In our third video, Belma interviews Seida Saric, County Director in Bosnia and Herzegovina of Zene za Zene (Women for Women part of Women for Women International who lend solely to women).
The discussion focuses on the positive difference microfinance, as administered by Zene za Zene, is having on the Bosnian people. Zene za Zene focuses on small businesses such as dairy farms, dress-makers, and local producers. The conversation looks at how the company works, who theyve helped and the difference theyve seen as a result of this help.
Seida was really down to earth, friendly and hospitable, reflects Sangeeta (Belmas companion on the trip). She was so welcoming and warm, and made us feel at home. Belma had a lot of reservations before she went but the reception we received totally confounded both of us. We were quite shocked but felt reassured because the situations we encountered in Bosnia wasnt as harsh as we thought it would be. And what did you think of Zene za Zene? Its inspiring - the relationships they have with their clients are really close and its obvious that they genuinely care about their clients welfare.
From the Women for Women site: Seida Saric has been the Country Director in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1998 and has helped more than 13,000 women rebuild their lives after surviving rape, forced impregnation and ethnic cleansing, as their bodies were being used as tools of war during the devastating conflict in the 1990s. For more than three years, Seida and her sisters lived under siege in Sarajevo, and she risked her life on a daily basis to provide emergency services to her fellow countryman trapped in the city. Without access to water or electricity and with the constant threat of attack, day-to-day living became minute-by-minute for Seida and the women of Sarajevo. Under Seidas leadership, Women for Women International-Bosnia and Herzegovina has implemented a program of direct financial assistance, rights education, vocational skills training and income-generating opportunities. Women in the program acquire skills and finance for individual growth and develop a communal growth and understanding as women for various religions and ethnic groups come together. Seida and her staff identify the need to have women from the varying groups meet to tell their stories, and identify the similarities as a means of peace-building. She also oversees Women for Women Internationals largest, most successful microcredit program, which has provided loans to nearly 11,700 women totaling approximately $21.9 million. Before coming to Women for Women International Seida worked at Save the Children and at Care International in various capacities. She studied engineering in university and is currently studying economics.
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4:00Belma goes back to Schoolby coopfs566 views
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