The Association “Education Builds Bosnia and Herzegovina – Jovan Divjak” has launched the implementation of the project “Overcoming Post-Traumatic Effects in Women with War Trauma”. The project aims to strengthen the capacities of war widows and daughters for emotional coping and to support their social integration within the local community. Through group therapy sessions and creative activities, beneficiaries have the opportunity to discuss their experiences, share the challenges they face and jointly explore ways to overcome stigma and social exclusion.

Project beneficiaries are members of the Organization of Families of Martyrs and Fallen Soldiers “Visoko 92” and the Association “Zlatne ruke” Ilijaš, and the project will be implemented over a ten month period ending in June 2026.

The first workshops were held on 14 October in Visoko and 15 October in Ilijaš, marking the successful start of the project. Additional workshops took place on 29 and 31 October, all focusing on thematic discussions, group support and the empowerment of participants.

Between workshops, participants visited SARTR together and watched the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”, which contributed to their socialization and mutual connection.

As part of the project activities, a weekend retreat was organized on Bjelašnica, dedicated to strengthening emotional resilience and social support among participants. During the two day program, women took part in group therapy, thematic workshops, creative activities and sound therapy.

This program provided a space for them to discuss personal experiences, face challenges and, with professional guidance, work on overcoming trauma, stigma and social exclusion. The retreat offered a safe environment for connection, confidence building and the development of skills important for psychological wellbeing and engagement in the community. Their openness, effort and mutual support greatly contributed to the success of this gathering.

This project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union and facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme UNDP within the Regional Programme “Support of the European Union to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans”.