“Humanitarian Fund Atlanta” is an organization that helps people in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). So far, it has sent aid to over 3,000 families. “700 BiH families from 23 states of the United States (U.S.) pay their money into our Fund,” says President Fadil Cvrk.
Twelve-year-old Arnesa Omerovic from Nova Kasaba can’t hide her joy. This excellent student received a scholarship from the “Humanitarian Fund Atlanta” in the amount of 1,000 BAM per year for the next year. This, she says, means a lot to her. “I have to start the seventh grade and I need a lot of textbooks, notebooks and school supplies.”
“Humanitarian Fund Atlanta”, an aid organization run by Bosnians in Georgia, has signed contracts for the financing of 215 scholarship holders – pupils and students from all over BiH – for the 2023/24 school year.
“Humanitarian Fund Atlanta” sends aid to BiH
And without Fadil Cvrk, a native of Srebrenica and president of the “Humanitarian Fund Atlanta” this help would not have been possible. This class teacher and head of the school spent the entire war in Srebrenica, survived the genocide and then went with his family to the U.S., where he has been living, working and helping others for 22 years. “I knew that in the U.S. there are many of our citizens who are willing and eager to help their people”. That is why he initiated the establishment of this humanitarian organization. His idea was accepted by the Islamic Community of Atlanta, that is, the Community of Bosniaks in the U.S. state of Georgia. The goal was to support the sick, returnees, socially vulnerable families, people with special needs, as well as all other categories of the population in their native BiH, who desperately need help, with the financial help of Bosnians and Herzegovinians from all over North America.
Trust was gained, little by little
At the very beginning there were a lot of skeptics. “It wasn’t easy to convince people and start working on a professional level, but the idea of establishing the Fund was met with great support. Trust was gained, little by little, through transparent work, sincere attitude and respect for people in the U.S., who give money, but also by checking those who ask for help in BiH,” says Fadil.
“Today, we have about 700 families from 23 American states who pay their money into our Fund. Membership fee is $10. Our slogan is ‘A portion of cevapi for our people in BiH‘, and we also have donations that people occasionally give in amounts that they can allocate,” stated Fadil. He adds that American Bosniaks have been donating money and help to the people of BiH for 14 years, and in recent years it has been collected from 700 to 750 thousand BAM a year.”
Everything transparent: “No pfennig should be lost on the way”
Help is not intended only for pupils and students, but also for families with a weaker financial condition, and it is given not only in money but also in food packages, in the donation of large and small livestock, greenhouses, and everything depends on the needs of the user and the ability of the donor.
“Everything is done publicly and transparently through television and according to our Rules of Procedure. Only two TV companies are authorized to implement our donations on the ground in cooperation with me as president. To whom we send a donation, whether it is a cow or sheep or packages of food for the old and infirm, money… it doesn’t matter what kind of help, that family receives it directly from us. Not a single pfenning should be missing, nor should it be ‘lost on the way‘, Fadil Cvrk points out, DW reports.
E.Dz.
