After the Second World War, Yugoslavia became the Federal Peoples' Republic of Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and Macedonia) lead by Marshall Tito until his death in 1980.

Ten years later, the struggle for political control of the country caused an already weakening government to collapse and the republics began to break away and declare independence. However, nationalist movements strengthened in the region and factions became involved in mass killing, rape and ethnic cleansing until the Dayton Peace Accord put an end to the war in 1995.

The Bjelave Children's Home was totally devastated during the longest siege in modern history - the siege of Sarajevo (1992-1995). The children living in the orphanage were under constant bombardment and living in the most impoverished conditions.

On hearing of this terrible situation our Founders, Mark and Caroline Cook, risked their lives by entering the war-torn country. Working with local people they re-built the crumbling shell of the Children’s Home.

We have continued to work at the Home where we provide 'one to one' care for the 106 children currently resident - at least 20 of whom have special needs.

In the community we work with local Social Work Centres and offer support to families through a variety of ways including building, repairing and furnishing of homes, payment of home rents, school fees and materials. Our projects are as follows: