This year, Alterural participated to the traditional Diplomatic winter Bazaar in Sarajevo with a stand to present our activities, distribute maps and brochures to promote the offers of families involved in rural tourism.

The event was held on Saturday the 3^rd of December at Skenderija center. This has been a very successful fair with a record in attendance from the wide public of Sarajevo.

The Diplomatic Winter Bazaar is the single largest annual diplomatic/ international community event in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is well-attended by both the international and local communities. The bazaar is an opportunity for the international community to make a united effort and show appreciation and gratitude to their host country by raising money to benefit charitable projects to aid and support the vulnerable sector of the population - the disadvantaged, disabled and orphaned children of BiH. The NGO sector is also largely invited to participate.

Over 30 stands of Embassies were set-up at the bazaar and more than 120 stands of numerous exhibitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, so there was a large attendance. This year the fund raising focused on 4 projects:

1.       The Christine Witcutt Centre which is the only day-care centre in Sarajevo for children with profound and complex mental and physical disabilities.

2.       Downsy i mi in Banja Luka which is a parent association for families of children with Down Syndrome.

3.       The International Franciscan Student Centre provides accommodation and academic stipends to enable disadvantaged young people from around BiH, regardless of denominational background, to come and study in Sarajevo. For the last two years the bazaar has provided funding for 20 young people to help them fulfil their academic aspirations. We hope to provide at least the same this year to help other students.              

4.       SOS Children’s Village, in recognition of the support (psychological, pedagogic, academic, career) that SOS has given and will continue to give to the orphan from Mostar and to support SOS this year in their youth project in Srebrenica. 

For more information about this event: http://dwbsarajevo.com/

Alterural wishes to express gratefulness to Mrs Džemila and Mrs Dejana, as well as to Mr Admir, all 3 admirable producers from Fojnica to participate with us to this event.