Like all of the children her age at school in this community, nine-year-old Zejna is part of World Vision’s child sponsorship program. Money sent by Taiwanese sponsors is used to build up this impoverished community so that all of the families can begin to enjoy a better quality of life.

Life is hard in rural communities near Olovo, north of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Virtually every family had to flee intense fighting during the war and when they eventually returned, they found their houses and livelihoods destroyed. 90% of men worked in local industries like woodcutting, but in the post-war chaos and corruption, these firms shut down and most parents are now unemployed. There is little to no support from local and national authorities. Sponsored child Zejna (9) was not even born when the war ended in 1996, but experiences its bitter aftermath every day of her life. Photos & captions by Susan Cuthbert.