Click on the links below to read these women's stories.

Igbala
Milka

Zejneba

Igbala's Story

Igbala Gabela is 40 years old and lives with her husband and two children in Gorazde. During the war, she and her family lived in eight different places and lost many of their belongings. Her husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis and Igbala was forced to support her family by sewing. Igbala was immediately interested when her friend told her about Women for Women International's program. She enrolled in the Bosnian Crochet course, which is a very complicated form of crochet and only the most talented are able to do well.
Igbala used the skills she learned in the crochet course to add intricate and traditional designs to her sewing projects, which helped her attract more clients. She used the confidence she gained to apply for a microcredit loan and to expand her business to support her family. Igbala loves the friendships she made through Women for Women International and still helps other women improve their sewing and embroidery skills.

Milka's Story

Milka Kusmuk is 47 years old and has been a microcredit client for three years. She lives with her husband, her three children and her parents outside of Sarajevo on a small farm. When Milka received her first microcredit loan, she began growing raspberries on her farm to supplement the income her family was earning from selling dairy products and vegetables. Now her family's main source of income is from her raspberry business. Over the past three years, Milka's business has grown rapidly and now she wants to expand her business to grow blackberries as well. In addition to earning enough income to support her family of 7, she also employs local citizens during the busy season. Milka has a contract with the largest bakery in Bosnia, and has become Chief of her microcredit center and advises other women who want to start a business.


Zejneba's Story

“In one night entire families from my village – fathers, sons, husbands, brothers –disappeared.  Women were dying of sadness and helplessness,” recalls Zejneba, a 42 year-old mother of two from Bratunac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her husband’s mother was murdered in front of her eyes.  She and her husband took their children and ran. When the children could no longer walk, they carried them.  Zejneba has been a microcredit client since 1997, when the program was introduced in Bosnia.  With a loan from Women for Women International, Zejneba bought a cow, then land and ultimately established a dairy products business that supports the whole family. “When I finish my work late at night, I thank God for giving me an opportunity to survive the horror and for helping me find women who give me self-confidence,” she says.  Today she is continuing her dairy business and is growing and selling potatoes.