar Tuesday morning. It has been a great break after our week on the road through the Balkans.
Mlini Hotel
17 July 2011: Closing Ceremony at Montenegro
Team completed its series of seven Leadership Workshops and after distribution of certificates, the team said goodbye to the children and the orphanage staff and traveled to the beautiful seaside village of Mlini, Croatia for a well deserved break.
Flowers in Mlini
Bobby, Slavica,Vjeko, Azra, Emily and Lisbeth
16 July 2011: Workshop and Camp for Kids in Montenegro
Team was very busy with Leadership workshops in the morning and evening and conducting camps for the kids at the Bijela Orphanage after the morning workshop and before the evening workshop. This is a continuing program at this orphanage that TWI has been doing for more than eight years. Our Leadership Workshops have been conducted for four years and have paid big dividends in each of the participating countries (Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as the USA contingent.
15 July 2011: Leadership Workshop and Camps for Kids in Montenegro
Montenegro Leadership Workshop
Held two Leadership Workshops and two camps for the children were held on this very warm day. Received a Skype call from Mike in the States and he was able to meet all of the workshop participants over Skype Video.
14 July 2011: Traveling from Kosovo to Montenegro
Team left early from Kosovo and following the Kosovar car, went by way of Albania to the coast and then up the Montenegro coast to the orphanage. The contingent from Bosnia and Serbia were already at the orphanage and it was wonderful to again see all of our friends. The opening activity was held and the activities for the next two days was discussed. The van operated great and although it was really hot, everyone enjoyed the new scenery. Picture is of Faton and his wife. Faton has been central to the success of our program in Kosovo.
