Gabrielle Dean from Northern Ireland was shocked when she received a letter from Hasija Besic, 22 years after she sent coats in BiH during the war in 1994.
Gabrielle sent an aid package with a letter in the coat, and the answer came 20 years later.
“I remember that an appeal to collect aid during the war in BiH was sent at the time. I started collecting everything I could find at my house and I also helped in collecting donations. I put the card with my name and address in one of the coats, and I wondered if the person who gets the jacket will send me a letter. I was wondering whether the aid will even get where it should,” said Gabrielle.
A few months later, she received a letter from Hasija, but in a language that she could not understand.
“I asked my friend Eimear if he can find me someone at the Center for languages who could translate it. It took some time, but they managed to do it. I found out that Hasija is a young girl who lives in terrible times. She thanked me for the jacket,” said Gabrielle.
Gabrielle wrote her again and sent a small gift, but the answer came this January.
“In the envelope was a copy of a letter that I sent to her. She told me that she kept the letter through all these years. She has a beautiful handwriting and she wrote in English. She explained to me that she lives now in Sanski Most, which is far away from her hometown Zenica, where it was particularly difficult during the war. She added that she is married and has children. She thanked me for the help and the package that I’ve sent,” said Gabrielle.
Now she is planning to contact her over her daughter Julie, who uses social networks.
“I’m touched that the letter that I sent 20 years ago meant so much to Hasija. Even when she had to move during the war, she brought it with her. I just wanted to show how much the help that we send to people actually means to them. When we make such packages, we are always hoping that they will get to the people who need them the most,” concluded Gabrielle.
(Source: klix.ba)
