The hygiene kits including baby shampoo, wipes and cream, etc, mean parents can spend money on other needed items for the baby or on their older children who may otherwise have to miss out during this particularly difficult economic situation.

I hardly possessed anything for the baby before receiving this kit

The burden of the economic downturn is being felt nationwide where more than 40% of the population is unemployed – a figure that skyrockets to 97% among the Roma. Evidence shows that this dire situation is deterring people from getting married and Bosnia’s estimated fertility rate is 1.25 children born per woman, ranking Bosnia 213 in the world.

Socially disadvantaged families in Krivaja and Roma families in central BiH were among those to receive the hygiene kits, including young mother Elvira Tahirovic, 16, from Vitez in central BiH.

Elvira gave birth when she was 15. The father of the child is unwilling to care for her and their baby and as is often the case in many Roma families in BiH, nobody in the household is employed. Elvira lives with her mother, her two brothers and her younger sister and the family relies on what Elvira’s mother collects through begging while she remains at home taking care of her child and doing the housework. With almost all the income being spent on food and other essentials there is very little to spend on the baby.

"I hardly possessed anything for the baby before receiving this kit. That is why things like shampoos, tissues, creams and even a baby bottle came in handy. I simply did not have the money to buy all this", said Elvira.

Now I will have more money to spend on my other two children on books, clothes...

Another family to receive support through the Mother and Baby Kits project is of 27-year-old Mirela Fafulovic from Vitez, an unemployed mother of three. Mirela is Roma and lives with her husband and her children in a single-room house with no bathroom or kitchen. Her husband is unemployed but does odd jobs to earn money to support his family. The oldest child is in the fourth grade and the middle child in the first grade of primary school.

"Books and other school supplies are very costly and a large part of our income is spent on this. We try to provide the little one (baby) with the essentials, but it is hard. For example, diapers are very expensive, therefore I often buy diapers for $3 or $5, depending on how much money I have", said Mirela adding: "This kit is like a gift from heaven. Now I will have more money to spend on my other two children on books, clothes etc. I would like to thank World Vision for helping us through".

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