Fundraising for the construction of the dormitory for students of weaker financial possibilities in Mostar is going very well and according to announcements of Fr. Iko Skoko, the project manager, it is planned for the dormitory to be opened on the 5th of September 2017.
The total value of the project is 3.7 million BAM, and less than half of the amount is secured.
The construction of the dormitory was launched by the Herzegovinian Franciscans in January 2015 at the location of almost completely destroyed building of Croatian cultural club “Hrvoje”, across from the Franciscan monastery on the Boulevard.
Upon completion, the dormitory, which already got the name Dompes (abbreviation of the domus, panis et spiritus – the house of bread and spirit), will be home to 150 students who came from families of weaker financial possibilities and families with more children.
Within the dormitory will be opened soup kitchen in which, as Fr. Iko said, will be welcomed everyone who looks for a piece of bread.
Opening of the soup kitchen will be dedicated to Fr. Didak Buntic, who saved many children of BiH from hunger.
Fr. Iko says that their goal is to be self-sustaining dormitory, so that students who live there would work in the dormitory itself or a soup kitchen for a few hours a day, and they are talking about the possibility of growing food at the dormitory with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the Faculty of Agriculture.
There is a possibility of renting rooms to tourists in the summer months, since the home is located near the Old Bridge and the old town.
“It’s very difficult when you have only one student in the family, not to mention how it is when you have two or more children studying on faculty. We think it is the duty and obligation of us friars, as well as all others who are able, to help as much as we can. We will not solve all the problems with this home, but we will at least make life easier for the 150 students and their families,” said Fr. Iko.
(Source: klix.ba)