As part of the project “Overcoming Post-Traumatic Effects in Women with War Trauma,” the Association “Education Builds Bosnia and Herzegovina – Jovan Divjak” successfully organized a three-day retreat in Neum. From April 10 to 12, 2026, members of the Organization of Families of Martyrs and Fallen Soldiers “Visoko 92” and the Association “Zlatne ruke” Ilijaš participated in an intensive program dedicated to emotional healing and strengthening mutual bonds.

Continuity of Support: 16 Workshops for 62 Beneficiaries

This retreat represents the culmination of previous efforts within local communities. Prior to this retreat, the project successfully conducted 16 psychosocial workshops, reaching a total of 62 beneficiaries to date. While regular workshops laid the foundation of trust, the retreat provided an opportunity for even more intensive work and deeper socialization among women who share similar life experiences.

The Importance of Stepping Away from Everyday Life

Unlike meetings held in their home cities, the stay in Neum allowed participants to completely “detach” from their homes and daily family obligations. This physical relocation is crucial because:

• Focus on Psychological Health: Without the distractions of daily routines, participants could direct all their energy exclusively toward their own recovery.
• Intensified Socialization: Staying in a new environment encourages informal socializing and strengthens bonds that become a lasting support network.
• Providing a Safe Space: Moving away from the environment where the trauma originated facilitates the process of confronting suppressed emotions.

Focus on Family Dynamics and Emotional Balance

The program in Neum was carefully designed to provide participants with a safe space to address deep and often suppressed topics. Through a series of psychosocial workshops, the focus was placed on identifying inappropriate roles within the family system, as well as the processes of coping with loss and establishing a healthy balance in relationships.

Expertly guided sessions allowed participants to explore their own emotional capacities, while evening mindfulness exercises and guided relaxation helped release accumulated stress and achieve inner peace.

Creativity and Sound Therapy as a Path to Recovery

In addition to group therapy, a special segment of the retreat was dedicated to creative expression and sound therapy. These methods proved to be key tools for connecting participants on a non-verbal level, encouraging more open communication about the challenges they face in their local communities.

About the Project

The project “Overcoming Post-Traumatic Effects in Women with War Trauma” aims to strengthen the capacities of war widows and daughters for emotional coping and social integration. The project implementation continues until June 2026. To date, alongside the retreats on Bjelašnica and in Neum, numerous workshops and cultural visits have been realized.

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