Serving up love for isolated seniors in Bosnia

Elderly poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a growing concern. A third of the population will be over the age of 65 by 2060, and the post-war economy has significantly limited the ability for people to achieve economic prosperity. There are many elderly people in the region who not only struggle to put food on the table, but simply have no one around to support them or even interact with them. In addition to poverty and hunger, the elderly suffer from loneliness.

In the city of Mostar, there is an organization, U.G. Zajedno za naš grad, that has existed for 10 years, helping elderly and infirm individuals with daily meals and emotional/social support. Their resources are limited, so they are always in need of funding to sustain and expand their initiatives.

After a visit to the city and seeing the work this organization has conducted, Humaniti partnered with U.G. Zajedno za naš grad Mostar. Thanks to our generous donors we’ve been able to sponsor their project called You Are Not Alone, providing daily meals and psychosocial support for senior individuals who are disabled and/or have no support system. 

This project deploys volunteer workers throughout the city to visit elderly singles living in poverty, and support them with a nutritious meal, a basic medical check-up, and a friendly conversation to brighten their day. For many of the beneficiaries, these volunteers are the only people they will speak to in a day, and it is the only meal they will eat in a day. The value of this support for them is immeasurable.

Thanks to the expansion in funding made possible by Humaniti donors, the You Are Not Alone project was able to support 80 senior individuals with a meal and a visit every single day for a six month period. With continued support we can help power this life-changing project for years into the future, bringing nourishment and connection to isolated individuals across the region.

“What can we say except a big thank you to Humaniti. They are true proof that the desire for charity knows no borders or kilometres. Thank you to everyone who is a part of Humaniti in any way, on behalf of our association, our city, and our people. Mostly, thank you on behalf of the people for whom this meal is the only thing they consume during the day. As the name of our project indicates, we prove to them that they are not alone. Together we can do a lot.” Member, U.G. Zajedno za naš grad Mostar