Together with Hazima Smajlovic, a refugee from Bosnia, local partner organisations and the local authorities, Engineers Without Borders Switzerland (IngOG+) is committed to establish and operate a housing community for islotated female war victims in Bosnia. The project will contribute to the lack of adequate social and old-age housing and offer women in need a dignified perspective.
Find more detailed information in the latest project report.
Project Context
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the consequences of the Bosnian war are still clearly visible some 20 years after its end. The ethnic groups involved in the war live largely separated, considerable parts of the country are still contaminated by landmines and the economy has never fully recovered.
The war and the subsequent organised sexual violence against women left behind numerous traumatised women who today often live alone without any family support. Many of these women live isolated in deep poverty and suffer the health consequences of the traumas they have suffered, which prevent them from earning their own living.
In the patriarchal society of Bosnia, these women are virtually invisible. Even the authorities do not actively address the problem and do little to improve the situation. The modest state widows pension is far from sufficient to cover the cost of living.
Project scope
The goal of the project is to improve the living conditions of the vulnerable women of Gradačac and the surrounding area: In an accompanied housing community the women can support each other and profit from social interaction. At the same time, the cultivation of vegetables, crops and the keeping of farm animals gives the residents a daily structure and the possibility of a large degree of self-sufficiency. The women basically live autonomously, with supervision ensuring the operation of the community.
- The project will create accommodation for 5 women. Over the course of the project, however, significantly more women will benefit from the offer.
- The operation and care is organized by the humanitarian foundation Naš Izvor, which was established in Bosnia for this purpose, in cooperation with the local partner organization Vive Žene and the municipality Gradačac.
- The project should serve as a pilot project and show the municipality of Gradačac new perspectives for its offer of social housing.
- The plot of land is provided by Hazima Smajlovic.
- The building is financed by IngOG+.
- The award-winning architecture studio TEN (www.ten.as) from Zurich and Belgrade is responsible for the planning of the building.
- The construction will be carried out by a local construction company.
- The construction management will be handled by TEN in cooperation with a local architect.
- IngOG+ offers technical support and carries out quality controls.
Project status
The project team succeeded in establishing valuable partnerships with professional organisations both locally and in Switzerland and significantly expanded the network in Bosnia. The project can thus have wider support and a professional operation of the housing community can be ensured.
The design team of TEN from Switzerland and Belgrade is working intensively on the architectural design of the building. From the very beginning, they have tried to create an expressive design that conforms to the planned coexistence and increases the visibility of the women in society.
Project documents