Sarajevo, February 15, 2008 – The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is pleased to announce that U.S. Ambassador Charles English visited Nermina and Fahrudin Emkic and their son Mahir, a foster family from Tuzla.

            Eight-year old Mahir came to the Emkic’s from the orphanage two years ago, under the USAID-supported project Promotion and Development of Alternative Forms of Care for Children Deprived of Parental Care in BiH.  The project is implemented by Save the Children UK (SCUK).  

“We have been married for 24 years and have no children of our own.  We tried to adopt a child, but gave up after we waited several years.  Mahir filled a void in our lives,” said the boy’s foster mother Nermina.  Mahir is now a healthy, happy and curious boy who wants to become a police officer when he grows up.  “Thank you for opening your home to Mahir, because it means a lot not only for the child, but also for the community,” said Ambassador English.  Presently, there are more than 30 foster families in the Tuzla Canton who are waiting to accept children from orphanages.

The project Promotion and Development of Alternative Forms of Care for Children Deprived of Parental Care in BiH’s objective is to decrease the number of children in institutions who are deprived of parental care.   The project has developed and promoted fostering as one of the best models for raising children without parental care in a family environment.  The project is part of over $1 billion in assistance that the U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided to Bosnia and Herzegovina so far.

Last updated  on:12/01/2008

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