Bosnia & Herzegovina
Photo Galleries
Several Women for Women International staffers and board members traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina in spring 2012. Take a look at some of the images staff members took during their travels.
View of Sarajevo.
A tunnel underneath the city used during the war. During that time it was the only method for supplies and people to leave the city.
A WfWI - Bosnia participant shows off the knit-wear she learned to make in the program. She now sells the pieces to earn a living.
WfWI participant Hadjira walks through her herb garden with her husband. Medicinal herb cultivation is one of several vocational tracks available to participants in Bosnia.
WfWI participant Jamila smiles as she shows off her farm to visitors.
WfWI participant Nomca shows off a letter from her sister.
Bosnian Country Director Seida Saric welcomes visitors to a graduation ceremony.
A tasty selection of Bosnian treats prepared for WfWI guests at a graduation ceremony.
Children in traditional outfits perform a Bosnian dance at a graduation ceremony.
A WfWI participant waits for her certificate during a graduation ceremony.
A new WfWI graduate proudly shows off her graduation certificate.
Alexandra Avakian: Bosnia 2009View Slideshow
Photojournalist Alexandra Avakian has covered many of the most important issues of her time, with subjects ranging from Haiti to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the former Soviet Union, from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to war and famine in Africa, and much more. Avakian is the author of the book "Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World," published by National Geographic Focal Point. Her photographs have been published in TIME, LIFE, The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, and many more throughout the U.S. and Europe. She traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 2009 with Women for Women International Founder Zainab Salbi, members of the kate spade team and ELLE magazine. For more information, visit www.alexandraavakian.com.
Sarajevo. Saudi-built mosque in front of war damaged apartment buildings.
Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial graveyard. Mass graves are still found and victims of the genocide still buried, as were the male relatives of these women.
Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International listens to Rahima Comor talk about the genocide against Bosniaks that took place in her region during the civil war. Woman with long hair is Deborah Lloyd of kate spade. Tiny village produces classic Bosnian woven  and knitted products.
Bosniak men of Rahima Comor's family.
Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial graveyard. Mass graves are still found and victims of the genocide still buried. Some of the male relatives of this family were found and buried, some are still missing.
Konjevic Pojle in Republika Srpska region of Bosnia Herzegovina, where Bosnians have returned, although houses sacked by Bosnian Serbs and memories still stand.
Vogosca. Washing wool in Neretva River. Bosnian women wash wool which will be used in products for WfWI programs. Many of the women in WfWI training programs are survivors of the genocide against Bosniaks of Republika Srpska region of Bosnia Herzegovina.
kade spade/Women for Women International products on display in Sarajevo.
On the outskirts of  Sarajevo, women in an introductory class given by WfWI on microcredit, crafts, and womens' rights, dance around the room together.
Vogosca. Joyful women graduates of WfWI training programs holding their certificates.
Vogosca. A Bosnian woman hugs Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International, as she is congratulating women graduates of WfWI programs. She is holding a piece of cake given to her by a graduate.
Vogosca. Dancing at an open-air fair for women graduates of WfWI.
Vogosca. Dancing at an open-air fair for women graduates of WfWI.
Konjevic Pojle in Republika Srpska region of Bosnia Herzegovina, where Bosniaks have returned, although houses sacked by Bosnian Serbs and memories of the massacres still stand. This woman, Fata Orlović, returned to a find new Serbian church standing on her land.
Tiny village produces classic Bosnian woven  and knitted products. Woman with coins on head is Nura Comor, 77. Seven children and husband died in the war. This is her home. She is with Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International who is speaking with her about her knitting and WfWI.
Konjevic Pojle in Republika Srpska region of Bosnia Herzegovina, where Bosniaks have returned, although houses sacked by Bosnian Serbs still stand.
Konjevic Pojle in Republika Srpska region of Bosnia Herzegovina, where Bosniaks have returned, although houses sacked by Bosnian Serbs still stand.
Greenhouse and Knitting Programs 2009View Slideshow
Women in the Bosnia greenhouse-training program grow tomatoes and peppers to be sold, as well as knit for the kate spade partnership as part of their vocational job skills training. Browse images from Women for Women International programs in Zenica, Konjic and Sarajevo.
The training greenhouse in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The women in the Zenica greenhouse program plant tomatoes and peppers.
Zikreta was one of two women participants chosen to manage the Zenica greenhouse.
Senada, one of the managers, weighs the peppers grown.
The food grown in the training greenhouse is later sold.
Some women, such as Zineta, grew vegetables at home with the skills they learned in training.
The greenhouse is located close to the town center of Zenica.
Program graduate Olovo sells vegetables from the greenhouse in an exhibition.
One Women for Women International-Bosnia graduate sells ointments for homeopathic remedies.
The town of Konjic in Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to many program graduates.
Aisa supports her family knitting for the kate spade-Women for Women International partnership program.
Program graduates knit for the kate spade program at the training center in Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnian women are trained in a variety of areas, including sewing and knit work, to farming and agricultural caretaking. To view photos of thier work in the field, click on an image.
The sign outside of Women for Women International's Bosnian office "Zene za Zene"
The Bosnian Women for Women International staff in Vranduk, Bosnia
Women of the program and staff stand outside of the office in Srebrenica
Three women work on a loom to create one beautiful rug - one of the job skills training the women can choose to learn in the program
Many women participate in the completion of one rug
The threading of yarn is time consuming and difficult work, but is a skill that the women can take with them after
Women in the program work on cutting fabrics and sewing them together to create goods they can sell in the market, or use to clothe their children
Women during a lesson discussing various subjects that are taught at Women for Women International
A group of women work together to cut fabric for their projects
WfWI-BiH participants using drawing as a method of learning during a Life Skills training session.
A group converses during one of their lessons
There are diagrams in every training site in Bosnia about the Women for Women mission
Women advertise their business activities on a board
Women participating in training in Budozelje
A group picture of a training class in Bosnia
A Bosnian microcredit client woman feeding the sheep she was able to purchase through the funding she borrowed.
Caption: A WfWI-BiH graduate who was able to set-up a kiosk with her microcredit loan.
Many Bosnian microcredit clients decided to open small shops to help bring in sufficient additional income
Graduations are celebrated in the community in Bosnia, with many women making food and showing off the work that they have accomplished through out the course. To view images from a recent graduation, simply click on a photo.
Budozelje, where the event was held
Several loaves of delicious home made bread
Several pies, breads, and pastries to made in commemoration of the graduation.
Sampling of delicately hand embroidered cloth that the women made in the program
Another example of highly detailed embroidery work
WfWI-BiH participants gather before the graduation ceremony begins.
An array of produce, jams, and other items on display.
A group of women have set-up an area of refreshments to provide for graduates and guests.
WfWI-BiH staff member Amra Krvavac addresses the crowd of participants and congratulates them on their accomplishments.
Country Director Seida Saric, seated second from the left in the front row, listens to a speech with WfWI-BiH graduates and guests.
The mayor addresses the Women for Women graduates
Bosnian children dressed in traditional clothing performing a dance during the graduation
Women congratulate each other after receiving their graduation certificates.
Seida Saric, WfWI-BiH Country Director, hands a graduate her well deserved graduation certificate.
A woman proudly displays her graduation certificate from the 12-month WfWI-BiH program.
Razija Bosnjak, a ReneWLS Coordinator and a translator smile for the camera
A proud group of graduates display their graduation certificates.
