Hope in a Better Tomorrow

At sunset on a warm August evening, Samir was in the barn finishing his daily chores. He had just finished cleaning the barn and feeding the livestock when Selma, his wife, came in with a container for milk.

This middle-aged couple with two children live humbly by farming, like most other displaced people who have returned to Shevarlia. They own two cows whose milk provides their only source of income. They are cheerful people of good will, always satisfied with what they have and not expecting too much out of life. While working, they are ordinarily talkative, discussing everything they are doing, together finding solutions to the many problems that face them and the other returnees in their community.

Today, however, neither of them had yet said a word, as if each were carrying a large burden that they weren't able to share with the other. In fact, a large problem stood before them. Their daughter Nihada, an excellent student, had finished elementary school, and they needed to decide whether to enroll her in secondary school before the approaching September deadline. Their small budget did not include enough funds to cover Nihada's schooling. Even the costs for enrollment, textbooks and transportation to and from school were substantial. On the other hand, the land had to be ploughed for the fall and spring plantings, in order to provide food for the family and the two cows that were their livelihood.

Selma finally broke the painful silence: «Samir, you know how much she wants to continue in school. It's a real shame if such a bright child can complete only primary school. What will her future be like? What can she hope for in life?»

Samir thought back to the time before the war when he had had been solidly prosperous, with his own tractor and with a good job in the nearby town of Doboj. It was difficult for him to accept the fact that he was unable to pay for something as basic as his own daughter's schooling. He found himself in a dilemma: could he spend the savings set aside for ploughing the land to send his child to school? But if he did, then how would they live -- what would they eat?

Then Samir thought of the new tractor and attachments that FRB and CWS had donated to his community this spring. He decided to visit the Agricultural Cooperative to discuss the conditions for using this tractor for ploughing, because he had heard from his neighbors that the price was lower than the going rate.

The next morning Samir went to the Cooperative. Selma waited impatiently for him, busying herself in the kitchen by making Bosnian coffee, while her daughter sat quietly, thoughtfully looking out the window.

When Samir appeared in the doorway both his wife and daughter immediately saw from his smiling face that he was bringing good news. «It will be okay for Nihada to continue in school.» said Samir. «I found out that the Cooperative provides services that are 25% cheaper than usual, and I agreed with them that I will pay in installments.»

Mother and daughter both cried joyful tears at the news. Selma raised her eyes toward heaven and said: «Thanks be to God and to these good people, who I've never even met, who have given so much joy to our lives!»