By Matea Jovanovic Nesic | Project leader
Between January and March 2026, our Mobile Outreach Team continued its mission of offering emotional support, practical assistance, and connection to children with cancer and their families throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite challenging winter weather limiting travel, our team worked steadily—through home visits, community education, grief support, and transportation assistance—to ensure no family walks this journey alone.
Below are the key highlights from this period.
Emotional Support Where It Matters Most
At Maarif International School Sarajevo, we participated in a charity bazaar organized by the school community. Alongside the event, our psychologist held a short lecture for students, introducing them to the emotional challenges children with cancer face and explaining how peers can offer understanding and support.
This combination of community engagement and education helped strengthen empathy among young people while raising awareness in a warm, interactive environment.
During this period, our team attended a funeral of a child who lost their battle with cancer. Our presence offered quiet companionship to grieving parents and reaffirmed that they are not alone in their sorrow.
We also visited several grieving families in Sarajevo and Celic. Our Sarajevo-based psychologist and social worker, along with our Tuzla psychologist, provided compassionate conversations, grief counseling, and continued follow-up—ensuring families feel supported long after the hospital chapter ends.
In Sarajevo, we provided support to a family preparing for medical relocation to Italy. Our team accompanied them to the embassy, helping with emotional reassurance and offering practical guidance during an incredibly stressful moment. These acts—often invisible—are vital to families navigating complex medical systems.
Community Awareness and Education
On February 15th, we joined the Health Center in Gradacac to discuss “Community Support for Children Battling Malignant Diseases.” Together with a dedicated team of pediatric physicians, nurses, and representatives from local elementary and high schools, we explored how local systems can become more sensitive, informed, and supportive of families facing cancer.
After the roundtable, participants, students, and community members gathered in the city’s cinema to watch the documentary “Heroj”, which tells the story of our brave Afan Habibovic. The film moved the audience deeply and opened important conversations—bringing the reality of childhood cancer closer to those who have never witnessed it firsthand.
Reaching Families Across the Region
Our shop team participated in winter fairs in Cazin and Bihac, using the opportunity to connect with families currently in treatment and those who have completed therapy. These encounters help us quietly monitor children’s well-being, their reintegration into school and community life, and any challenges families are facing.
Due to severe winter weather, our mobile field visits were reduced. However, our team organized several in-house workshops at the Parents’ House in Sarajevo for both children and caregivers, including:
These activities offered emotional relief, social connection, and a sense of routine during difficult months.
We provided transportation and essential supply assistance (hygiene items, food packages, and other necessities) for a Roma family whose child is undergoing treatment. This support is especially important, as minority families often face additional socioeconomic barriers that complicate access to care.
As part of our long-term support program, the Mobile Outreach Team prepared and began delivering this year’s agricultural seed packages to families. These packages help families maintain self-sufficiency, reduce financial strain, and create a sense of normalcy through seasonal routines.
In the coming months, we plan to:
A heartfelt thank you to our GlobalGiving friends, donors, and supporters: your generosity empowers every step we take. Because of you, families receive comfort during grief, children find safe spaces to learn and create, minority families receive essential assistance, and communities grow more compassionate and aware.
Thank you for helping us carry hope, dignity, and human connection to every child and family who needs it.
Together, we continue making sure no one fights alone.
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