As well as the new proposals for GFL we continue the great work at Vladimir Nazor Centre. Just prior to Christmas 2023, I spent a few days in Bosnia Herzegovina completing Childrens’ eye-screening and checking state of play on other ongoing projects. You may recall the school has 300 intellectually challenged primary school aged children and the sister school with one hundred similarly challenged in the kindergarten.
In previous updates it has been reported of the difficulties working with the management team which have caused much anxiety for all concerned at the centre. I have extended my sincere thanks to Lion Edina Husejnovic for sticking with the project and wanting so much to see it through.
Due to the success of the foreign currency conversion many of the items on the shopping list have been purchased. We have a shortfall of approx 14,000 euros to complete the kitchen – see plans for the work left to do.
The newly acquired whiteboard computers and laptops have made a huge difference to both teaching and learning. Armin Algic continues to be a great source of support and he knew that one of his friends, who has a local business specialising in the refurbishment of technological equipment, was nearby to the school. He has supplied Gift for Living on a number of occasions with refurbished laptops for use with the blind. Ten laptops supplied in Tuzla and another ten to the Vladimir centre. The software that was added to laptops has enabled blind or visually impaired children to join the world of technology.
Our visit proved to be an amazing coincidence and turned out to be an opportunity not to be missed. The visit to the local business astounded me as he had just purchased 7 computerised white boards (even more astounding was there are seven classrooms needing some form of equipment)). The German Government had seized equipment from a company that they had closed, the equipment included 7 large whiteboards as you can see below and 25 laptops which they were willing to sell at hugely discounted prices. We negotiated and agreed the final price for the equipment.
I acknowledge the great support, as ever, from Lion Armin Algic.
As you can see from the images the equipment funded by GFL is now in place at the school and everyone is benefiting from its instalment. Yet again something that GFL has achieved with your help.
Some of the IT equipment has had a huge impact on those children with severe disabilities who can only lay on the floor at home and using the new laptops can now look at the images on screen via the new computer equipment.
The computerised woodwork machinery has made a huge impact and the wax candle burner has allowed the children to make candles which the school sells. The new kitchen is almost complete thanks to a number of donors. No more rats or rat holes and the children are being taught to cook and how to bake. With the arrival of new sanitary ware the impact is overwhelming.
