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I returned to my village from Germany during the most dangerous time of the war, driven by motherly instinct to be with my young child. I hoped that with the end of war my life in Bosnia would improve, but it only became filled with new challenges. Limited resources and destroyed infrastructure made the lives of many Bosnian women very difficult. This photo demonstrates an unbelievably difficult period in my life when I didn’t have running water in my house and had to fetch water from another neighbor’s house in the village. For several years after war everyday I had to carry all the water for household needs on my body.. Finally, after waiting for years for the government to provide the infrastructure needed to connect water to my house, I decided to sell my pension benefits I had earned while working in Germany in order to bring running water to my house. I am very proud of my resourcefulness and ability to find solutions to challenging situations like this one with water. Because of this experience, I recognize water as the precious resource it is. In my daily life, I take serious efforts toward saving water, protecting the environment, and engaging my community in keeping our village clean. Although the challenges I have faced in my life were sometimes scary and dangerous, I am a wise woman and have used my wisdom to overcome them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487210620913-V8JJNHV6UZO2TF0QFSRA/photo+11_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Different in Religion, Same in Love This piece of artwork was drawn by one of the children that attended a youth camp where I volunteer every summer. This camp brings together children from places across Bosnia-Herzegovina, from various ethinic and religious backgrounds. The goal of the camp is to provide an opportunity for children to get to know one another and to foster a sense of community among youth that expands beyond divides. I am inspired by my work with youth in BiH, they give me hope for the future and help me believe that peace is possible. As a woman, a mother, and a grandmother, I feel compelled to promote peace and love through my work and volunteer activites. I am proud to be an example of a successful independent acitivist in my community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487210673477-BP9Q5INGOZC2WFO2MCGR/photo+5_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Symbol of Endurance I was a young girl during the war. One day a mortar exploded outside my house, sending shrapnel through my body. I didn't know the pain of life until the physical pain of this injury. I haven't seen this scar in a long time. I have avoided looking at it because is reminds me of a time I was dead and woke up, a time of great suffering for me and my family. Looking at the scar now, I realize it is also a symbol of my strength and willingness to survive. I hope this picture will inspire other women to keep their heads up and to keep going forward. Life is not always easy, sometimes you laugh and sometimes you cry, but we must keep going. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487210726506-ODC6MHJFW4C59LC3QW4P/photo+0331_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - High Above Everything After being evicted from an apartment the State had provided, I had to find a way to buy a piece of land, built a house, and begin a new life, all as a single mother with my two children. I planted this pear tree when I moved to my new home. As you can see, it rose into skies above the rooftops, weaving past other trees to seekthe sunlight it needed. That process best describes struggles I had to go though to rise above in search of my own light in life. Life is very difficult for women who lost their husbands in the war. It’s difficult to fully recover after the war. For example, because of the war I lost my job as an accountant. Regardless of countless job applications, I was never able to get back into that field. My biggest dream all those years after the war has been to have 9 to 5 job where I can apply my skills and be a productive member of society. Unfortunately, I live in a corrupt society where in a job search personal connection matters more than expertise. I will forever keep the thick stack of rejection letters I have received from numerous positions I have applied for. They are a testament to the unbelievable effort I have put into trying to restore my life Despite all of these challenges, I have managed to build a home of my own, a peaceful life, and raise wonderful, highly-educated children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487210807915-IL36BQN3L8VQDYYDEAR0/photo+18_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Symbol of One Woman’s Faith and Creativity My handiwork means a lot to me. This picture represents a sign of my dear religion and a creative practice that keeps me going. When I take a needle in my hand and start creating art, I forget about stressful things. Handicrafts really brought me back and helped me forget about everything that was pressing me for a long time. What’s beautiful about this hobby is that you can do it in company of other women. Many generations of Bosnian women have met in the evenings to knit and crochet together, and I am happy to be a part of that tradition. Many Bosnian women face challenges in their families and marriages that only other women can understand, so the time spent together knitting and talking is truly therapeutic and a source of great support. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487210842311-VZZT8SKYZ2374SVE658T/photo+13_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Home Sweet Home It is my life's dream to move into our new home. Our current house is old and damaged. We have received some donations to build a new house, which has allowed us to start construction. However the building process is very slow, because we do not have enough money to complete the project. Living in the old house is difficult, but the prospect of eventually moving to our new home gives me hope. Every woman deserves a nice house that she can turn into a beautiful home. War and a bad economy have slowed us down. Wherever you look you see people fighting for their dreams, so I continue to fight for my dream to have a home that I am proud of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487210892008-S6MH3M82KB5K97XBY1Q6/photo+7_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Life on a Chess Board Life is like chess game. You must be strategic, because every move is important for accomplishing your goals. The goal of my life has been to triumph over negative things that have come my way. Those negative things include war, a bad economy, poor health, and dysfunctional politics. Defeating everything that prevents normal life is equal to saving the king in a chess game. I won the most important chess match of my life when I survived the horrors of war and led my community into a stable future. That victory made me into a skilled chess master and the peace advocate I am known for in my community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487210935900-47WZID9A17EXQOGPJHN8/photo+6_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Entrepreneurship Captured in a Photo As a woman, it is empowering to be able to financially contribute to my family. I started my own business raising livestock, which has been very successful and has created extra income that matters for our family. I am proud that I am skilled at taking care of all aspects of raising cattle, I even grow the food they eat. Before I started this business, I had partnered with other women to start a cucumber collective, but it required 12 hour days in the field. The labor was difficult and not as lucrative as raising cows. This new business allows me to work from home, with enough time left over to take care of the other needs of my family: cooking, cleaning, and gardening. I think other women could also be successful at this. It is a good business model that make sense financially and allows women to still be at home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487210990565-8Y7KWYH7WWVNOQTF6K2B/photo+4+of+7_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Life’s Biggest Success This picture represents one of the biggest successes in my life, which came after one of the most difficult times in my life. This is a picture of the new house I built, and also the wooden shed I lived in for a year while my house was under construction. My life as a single mother from Srebrenica has been full of challenges. I survived Srebrenica, after which I escaped to Sarajevo, struggling to support my two children. In the years following the end of war, I was evicted from the apartment in Sarajevo which was given to me by the State. Although I had already begun construction on my new home, it wasn’t ready, so I was forced to live in this wooden shed with my children. However, this did not discourage me from fighting to build a decent home for me and my children. After a year of life in horrible living conditions, I managed to build a home that I can call mine. I am proud for being able to purchase my own land and build a house, so that my children never again have to live in a wooden shed. This house is also investment in my children’s future. If one day they stay without any money, they can always rent out one floor of our specious house. I know I have done great job taking care of and fighting for my kids and our survival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211042711-1VSAFKAEOWT7W4LYEYWF/photo+9_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Looking from Past Towards the Future Although we may have faced difficulties in the past, in front of us there is always a door towards the future. I have fought my whole life to open doors that appeared shut in front of me and my family. I am proud to be a war survivor, and a returnee to my home town. I had to work very hard and endure a lot of pain to open all the closed doors in my life, but with every new door that I open, I grow stronger and more aware of my strengths. Thanks to those strengths gained though hard fought fights, I learned to take more time for my hobbies, to avoid people who don’t wish me well, and to remove patriarchal influences over my life. For the first time in my life my wishes and preferences are not ignored and silenced. For the first time in my life I am free to choose and lead my own life, and I am not giving that freedom away for anything in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211096979-SIG5OA4EA0K81J5I3I74/photo+6+of+7_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - My Love for Beauty I love beauty in life and I thrive to transform the gloomy into the beautiful. That’s why I have flowers on my balcony, grow a vegetable garden, take morning walks to enjoy nature, and maintain a community flower garden in front of my building. After being evicted from my old apartment, as a single mother with two children I worked very hard to purchase a new apartment. I wanted to make the place in front of my new home look beautiful. Therefore, I started the initiative in my apartment building to collect money to purchase roses and make the place in front of our building beautiful. This picture represents that beauty that I want to see in people and my environment. Women especially, have strength and the skills to transform darkness into beauty. gloomy into beautiful, If given the opportunity, they would be very successful politicians, doctors, professors, etc. I always make sure to vote for and support women, because women know how to make responsible and well-thought out decisions. We do this everyday as we manage our jobs, children, husbands, cleaning, cooking, gardens, and numerous other daily responsibilities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211166326-RTBIOROO3AYS651I95OY/photo+0423_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Family and Your Own Job at the Center of Life I have raised three successful daughters who have become wonderful young women full of love and care for other people. It was my life goal to raise children who have compassion for others; that is a value that my mother has passed on to me and her mother on to her. If we do not try to help others, we cannot expect good things to happen to us either. Besides my family, I also take a lot of pride in my job. I have been employed at the same place for 32 years. Not even the war stopped me from getting to work every day. It is crucial for women to have their job and income to feel valued and productive. If given an opportunity, I believe I could achieve wonders, because I am motivated, creative, thoughtful, and courageous. After surviving the war and raising my daughters in besieged Sarajevo, I became confident in my abilities to accomplish anything I set my mind to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211301083-HBUEYWKARWWZSPAL0EUA/photo+8_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Leather Doesn’t Allow Mistakes Every woman has inside of her something she loves. For me, my creative outlet is leatherwork. Before the war I worked with leather, creating shoes and clothing. After the war, I lived abroad for many years, but have recently moved back to Bosnia-Herzegovina and started working with leather again. You have to be very careful and precise about each poke of the needle, because leather does not allow any mistakes. My favorite thing to make is handbags and each one requires much care and attention. Every woman wants a unique handbag and my bags are one-of-a-kind creations, each made with love. The life of a woman is also one-of-a-kind creation designed through her actions and decisions. My decision to return to Bosnia after living abroad is a well thought through move that did not allow any mistakes, just like my work with leather. It was a right decision and I am happy I am here! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211378129-YEJ4J5J4BV5BLVZJDF5R/photo+21_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Longing for Loved Ones My greatest joy comes when my grandson visits, he is the love of my life. He lives with his family in Germany, so I do not get to see him often. To keep myself busy, I make these plastic flowers, which relaxes me and serves as a hobby. It is very sad when someone that we hold so dear to our heart lives far away from us. I am constantly thinking about my grandson and our next reunion, and that keeps me going in life. Though I suffer because of his absence, I am happy for the opportunities he has in Germany. I want him to be happy and successful, and all I can say is that it is very sad that he cannot seek that happiness and success in our own country. Hopefully, one day things will get better in Bosnia-Herzegovina and our loved ones will return to live here with us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211454505-6GBPG7ZLQILPR2PXRX9X/photo+5486_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Mother This is a picture of my son who, thanks to my motherly efforts, survived the concentration camp at age 19. My son was imprisoned, starved, and ill for days at the Omarska concentration camp. His father also played a role in saving his life. After my son woke up from a coma his father, who was also in Omarska, took care of him. He was leading him in front of armed guards. The guard ordered: "let go if him". But he did not let go of him, instead, he risked his life and said: "I can't let go of him, he is my son". The guard decided not to kill them. A father's love for his son won against the evil in the guard. I was able to use a personal connection to send him 50 Swiss Francs, which eventually saved his life. My son came out of concentration camp weighing only 45 kilograms. This extraordinary struggle has motivated him to become a social activist. Today he is a successful man, full of care for other people. I am lucky that my son survived, but I will forever be saddened for the mothers whose sons never survived the horrors of Omarska. My story proves that women suffer at multiple dimensions during the conflict; we suffer as victims of direct violence and we suffer from pain of loses of our loved ones long after the conflict has finished. War is one of the most unjust things that can happen to women, and as a proud mother and a former teacher, I will forever advocate for peace between people. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211521611-X1VUJRD21ZKVYVPFBWJK/photo+4_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - My Alternative Medicine Life has been full of challenges, but needlework and weaving carpets has been my medicine and my refuge. No matter what is happening in my life, I keep making beautiful pieces of handiwork. This is an art form for me and a source of income. My work can be found all over the world. Each of my creations requires a lot of concentration and precision. Some of the flowers I embroider require over 900 stitches, each of which must be counted. When you are doing this work, you cannot think about anything else, which is a very helpful activity when life is stressful. I am very proud of this work, and it shows that even those who have not been able to attend school can be very skilled in other ways and can make beautiful works of art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211595745-MW23H4FHV5X37EDPETH8/photo+0085_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Hard Fought Victory I am a strong woman who fights for her family. These potatoes remind me of a period in my life when my husband was injured and I had to find a job outside the household to provide for my family. I took a job at a potato farm where I worked for several years. The labor was very difficult and the days were long. I would have to get up at 5 o'clock in the morning to get things ready for the day, prepare food for my kids and husband, get the children ready for school, and water the garden. Then I would spend the whole day working in the field, picking potatoes. I would return after dinner in the evening, and begin preparing things for the next day and tending to the laundry. This was a very difficult time in my life, but I am proud of my strength and of my ability to persevere. If you have a willingness and desire to succeed, even hard work like this is not too difficult. Today things are much better for our family and I am very proud of my role in our success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211655792-Z4NUKF5MJDHNB302ZSA3/photo+16_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Skills Lead to Success This is not just a photo of a village woman milking a cow, this is an image of an adept woman of many talents. More than anything, it is important to me to be a productive contributor to my family and society. I am succeeding in that by raising livestock, keeping bees, growing food in the garden, and knitting handicrafts. There is no one formula for success and there is no reason why I wouldn’t test every formula until I find the ones that work best for me. Life circumstances in this country force women to be innovative and crafty. Those that don’t fear testing their ideas and seeking new opportunities will be most successful. You don’t need to be wealthy to be successful. You are successful when you provide comfort and security for yourself and your family. I am in that sense very successful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211723117-U38EYLAERBX019LORR7O/photo+14_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - The Future Depends on Unity For each of these dolls I have sewn a traditional outfit, which represents each of the major religious groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This picture represents the unity I would like to see among women, and the unity I hope for all people of Bosnia-Herzegovina. After all, we are all just women that carry a burden on our shoulders that only we can understand. There is a saying that women hold up three corners of the house, and men hold up one. That strength is something that Bosnian women from all ethnic groups have in common. I take a lot of pride in creating the outfits shown in the photograph because this is my chance to communicate how I feel about the position of Bosnian women in an ethnically divided state. Each woman is beautiful and unique, just like their traditional outfits, yet they carry common wisdom and the strength of generations of women before them. Like women who lived before us, we have to apply our wisdom and courage to overcome political turmoil that is affecting our safety and future. We, women, must send the example of solidarity, love, and tolerance, because that is what we are made of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211760729-GJTSZY5B3SVGZ92I0RFB/photo+22_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Unique Skills Make a Unique Woman Making unique pieces like the one featured in this photograph is something I have loved my whole life. There are only a few women in the region who know how to make pieces like this. This creative practice relaxes my mind and helps keep me sane. It takes a certain personality to make complex pieces like this. You must have concentration and patience. You can't think about anything else, so this type of activity is helpful for managing stress. I pride myself on being a strong, self-sufficient woman that takes on new challenging tasks. Weather it is mixing cement to build a new walking path in my garden, using a chain saw to cut wood for winter, or lovingly tending to my flowers, each of my actions are filled with an interest and curiosity that does not know gender limits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211806928-YPCBWIERMPNM53OFLUDD/photo+15_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Things Worth Fighting For This greenhouse represents my vision for my future and the future of my family. I have a beautiful piece of land and I hope to be able to plant even more crops, which I could then turn into a business. I did not have the opportunity to receive much formal education, but I am an expert when it comes to agriculture. This is something I know how to do, and am very good at. If presented with the opportunity to expand production, I would most certainly create a thriving business. I am a very courageous and persistent woman, and I am looking everywhere for the ways to expand this job regardless of my limited opportunities. All these years after the war my family is still trying to rebuild. We have succeeded in purchasing our own land and we are building our own home, an achievement that took a lot of fighting for. I know I have what it takes to win difficult fights; I have done it many times. I will similarly keep fighting until I find a way to turn this greenhouse into a woman-led business. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211849619-2QKQZ9FWFB9STVRVQFCB/photo+10_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - My Children, Myself My biggest pain is my son who disappeared in the war. Not a single bone of his has been found yet. Families cannot find peace until their loved ones have been found and that is why the BiH government must make it a priority to find and identify the missing. Despite all the difficulties that I have encountered in the search for my son’s bones, I remain hopeful that I will find at least one of his bones one day. When you are looking for something lost you are under constant tension, that is what life has been for me since the disappearance of my son. However, I am a strong woman and a mother that will never stop searching for her lost child. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211902223-ZRGPXEIKX7R2CJJ46E03/photo+2_edited+%281%29.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - My Raspberries, My Future These raspberries represent the hard work and pride of one Bosnian woman and are a symbol of brighter future. Having my own business is a long-term investment in my family. For me, this means that I do not have to work for anyone else and that no one can walk all over me just because they are paying me. Women from the villages who work in the fields for other people often have to put up with disrespectful managers and inhumane work conditions. Because of this business, I do not have to put up with that humiliation anymore. I have the power to make decisions and I am proud to be an example for other women and to inspire my children to also be courageous. This is the livelihood of my family, it is our bread, and I will fight for its success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487211949948-EQMA8I56TLLN1KX0IINF/photo+20_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Led by the Sound of a Sewing Machine and Strong Women’s Intuition Every woman should invest in a skill that can help her earn money. You can start small and build up, because when you have your own income you are free. I have learned that during the most difficult times, such as war, resourcefulness and creativity of women are the most enabling factors of progress and survival. Therefore, women should always remember that their strength moves mountains and should courageously explore their ideas and skills until they find something that works best for them. For me, that was starting my own business as a seamstress. These machines sing, they have sang for me my whole life. All I had to do was follow my intuition and invest myself into work that I always deep down felt was the right thing for me. I am very proud of the dresses I have created and the life I have built for myself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487212049139-2H31FGJO9AJ87H0TXC5V/photo+7+of+7_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - My Job, My Refuge This photo represents the uniqueness of every woman and the strength they have when they unite. This heart of different colors and a star symbolize the hands of women connected in unity. The knitting needles are the artistic tools of hardworking women and a symbol of an organization which gave me an opportunity for a new and a better life. After many difficult years I succeeded in addressing many problems in my life thanks to help of other women. My desire to make my life better is led by my determination to find a job that would help me achieve financial independence and enable me to support my children. A local businesswoman gave me a full-time job which helped me begin my new life with dignity. That job is my refuge and my pride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487212106426-FY3B9ND0VUW5JTUJ38F3/photo+12_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Hobbies with Healthy Effects My health is very important to me, and I am proud when I take time to do something for myself and my health. Women everywhere endure high stress in their lives, which can leave serious consequences on their health. I have recognized that doing garden work, tending to my cow, relaxing with my children, and spending time with close friends helps me feel better. This squash is a result of time and love invested in gardening, and time and love invested in a hobby that makes me feel better and healthier. Besides gardening, I have personally benefited a lot from spending time doing handiwork together with other positive women. Women can be great support to each other, and I would encourage any woman that is dealing with stress to look for a trustworthy friend or a support group of women. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487212192660-YZKACCIPNB5C6G1NX98I/photo+19_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - My Special Place We must take time for ourselves. If women don't find time for themselves, no one else will give us that time. In our culture, women have traditionally taken on many family, work, and household responsibilities that leave little or no time for self-care or the social needs of woman. For example, women cook, clean, raise children, take care of their husbands, help children with school, grow gardens, care for their elderly parents. These contributions are not always recognized and not appreciated enough. When my children were little, I learned how important it was for my wellbeing to take time off from everyday responsibilities to do something nice for myself. I was a better mother, wife, and a friend after I took an hour to do something for myself. It could be a visit to the lake, a walk in the woods, or simply reading a book somewhere quite. Whatever that may be for other women, I want to encourage them all to take breaks and find space and time that’s only for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487212264328-3KY1YVZFXUPRUZ6Y7VCX/photo+17_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - My Fish, My Peace These fish are one of many hobbies that I have and my favorite activity to keep busy with. There is something special about taking care of other living creatures that brings hope and happiness into my life. War has been an extremely difficult period for many of us and many of us had to start our lives anew. Many of us had to create new homes in the new places. In spite of these challenges, I was successful in recreating a life that resembles the life I had before the war: a new house, good health, peace within myself, and love for life and other people. I have always fought for this kind of normal life, a normalcy that was disturbed by the war. These fish represent the harmony that I sought for myself and my family all those years following the war. When I see my family, my house, my garden, my fish, and my friends, I know that I have succeeded in recovering from the war. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1487212318493-PFJSIWRDRVE6LUBN62BO/photo+5+of+7_edited.jpg Her Wisdom, Her Wings - Beauty of Growth and Resilience I grew up in the suburbs surrounded with flowers and nature. Flowers symbolize for me growth and resilience. They remind me of us as people. Just like flowers we also start from a small seed, growing over our lifetimes. To survive, a flower needs to adapt to nature and the circumstances it finds itself in. We also need to learn how to survive in our natural environment, whatever it may be. For instance, I was fired from my job after getting married and becoming pregnant, and I was never able to find a job again. The loss of that job truly hurt me because I got fired for becoming a mother, a moment when I needed an income the most in order to raise my baby. Although corruption and personal favoritism in the job market left me unemployed, I always found a way to make some money for my family. Whether, I had to babysit or knit to make money, I looked for ways to do my best to be productive and helpful, and to adapt to a new environment. I am an adatpable flower! http://www.herownwings.org/portfolio daily 0.75 2017-02-27 http://www.herownwings.org/i-am-me daily 0.75 2017-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158039346-3JO98K87UQ373QBBY61Q/4b_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - History Behind the Arrogant Railway Not many people know the story behind exotic Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta is filled with ancient buildings, which are strong and grand. There are many spots for tourism and unbelievable art and cultural performances. But on the other side, behind the walls, there is an unfortunate story taking place where strong people are fighting stigma and the scorn of the world. They fight the unjust view of those who make a distinction between sex work and legitimate work. Behind the wall you will find us, on the stones and railways, unseen, deserted, and choking on the dust. Every night we are by the railway, waiting for men who need sex. When the train passes we move from the tracks. But the railway is our source of life. We live here, we work here, and so do others like the cigarette seller who also earns money here. We work with constant worry. At any moment our homes could be demolished, if the government decides the city needs to be cleaned up.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488159072386-7UTQ00XB0J66UNCW6ER2/2a_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - To Survive in the Land of Yogyakarta In this city, I earn money for living to help my family financially and to pay my children’s education. Although I have to work in the blackest valley, I thank God for my blessings since I can afford a piece of land in my hometown, I can help my family, and save some earnings for my retirement and my children. I still have dreams that have not been fulfilled. I want to build a house in my village, develop a small shop, and stop working as a sex worker. As time goes by, I have to make my dreams come true for the sake of my family and my children. I have to work hard for those dreams. Amen. Amen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158612313-QZJANXR4X2GTS0VKE52T/7b_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - The Twilight Train: The Royal Bed The train comes and I stand up. The light shines on me, spotlighting me as a sex worker. I started everything here on May 22, 2014. Sadness and happiness come one after another through the struggle I find within my clients, children, family, and my partner. I want to be a flower, the edelweiss. It never dies in dry season. It does not go dry even if it is picked up. It is me. That is what destiny tells. This is my life and I live it with all my heart and soul. All that happens will not bring me down. I am strong and facing the future. Sometimes, however, tears cannot lie. On the bamboo bench I sit. It is the place I go to take a rest and have fun with my friends. Gone is my weariness, so I continue to work. I serve my clients day by day, twilight passes me by. One day I got pregnant but I was still working and my partner harmed me with physical violence. But I keep going for my daily food and for my children, and one day hopefully my own dream will come true. I just want to be a better person, to stop all the bitterness on the line of the twilight train. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158955836-0JKQUXK84WG85X3Z8UMA/9b_final+%28Copy%29.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - Chicken Free range chickens are healthier than chickens raised in captivity. Although free chickens live unprotected and eat from a dirty environment they live well, whereas chickens in captivity are kept alive by support from vitamin and hormone injections. The lives of sex workers are also supported by medicine and socialization of healthy reproduction. I hope I can just live free the free range chickens, but stay healthy and strong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488157792792-676X367P5X511FBF23NF/4a_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - Police In their uniform, they can be very charismatic. But when it is taken off, they are just human. In our view, police are like ghosts that haunt our every step when we are working. They act as if they hold full authority, as the righteous. But they are just hypocrites, because in fact they need our sex services or ask from us the “Security Money” to buy cigarettes. Message: 1. Do not act without compunction toward the sex workers when doing the sweeping. 2. Do come and sit with the sex workers to talk together about the equal rights as this state’s citizens. More than that, please do not look down on us and see us as trash. Even the trash can be recycled to be a beautiful thing that is highly valued. We do not need your pity, since we are strong. We just need empowerment and protection to show that we are just the same as others.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158115509-4AJ0STUOGA9MELWM9K5L/5a_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - The Jack Fruit It is a jack fruit, the fruit I love. It can be cooked into various foods. Even the iconic food of Yogyakarta is made of it. Yes, Gudeg is made of it and so is Lodeh. When it’s ripe, it can be the filling of fruit soup or Kolak. Everybody loves jack fruit.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488157732854-3RNOXKIEL4DJTKP1PQS0/2b_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - Hand in Hand: A Mother’s Prayer for Her Daughter My daughter is the fire of my life. She was sent by God and I must take care of her. She is so priceless that I have to protect her. I always pray to God that one day she will become a good woman who is loyal to her parents and family and serves the country. Although I am a sex worker, I hope she can be proud of her family. When she gets older, I do not want her to know that I was a sex worker. Knowing that I am with God is enough. I hope God answers my prayer for me and for my daughter. Amen. Amen. Amen.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158519595-7JC3BTHGWNYEK2GQ460O/7a_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - PKBI In its open arms is where I am. PKBI is the place for me to share all troubles or joyfulness. For me, PKBI is a priceless place for me to create a work. It’s where I finally know the meaning of my life. From PKBI grows the seed of social organization. It enriches my experiences. It helps me and my friends. PKBI is the bridge to a better future. From it, I learn what an organization is. It’s where we help each other. There was an experience of a friend who was in labor. Rain was pouring down hard and lightning was striking, when a volunteer from PKBI came to help my friend calling a taxi for us to go to the hospital. Our clothes were wet, but had dried by the time we waited for the baby to be born. We accompanied her until she and her baby were fully recovered. Though she has forgotten those days, I will ask for nothing in return. I trust PKBI for its wonderful volunteers and members. They have incredible capacity. PKBI will always be in my heart until the end of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158189467-9PV8XKXZ8WYLXJLN5GOK/5b_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - My Angkringan This is where I work. I sell food for a living. All that I do is for my children, grandchildren, and my sisters. I love my Angkringan very much. It is also where my friends gather and meet their clients. They live around it. Angkringan is the source of life.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158253167-XM78QK919DOIKU2K7D8S/6a_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - Beautiful Flowers The flowers in the picture are beautiful, but they will wilt soon. It is just like me, for I am getting older and wilting. It is my life that can be compared to these beautiful flowers. My wish is that I could have a better life. I do not want to be like these flowers, for they are pleasant to see, but will be thrown away and soon forgotten. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158672167-XX1XCY9VH95XG60P4ZAY/8b_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - The Life of the Old Lady An old lady lives on her own. She lives in a little shack far away from her relatives. But she never begs for her daily needs. With strength, she works all day to earn twenty rupiahs for each piece of cloth she has made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158354695-KJXRCZYI273X2DA8LUE0/6b_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - The Life Struggle This woman is working independently by selling food. I want that kind of life, which is better than what I have now. I want to be an independent woman and have my own food shop. This woman is great in struggling for her life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158905161-7EXD2GLFMN0NKE2BE5M5/8a_Final+%28Copy%29.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - The Peak of Ancient Volcano This is Ngangeran. There is a peak of Ancient volcano which is no longer active. Now this place has become a tourism spot visited by local and foreign tourists. Fertile land, beautiful nature, fresh and clean air, we get them all here. On the east side, there is a very big pond. Some gazebos are built around it for us to take a rest and enjoy the beauty of nature. It is my hometown where I was born.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488159025085-PBCEYTRU6CIYV2IL7QHG/10a_final+%28Copy%29.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - PKBI Garden The PKBI garden is such a beautiful place. Joining PKBI has given me so many benefits. Now I know many things and have sufficient knowledge of IMS (Infectious Sex Disease) and HIV-AIDS. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158825664-1QCE8SUSNF0YGADOMHC0/10b_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - Praying I pray for the successfulness and the greatness of PKBI. I wish I can have a baby soon. And I hope P3SY to be successful and prosperous.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1488158738582-TMWEVF6GALWL50O5W4Y3/9a_final.jpg I AM ME: Starting Down Stigma Using Self-Representation - Eternal Flower Everyone knows that flower is the symbol of beauty. The flower is also the symbol of my community which never wilts and blooms all the time. http://www.herownwings.org/projects/bcs daily 0.75 2017-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491586985593-NEVOJV6DDN95D67KVA6Q/photo+3_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Snage žene, snaga vode Ja sam se u ratu odvažila na opasnu avanturu prelaska neprijateljskih linija da bi se vratila svom djetetu koje je bilo razdvojeno od mene kada je izbio rat. Vratila sam se iz Njemačke u svoje selo u najopasnijem razdoblju rata vodjena majčinskim instinktom da budem uz svoje malo dijete. Ja sam se nadala da ce moj život biti bolji nakon završetka rata ali je samo postao otežan sa novim izazovima. Životi mnogih bh. žena su bili teški zbog ograničenih životnih sredstava i uništene infrastruktura. Ova fotografija predstavlja nevjerovatno težak period u mom životu kad nisam imala vodu u svojoj kući i kad sam morala na sebi nositi vodu iz komšiluka. Čak nekoliko godina nakon završetka rata ja sam jos uvijek iz komšiluka na sebi nosila vodu za sve kućne potrebe. Naposljetku, nakon nekoliko godina čekanja na vlasti da omuguće infrastrukturu potrebnu za priključak vode, ja sam prodala nekoliko godina radnog staža stečenog u Njemačkoj da bi uvela vodu u svoju kuću. Ja sam veoma ponosna na svoju domišljatost i sposobnost da nadjem rješenje u teškim situacijama kao sto je bila ova sa vodom. Zbog ovog iskustva, ja smatram vodu dragocijenim resursom. Kroz svakodnevni život ja se ozbiljno zalažem za uštedu vode, očuvanje prirode, i angažovanje okoline u održavanju našeg sela cistim. Iako su izazovi sa kojim sam se susretala u životu ponekad bili strasni i opasni za ženu, ja sam mudra žena i ja sam ih sa mudrošću savladavala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491587192626-OF5JFCQQFWL8DIMKW4ZQ/photo+11_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Različiti u vjeri isti u ljubavi Ovaj umjetnički rad je nacrtalo dijete koje je sudjelovalo u kampu za mlade u kojem volontiram svako ljeto. Taj kamp okuplja djecu iz cijele Bosne i Hercegovine, iz različitih etničkih i vjerskih grupa. Cilj kampa je da djeci pruži priliku da se upoznaju i da kreira osjećaj zajedništva medju mladima, sto prevazilazi sve razlike. Moj posao sa mladima u BiH me inspiriše; oni mi daju nadu u buducnost i vjeru da je mir moguć. Kao žena, majka, i nena, ja se osjećam nadahnutom da promovišem mir i ljubav kroz svoj rad i volontiranje. Ja sam ponosna što sam primjer uspješne samostalne aktivistkinje u svojoj sredini. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491587253536-JB58JV5B5EISJ083XYP5/photo+5_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Simbol izdržljivosti Ja sam bila djevojčica u toku rata. Jednog dana granata je eksplodirala ispred moje kuće rasipajući gelere po mom tijelu. Ja nisam znala sta znači bol u životu dok nisam osjetila fizičku bol tog ranjavanja. Ja nisam vidjela ovaj ožiljak dugo vremena. Izbjegavala sam ga gledati jer me podsjeća na vrijeme kad sam umrla i probudila se, vrijeme velike patnje za mene i moju porodicu. Sad kada gledam ovaj ožiljak ja shvatam da je to takodje simbol moje snage i odluke da preživim. Ja se nadam da će ova fotografija inspirisati druge zene da drže glavu visoko uzdignuto i da nastave ići naprijed. Život nije uvijek lak, nekad se smijete nekad plačate, ali moramo nastaviti dalje. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491587447666-U11IFEQPQ790EINKCQNH/photo+0331_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Visoko iznad svega Nakon što sam deložirana iz stana koji mi je država dodijelila, morala sam pronaći način da kupim zemlju, izgradim kuću, i započnem novi život kao samohrana majka sa svoje dvoje djece. Posadila sam ovu krušku kad sam se uselila u novu kuću. Kao sto vidis, izdigla se u nebo iznad krovova probijajući se kroz drugo drveće u potrazi za potrebnom svjetlošću. To najbolje opisuje izazove iznad kojih sam se ja morala uzdići u potrazi za svjetlom u svom životu. Zivot je jako težak za žene koje su izgubile muževe u ratu. Tesko se je u potpunosti oporaviti nakon rata. Na primjer, zbog rata sam zgubila posao knjigovodkinje. Unatoč velikom broju poslanih aplikacija za posao, nikad se nisam uspjela vratiti u tu oblast rada. Moj najveći san sve ove godine je bio da imam običan posao od 9 do 5 gdje mogu uložiti svoje vještine i biti produktivna članica društva. Nažalost, ja živim u korumpiranoj državi gdje kod portage za posao licna poznanstva vrijede više nego kvalifikacije. Zauvijek ću čuvati debeli štos odbijenica koje su stigle kao odgovor na moje brojne aplikacije za posao knjigovodkinje i administratorice. One najbolje svjedoče ogromnim naporima koje sam uložila da obnovim svoj život. Unatoč svemu, ja sam uspjela izgraditi sopstveni dom, omogućiti miran život, i odgojiti divnu visokoobrazovanu djecu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491587584379-Y28EAWOHOI8GY1DVE88F/photo+18_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Simbol vjere i kreativnoti jedne žene Moj ručni rad mi znači puno. Ova slika predstavlja znak moje drage vjere i kreativnu akitvnost koja me pokreće. Ja zaboravim na sve loše stvari kada uzmem iglu u ruku i počnem kreirati umjetnost. Ručni rad me je zaista vratio u život i pomogao mi da zaboravim na sve ono sto me je pritiskalo dugo vremena. Ljepota ovog hobija je što ga možete obavljati u društvu sa drugim ženama. Mnoge generacije bosanskih žena su se sastajale navečer da pletu i heklaju skupa, i ja sam sretna što sam dio te tradicije. Mnoge bosanske žene nailaze na poteškoće u porodicama i brakovima koje samo druge žene mogu razumijeti, tako da je vrijeme provedeno skupa pleteći i razgovarajući prava terapija i izvor velike podrške. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491587749018-XJMJNYBPUBC4YS43DHMA/photo+13_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Dome slatki dome Moj životni san je da se uselim u svoj novi dom. Naša trenutna kuća je stara i ošećena. Dobili smo donaciju za novu kuću koju smo počeli graditi. Medjutim proces izgradnje je veoma spor jer nemamo dovoljno novca da dovršimo izgradnju. Život u staroj kuci je težak, ali mogućnost useljenja u novu kuću mi daje nadu. Svaka žena zaslužuje lijepu kuću koju može pretvoriti u prelijep dom. Rat i loša ekonomija su nas usporili. Gdje god pogledaš vidiš ljude koji se bore za svoje snove, tako i ja nastavljam borbu za svoj san da imam dom na koji sam ponosna. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491587809763-FV7TV5X1HR6K22KGISFG/photo+7_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Život je kao igra šaha Život je kao igra šaha. Morate biti oprezni jer svaki korak je bitan za konačan cilj. Cilj mog života je pobjeda nad negativnim stvarima. Te negativne stvari su rat, loša ekonomija, loše zdravlje, i loša politika. Pobijediti protiv svega što spriječava normalan život je jednako odbrani kralja u igri šaha. Ja sam pobijedila u najvažnijoj igri šaha kad sam preživjela logor i povela svoju okolinu u stabilniju budućnost. Ta pobjeda je od mene napravila iskusnu šahovku majstoricu i zagovornicu mira po čemu se odlikujem u svojoj okolini. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491587968158-4Z8FTN4DULTM00TP2977/photo+6_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Poduzetništvo, obuhvaćeno fotografijom Kao žena, osjećam se osnaženom kada mogu doprinijeti svojoj porodici. Započela sam svoj osobni biznis uzgoja tovne junadi, sto se pokazalo veoma uspješnim i unosnim za moju porodicu. Ja sam ponosna sto sam stekla sve potrebne vještine za samostalnu brigu o stoci­. Ja čak proizvodim i hranu koju junad jede. Prije nego što sam krenula sa ovim biznisom, ja sam radila u partnerstvu sa drugim ženama na kolektivnom uzgoju krastavaca za prodaju, sto je zahtijevalo 12 sati rada u polju. Posao je bio težak a manje unosan nego uzgoj tovne junadi. Ovaj novi biznis mi dopušta da radim kod kuće i ostavlja mi dovoljno vremena za druge porodicne obaveze: kuhanje, čišćenje, i bašta. Ja mislim da bi se i druge zene mogle uspješno baviti sa ovim poslom. Ovo je dobar poslovni model jer pruža financijsku dobit i žene mogu biti kod kuće. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491588106765-I00W5E55OYKFO49OKDU7/photo+4+of+7_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Najveći životni uspjeh Ova slika predstavlja jedan od najvećih uspjeha u mom životu koji je došao nakon jednog od najtežih perioda u mom životu. Ovo je slika nove kuće koju sam napravila i drvene šupe u kojoj sam živjela godinu dana dok je trajala izgradnja moje kuće. Moj život samohrane majke iz Srebrenice je bio pun prekretnica. Ja sam preživjela Srebrenicu nakon čega sam izbjegla u Sarajevo boreći se da prehranim svoju djecu. Nekoliko godina nakon rata, deložirana sam iz svog stana u Sarajevu koji mi je dala država. Iako sam vec bila počela sa izgradnjom kuće, kuća nije bila gotova na vrijeme, tako da sam bila prisiljena živjeti u drvenoj šupi sa svojom djecom. Ali to me nije obesgrabrilo da se borim da izgradim pistojan dom za sebe i svoju djecu. Uspjela sam izgraditi dom koji mogu zvati svojim. Ja sam ponosna što sam uspjela kupiti zemlju i izgraditi kuću. Ova kuća je takodje investicija u budućnost moje djece. Ako jednog dana ostanu bez novca, uvijek mogu iznajmiti jedan sprat naše prostrane kuce. Znam da sam se vrhunski borila za svoju djecu i naše preživljavanje. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491588466749-A145MIXAXG0D6X3X3RLA/photo+9_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Pogled iz prošlosti u budućnost Iako smo se mozda suočavali sa poteškocama u prošlosti, ispred nas uvijek stoje vrata prema budućnosti. Ja sam se borila cijeli život da otvorim sva zatvorena vrata koja su se našla ispred mene i moje porodice. Ja sam ponosna što sam preživjela rat i vratila se na svoje ognjište. Morala sam uložiti puno truda da otvorim sva zatvorena vrata kroz život, ali sa svakim otvorenim vratima, ja postajem jača i svjesnija svoje snage. Zahvaljujuci toj snazi stečenoj kroz teške borbe, ja sam naučila da posvetim više vremena svojim hobijima, da izbjegavam ljude koji mi ne žele dobro, i da uklonim patrijarhalne ujecaje na moj život. Po prvi put u zivotu moje želje i prioriteti nisu ignorisani i utišani. Po prvi put u životu ja sam slobodna da izaberem i vodim svoj osobni život kako ja hoću, i ne dam tu slobodu ni za šta na svijetu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589039375-7V8ITROZVSHS739YBJSW/photo+6+of+7_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Moja ljubav prema ljepoti Ja volim ljepotu u životu i ja nastojim sve sto je tmurno pretvoriti u lijepo. Zato imam cvijece na balkonu, zato sadim baštu, uživam u jutarnjim šetnjama, i održavam zajednički cvijetnjak ispred svoje zgrade. Nakon što sam deložirana iz svog starog stana, kao samohrana majka sa dvoje djece, ulozila sam puno truda u kupovinu novog stana. Htjela sam da dvorište ispred mog novog doma izgleda lijepo. Tako sam u zgradi započela inicijativu sakupljanja novca za kupovinu ruža i lijepog urdjenja dvorišta zgrade. Ova slika predstavlja tu trasnformaciju iz tmurnog u lijepo koju volim vidjeti u ljudima i u svom okruženju. Žene posebno imaju sposobnost da pretvore tmurno u lijepo i samo da im se da prilika one bi bile uspješne političarke, profesorice, doktorice, itd. Ja uvijek nastojim glasati za žene i podržati žene jer žene donose odgovorne i promišljene odluke. Mi to dokazujemo svaki dan kroz posao, odgoj djece, upravljanje porodicom, čišćenje, kuhanje, održavanje bašte, i obavljanje brojnih drugih dnevnih obaveza. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589121170-R5X8R8QKQZW3XK0KYFYN/photo+0423_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Porodica i posao u centru života Ja sam odgojila tri uspješne kćerke koje su izrasle u divne mlade žene pune ljubavi i pažnje prema drugima. Moj životni cilj je bio da odgojim djecu koja se suosjećaju sa drugim ljudima; to je kvaliteta koju je moja majka prenijela na mene i njena majka na nju. Ako nismo spremni pomoći drugima, ne možemo očekivati da nam se dobro vrati. Pored moje porodice, ja sam takodje veoma ponosna na svoj posao. Ja radim na istoj lokaciji vec 32 godine. Čak me ni rat nije sprijecčio da svaki dan idem na posao. Za ženu je bitno da ima svoj posao i primanja da bi se osjećala korisnom i produktivnom. Da mi se da prilika, ja vjerujem da bi postigla čuda jer sam motivirana, kreativna, domišljata, i odvažna. Nakon što sam preživjela rat i odgojila svoje kćerke pod opsjednutim Sarajevom, uvjerila sam se da sam sposobna postići sve sto zamislim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589211918-DKKGKFXW4YCKNT66SWIA/photo+8_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Koža ne dozvoljava greske Svaka žena ima unutar sebe nesto sto voli. Ja svoju kreativnost izrazavam kroz rad sa kožnim materijalom. Prije rata ja sam pravila cipele i odjeću od kože. Poslije rata, živjela sam u inostranstvu puno godina, ali sam se nedavno vratila u Bosnu i Hercegovinu i pocela opet raditi sa kožom. Morate biti veoma oprezni i precizni kod svakog uboda igle kroz kožu jer koža ne dozvoljava greske. Ja najvise volim izradjivati torbe od kože i svaka o njih zahtjeva puno njege i paznje. Svaka žena želi posebnu torbu, a moje torbe su jedinstvene kreacije, svaka napravljena sa ljubavlju. Život svake žene je takodje jedinstvena kreacija dizajnirana kroz njene poteze i odluke. Moja odluka da se vratim u Bosnu iz inostranstva je dobro promisljen potez u kojem nije smjelo biti grešaka, kao ni u mom radu sa kožom. Bila je to ispravna odluka i ja sam sretna da sam ovdje. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589264521-TZ0SQT73PZHEBTWWTMC2/photo+21_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Žudnja za voljenima Ja sam najsretnija kad moj unuk dodje u posjetu. On je ljubav mog života. On z živi u Njemackoj sa svojom porodicom tako da ga ne vidim često. Ja pravim ovo plastično cvijeće da mi prodje vrijeme, sto me opušta i pričinjava hobi. Jako je tužno kad neko tko nam je duboko u srcu živi daleko od nas. Ja konstantno mislim o svom unuku i o našem iducem susretu, i to mi daje snagu da nastavim dalje. Iako patim zbog njegove odsutnosti, ja sam sretna zbog prilika koje on ima Njemackoj. Želim da bude sretan i uspješan, i sve što mogu reći je, jako je tužno što nema priliku za tu sreću i uspjeh u našoj drzavi. Nadam se da će stvari biti bolje jednog dana u Bosni i Hercegovini i da će se naši voljeni vratiti da žive ovdje sa nama. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589322450-XM2ZBAMP9EKWRVMX9L4Y/photo+5486_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Majka Ovo je slika mog sina koji je zahvaljujuci mojim majčinskim zalaganjima uspio preživjeti logor sa 19 godina. Moj sin je bio zarobljen, izgladnjivan, i bolestan danima u koncentracijskom logoru Omarska. Zahvaljujući osobnim vezama ja sam mu uspjela poslati 50 Švicarski franaka sto mu je na kraju i spasilo život. Njegov otac je takodje igrao ulogu u spašavanju njegovog života. Nakon što se moj sin probudio iz kome njegov otac ga je njegovao. Vodio ga je ispred naoružanih stražara. Stražara je naredio:"pusti ga". Nije ga poslusao. Izlozio je svoj život i rekao: "Ne mogu ga pustiti, sin mi je". Stražar je odustao od namjere da ih ubije. Ljubav oca prema sinu pobijedila je zlo u glavi stražara. Nakon izlaska iz logora moj sin je imao samo 45 kilograma. To teško iskustvo ga je inspirisalo da postane društveni aktivist. On je danas uspješan muškarac pun pažnje prema drugim ljudima. Ja sam sretna da mi je sin preživio, ali ja cu zauvijek biti ožalošćena zbog majki čiji sinovi nisu preživjeli strahote Omarske. Moja priča pokazuje da žene ispaštaju na višestruke načine u toku rata; mi patimo kao žrtve direktnog nasilja i patimo od bola za gubitkom naših voljenih dugo nakon što se rat završi. Rat je jedna od najnepravednijih stvari koja se može desiti ženi, i kao ponosna majka i bivša uciteljica, ja ću zauvijek zagovarati mir medju ljudima. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589412644-YAE53CM3NLT6LVK4SMT2/photo+4_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Moj alternativni lijek Život je pun izazova, ali heklanje i tkanje su oduvijek bili moj lijek i sklonište. Bez obzira sta se dešavalo u mom životu, ja sam nastavljala sa izradom divnih ručnih radova. Ovo je umjetnost i zarada za mene. Moji radovi mogu biti vidjeni po cijelom svijetu. Svaka od mojih kreacija zahtijeva puno koncentracije i preciznosti. Neki od izvezenih cvijetova zahtijevaju preko 900 savova, i svaki se mora izbrojati. Kad radite ovaj posao, ne mozete misliti ni o cemu drugom, sto je veoma korisna aktivnost kad je život stresan. Ja sam veoma ponosna na ovaj posao, i dokaz je da i oni koji nisu imali priliku pohadjati školu mogu biti veoma vjesti na druge načine i mogu izradjivati prelijepe umjetničke rukotvorine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589533152-APW9EYV8URCCKRUFTW2P/photo+0085_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Teško izborena pobjeda Ja sam jaka žena koja se bori za svoju porodicu. Ovaj krompir me podsjeća na period u mom zivot kad se moj muž razbolio a ja sam morala naći posao van svog domaćinstva da zaradim za svoju porodicu. Prihvatila sam posao na farmi krompira gdje sam radila nekoliko godina. Posao je bio veoma težak a radni dani dugi. Morala sam se buditi u pet ujutro da pripremim sve potrebno za taj dan, spremim hranu za svoju djecu i muža, i spakujem djecu za školu. Onda bi provela cijeli dan u polju kupeći krompir. Vraćala bi se kući tek navečer poslije večere i tad bi počela sa pripremama za idući dan i sa pranjem vesša. Ovo je bilo jako teško razdoblje u mom životu ali ja sam ponosna na svoju snagu i izdržljivost. Ako imate volju i želju da uspijete, cak ni težak posao kao što je ovaj nije pretežak. Stvari su danas puno bolje za našu porodicu i ja sam ponosna na svoj doprinos našem uspjehu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589586702-TAWGVCS2ETJH82L44QRG/photo+16_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Vještine vode uspjehu Ovo nije samo fotografija seoske žene koja muze kravu, ovo je fotografija potpune žene mnogih vještina. Više nego išta, meni je bitno da budem produktivan dio moje porodice i društva, i ja uspijevam u tom kroz uzgoj stoke, kroz pčelarstvo, povrtlarstvo, i pletarske radove. Ne postoji samo jedna formula za uspjeh, i nema razloga zašto ih ne bi testirala sve dok ne pronadjem one koje mi najbolje odgovaraju. Životne okolnosti u ovoj državi tjeraju žene da budu domišljate i kreativne. One koje se ne plaše testirati svoje ideje i tražiti nove prilike će biti najuspješnije. Ne moraš biti bogata da bi bila uspješna. Ti si uspješna kad obezbijediš udobnost i sigurnost sebi i svojoj porodici. Ja sam u tom smislu veoma uspješna. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589631456-1SRUM2IQMKRCXQLWZRCN/photo+14_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Budućnost je u slozi Za svaku ovu lutku sam sašila tradicionalne nošnje koje predstavljajaju glavne vjerske skupine u Bosni i Hercegovini. Ova slika predstavlja slogu koju želim vidjeti medju ženama i slogu koju priželjkujem za sve narode Bosne i Hercegovine. Nakon svega, mi smo sve samo žene koje na ledjima nose težinu koju samo mi možemo razumijeti. Postoji izreka da žena nosi tri ćoska kuće a muškarac samo jedan. Ta snaga je nešto što bosanske žene iz svih etnickih grupa imaju zajednicko. Ja sam ponosna na izradu nošnji sa fotografije jer je to moja prilika da pokažem šta mislim o poziciji bosasnke žene u etnički podijeljenoj državi. One su lijepe i jedinstvene kao i njihove tradicionalne nošnje, ali one dijele istu mudrost i snagu kao žene koje su živjele generacije prije njih. Kao žene koje su živjele pije nas, mi moramo koristiti našu mudrost i odvažnost da prevazidjemo politički kaos koji šteti našoj sigurnosti i budućnosti. Mi žene, moramo poslati primjer solidarnosti, ljubavi, i tolerancije, jer to je ono od čega smo mi sačinjene. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589705050-5V5BTJHG4OL0HL85WE3P/photo+22_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Unikatne vještine čine unikatnu ženu Izrada unikatnih rukotvorina kao sto je ova na fotografiji je oduvijek bilo nešto što sam voljela raditi. Postoji samo par žena u ovoj okolini koje znaju izradjivati ovakve primjere. Ova kreativna akitvnost me opušta i pomaže mi sačuvati razum. Potrebno je imati odredjenu osobnost da bi mogli napraviti primjer kao što je ovaj. Morate biti skoncetrisani i strpljivi. Ne možete misliti ni o čemu drugom, tako da je korisno za kontrolisanje stresa. Ja se ponosim sto sam jaka i samostalna žena otvorena novim izazovima. Bilo da je to miješanje maltera za novu vrtnu stazu, korištenje motorne pile za siječu drva za zimu, ili nježna briga o mom cvijeću, sve ove aktivnosti su ispunjene sa interesovanjem i znatiželjom koja ne poznaje spolna ogranicenja. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589766992-F6CE55XL3KIJVOFAMV4J/photo+15_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Stvari vrijedne borbe Ovaj plastenik predstavlja viziju moje budućnosti i budućnosti moje porodice. Ja imam divan komad zemlje i nadam se da ću jednog dana moći uzgajati i više usjeva, sto bi mogla pretvoriti u biznis. Ja nisam imala priliku obrazovati se, ali ja sam stručnjakinja za poljoprivredu. To je nešto što znam raditi i u čemu sam jako stručna. Ako mi se ukaže prilika za proširenje prizvodnje, ja ću sigurno napraviti uspješan biznis. Ja sam veoma hrabra i uporna žena i uvijek tražim način da proširim ovaj posao unatoč ograničenim mogućnostima. Sve ove godine poslije rata moja porodica se jos uvijek oporavlja. Uspjeli smo kupiti komad zemlje gdje gradimo svoju kuću, za šta se trebalo teško boriti. Ja znam da imam sve što je potrebno da pobijedim u teškim borbama; pobijedila sam mnogo puta. Ja ću se isto tako boriti dok ne pronadjem način da pretvorim ovaj plastenik u biznis jedne žene. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589866339-NWLETDQ8OOU9UCCH83L6/photo+10_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Moja djeca, Ja Moj najveći bol je moj sin koji je nestao u ratu. Njegova nijedna kost jos nije pronadjena. Porodice ne mogu pronaći mir dok se njihovi voljeni ne pronadju i zbog toga BiH vlasti moraju staviti prioritet na pronalazak nestalih. Unatoč svim poteškoćama na koje sam nailazila o potrazi za kostima svog sina, ja i dalje imam nadu da ću jednog dana pronaći bar jednu njegovu kost. Kad trazite nesto izgubljeno vi ste pod konstantnom tenzijom- takav je moj život od nestanka mog sina. Ja sam snažna žena i majka koja nikad nece prestati tragati za svojim izgubljenim dijetetom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589928526-RBPEVAYM20HYBHPYOP7P/photo+2_edited+%281%29.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Moje maline Ove maline predstavljaju ulozeni trud i ponos jedne bosanske žene i simbol su svjetlije budućnosti. Ovaj osobni binzis je dugoročni ulog u moju porodicu. Ovo znači da ne moram raditi ni za kog drugog i da niko ne moze hodati po meni samo zato sto me placća. Žene sa sela koje rade na poljima drugih ljudi često moraju trpjeti poniženje poslovodja i neljudske radne uslove. Ja više ne moram trpjeti takva poniženja od kad imam svoj biznis. Ja imam moć odluke i ponosna sam što mogu biti primjer drugim ženama i inspiracija svojoj djeci da budu odvažni. Na ovom moja porodica preživljava, ovo je naš hljeb, i ja cu se boriti za uspjeh ovog posla. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491589995746-LV7ZM060PMCNRLI8S8FX/photo+20_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Vodjena zvukom šivace mašine i ženske intuicije Svaka žena treba uložiti u sticanje vještine koja joj moze pomoci zaraditi novac. Možete započeti sitno i graditi na tom, jer kad imate svoj novac vi ste slobodni. Ja sam naučila da u najtežim vremenima, kao što je rat, domišljatost i kreativnost žena najviše doprinose napretku i opstanku. Žene trebaju uvijek znati da njihova snaga pomjera planine, i da stoga hrabro testiraju svoje ideje i vještine dok ne pronadju nešto sto im najbolje odgovara. Za mene je to bio moj šivaci biznis. Ove mašine pjevaju, pjevale su mi moj cijeli život. Samo je bilo potrebno da pratim svoju intuiciju i da se posvetim poslu koji je oduvijek bio prava stvar za mene. Ja sam veoma ponosna na haljine koje sam sašila i život koji sam izgradila za sebe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491590046142-J3U4MAHHQHCW8FBLE1P4/photo+7+of+7_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Moj posao, moj spas Ova slika predstavlja unikatnost svake žene i snagu koju žene imaju kada se udruže. Ovo srce različitih boja i zvijezda predstavljaju ruke žena povezane u jedinstvu. Ove igle za pletenje su umjetnički alat naših vrijednih žena i simbol organizacije koja mi je omogućila posao i priliku za novim i boljim životom. Nakon mnogo teških godina uspjela sam problemima stati na kraj zahvaljujući podršci drugih žena. Moja želja da promijenim svoj život na bolje je vodjena odlučnošću da nadjem posao koji bi mi osigurao financijsku samostalnost i mogućnost da uzdržavam svoju djecu. Lokalna poduzetnica mi je ponudila punu radnu poziciju što mi je pomoglo da započnem novi život dostojanstveno. Taj posao je moj spas i ponos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491590098469-ATNN2HSCV5M7JJAIUBLD/photo+12_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Hobiji sa ljekovitim osobinama Moje zdravlje mi je jako bitno i ja sam ponosna kad uložim vrijeme i trud u brigu o sebi i svom zdravlju. Žene svugdje podnose visok nivo stresa, sto može imati opasne posljedice na njihovo zdravlje. Ja sam prepozala da rad u bašti, briga o mojoj kravi, opuštajuće vrijeme sa mojom djecom, i vrijeme sa svojim bliskim prijateljicama pomaže da se osjećam bolje. Ova tikva je rezultat vremena i ljubavi koji su uloženi u povrtlarstvo, i vremena i ljubavi koji su uloženi u hobi koji mi pomazže da se osjećam bolje i zdravije. Pored povrtlarstva, meni osobno pomaže obavljanje ručnih radova u društvu sa drugim pozitivnim ženama. Žene su odlična podrška jedna drugoj, i ja bi predložila svakoj ženi koja se nosi sa stresom u životu da pronadje povjerljivu prijateljicu ili žensku grupu podrške. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491590181216-BGGBRXJSO4EN7PCQKOHB/photo+19_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Moje posebno mjesto Mi moramo uzeti vrijeme za sebe. Ako žene ne pronadju vrijeme za sebe, niko drugi nam nece pokloniti to vrijeme. U nasoj kulturi žene tradicionalno preuzimaju mnoge porodicne, poslovne, i kućne odgovornosti koje ostavljaju malo ili nimalo vremena za samo-njegu i drustvene potrebe žene. Žene kuhaju, čiste, odgajaju djecu, brinu se o mužu, pomažu djeci sa školom, održavaju bašte, pomažu svojim starijim roditeljima. Ova zalaganje nisu uvijek priznata i nisu dovoljno cijenjena. Dok su mi djeca jos bila mala, ja sam naučila koliko je bitno za moje zdravlje da uzmem pauzu od svakodnevnih obaveza i uradim nešto samo za sebe. Ja sam bila bolja majka, supruga, i prijateljica nakon sto bi uzela sat vremena samo za sebe. To može biti posjeta jezeru, šetnja kroz šumu, ili jednostavno čitanje knjige negdje u tišini. Šta god da je to za druge žene, ja im svima želim preporučiti da uzmu predah i nadju mjesto i vrijeme koje je samo njihovo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491590244915-3VXLWXL1FDYQAC9AIAPN/photo+17_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Moje Ribe, Moj Mir Over ribe su jedan od brojnih hobija koje imam i omiljena aktivnost sa kojom se volim baviti. Ima nešto posebno u brizi o drugim živim bićima što donosi nadu i sreću u moj život. Rat je bio veoma težak period za mnoge od nas i mnogi od nas su morali započeti iz početka. Mnogi od nas su morali napraviti nove domove na novim mjestima. Unatoč ovim izazovima, ja sam uspjela ponovno izgraditi život kakav sam imala prije rata: nova kuća, dobro zdravlje, mir unutar sebe, i ljubav za život i druge ljude. Ove ribe predstavljaju harmoniju koju sam priželjkivala za sebe i svoju porodicu sve ove godine poslije rata. Ja sam se oduvijek borila za takav normalan život koji je bio narušen ratom. Kada vidim svoju porodicu, kuću, baštu, ribe, i prijatelje, ja znam da sam uspjela. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ed599f29687f4859c6d073/1491590435857-X60QSZE7DU1470FMJQHQ/photo+5+of+7_edited.jpg Njena Mudrost, Njena Krila - Ljepota rasta i otpornosti Ja sam odrasla u predrgadju okružena cvijećem i prirodom. Cvijeće za mene simboluzuje rast i otpornost. To me podsjeća na nas ljude. Bas kao i cvijeće, mi krenemo od malog sjemena i rastemo cijeli zivot. Da bi preživjelo, cvijece se mora prilagoditi prirodi i okolnostima u kojima se nadje. Mi takodje moramo naučiti preživjeti u našem prirodnom okruženju kakvo god ono bilo. Na primjer, nakon što sam se udala i zatrudnila dobila sam otkaz na poslu i nikad više nisam uspjela naci drugi posao. Gubitak tog posla me je jako povrijedio jer sam dobila otkaz samo zato što sam postala majka, i otkaz se desio u vrijeme kad mi je posao bio najpotrebniji da prehranim svoju bebu. Iako zbog korupcije i privatnih veza na tržištu rada nisam uspjela naći posao, ja sam uvijek pronalazila način da zaradim nešto novca za svoju prorodicu. Bilo da sam cuvala tudju djecu ili plela za novac, uvijek sam nalazila način da budem produktivna i od pomoći. Ja uvijek pronadjem način da se prilagodim novim okolnostima. Ja sam prilagodljiv cvijet! http://www.herownwings.org/welcome daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5052176b84aeb45fa5cfcc83/1349577199654-C8A6HP2M4MLEBJXQ06MF/wilderness.png Welcome - Transient http://www.herownwings.org/read-me daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5052176b84aeb45fa5cfcc83/1377096507573-1MU42OOOOGIM9URAJ9D9/515c4225e4b0afec1218b21e.png Read Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5052176b84aeb45fa5cfcc83/1377096775448-0L7B4Q54H1VLOGFF1DPR/synthetica+%2820130821%29.jpg Read Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5052176b84aeb45fa5cfcc83/1377097104716-HDI53XJVV0DKZ24A3T68/51e453dee4b06abd3403c22e.png Read Me