Published Apr 25, 2008 by triciab

HHN formed in 1996 and have been visiting Sarajevo since that time.  Many people remember Sarajevo for the 1984 Winter Olympics when Torville and Dean won gold with Bolero.  During the war of 92-95 the Winter Olympic sites were severely damaged but this was insignificant compared to the devastation which was inflicted on the people and the country.  I have been visiting Sarajevo since 2002 and in that time have seen the country rebuild its infrastructure and many of the wounds heal.  For two years I also worked in Mostar and am pleased to say that with the rebuilding of the Mostar bridge a great shift in the local people also took place.

 

Therapists who offer their services to HHN raise their own funds for their two week visit.  Currently this is about £800 and for 2nd or subsequent visits the charity assists with costs.  HHN leases a house in the old Turkish quarter known as Bascarsija between April and October.  At any given time there are between 4 and 6 therapists living in the house which also houses the clinic, office and accommodation.  The two weeks are split between working in the well equipped treatment rooms in the house or being on outreach.  Outreach work involves travelling by taxi to a centre where the clients visit for treatments and we work through an interpreter.  Each day we do up to 7 treatments which may be reiki, massage, reflexology, acupuncture, head massage, healing etc.  The clients are used to experiencing the benefits of a wide range of therapies and benefit enormously from them.  For many this is the only therapy they have received since undergoing the most dreadful atrocities which include torture, rape, incarcaration, beatings, ballistic injuries, shrapnel wounds, grief, loss of loved ones and sometimes just sheer terror.

 

Bascarsija is delightful.  Having a long history of trade, it houses coppersmiths, carpet sellers, handicraft shops, boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and small food shops together with the very Bosnian cake shops where locals drink coffee, eat sweetmeats and enjoy the sunshine whilst chatting. 

 

Since 2002 the buildings have been restored and life is returning to something like normal.  Fewer people are unemployed and they appear to be moving on emotionally and socially.  There are many intersting places to visit in Sarajevo including the Turkish House, the Library, Vrelo Park and the Tunnel museum to name a few.  Having a continental climate, Sarajevo enjoys lovely weather in the summer and being set amongst mountains it is lush and green with wonderful drinking water everywhere.

 

The satisfaction derived from working with HHN is beyond measure.  The Bosnians are kind and generous with what they have and the therapists are often overloaded with wonderful organic fruit from kitchen gardens, chocolate, pies and breads fresh from the oven given to say thank you for the wonderful work HHN is doing there.  The smiles and hugs one receives after treatment are more than enough reward for giving up two weeks of our time to help them. 

 

HHN has also done some exploratory visits to Kosovo, trained local therapists in Nairobi to work with victims of rape and is currently investigating the possibility of working with our own soldiers returning from Iraq and othe wartorn places and suffering post traumatic stress.

 

Tricia Blaxill, April 2008 

 

If you are iterested to work with HHN please visit their website: www.healinghandsnetwork.org.uk or contact Sandra Griffiths on email at: hhnadmin@btconnect.com or phone: 01885 410620