History of the International Godparenthood Association

The Association "International Godparenthood To Herceg Bosnian Children Association" was established on the 20th of December, 1992 in the rooms of the Franciscan monastery in Siroki Brijeg. Approximately a hundred citizens voted at that occasion for the Statute and Principles of the Association. They also chose an Administrative and Supervisory committee and Court of Honor. Fr. Jozo Zovko was chosen as the president of the Association. It was his idea that children, who had one or both parents killed in the war, could be helped spiritually and financially with the help of friends from the whole world.

As soon as the Association was established, it was registered at the Law-court in Mostar. The office of the Association was situated on the premises of the Franciscan monastery in Siroki Brijeg. Thanks to the help of friends of Medjugorje, the office has been quickly supplied with all the equipment needed for normal and effective work: computers, fax, copy-machine, and needed amounts of office materials. The Association was also given one telephone line. Since June, 1993, on the basis of the municipal authorities decision, the Association was exempted from paying the telephone bill as a humanitarian organization. After all legal and material conditions were taken care of, we started with the organization of the network of coordinators and commissioners.

Commissioners in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina are collecting information about the children of the perished defenders and civil victims of the war. Thanks to their work in the Association, we have collected information on about 2215 children whose lives have now become, or will become a part of many foreign families throughout the whole world. On this occasion we have to point out that our commissioners worked hard, as well as the Department for guardianship in HVO (Croatian Armed Services), Association of the widows, and other humanitarian organizations that were also involved in collecting data and restoring contacts with the families of the perished. The members of our Association are the children of the perished from almost all cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in which the Croats are living, or have lived. Many families of the perished defenders from Bosnia that are now living as the refugees in Croatia have contacted us asking for help, as they have heard about our Association.

While the commissioners have been collecting information, the Association was in contact with people who could become future coordinators, and whose job it would be to provide Godparents for the children of our perished defenders, and collaboration of the Association and Godparents.

We've chosen our coordinators among the friends of Croatia and admirers of the Queen of Peace who were going on pilgrimages to Medjugorje even while the worst attacks were going on in Herzegovina, bringing tons and tons of humanitarian help.

For almost two years, except for collecting and regularly sending monthly financial help for our children, they've been bringing letters, birthday presents, and family packages that Godparents were sending to their Godchildren. They were also organizing frequent visits to Medjugorje for Godparents, and arranging for them to meet with their Godchildren.

Because of the large number of sponsored Godchildren in their countries, some of them have given themselves completely to the benefit of the Association, and were also forced to find volunteers so they can manage the intensity of the work.

When Croatian bank DD Mostar first started its work in 1993, a foreign-exchange account was opened to which the money that Godparents were sending to their Godchildren started arriving. Every foreign voucher for the Association is accompanied with a list of the children and amount of the money that a Godparent is sending to his Godchild. On the basis of that list, in the office of the Association, a list is made of the children and the numbers of their banking account, and the amount of money that has been intended for each child. The lists are being made depending on the arrival of the vouchers (monthly, every two months, or every three months).

Before the business unities of Croatian bank in Vitez and Kiseljak were established, the commissioners were carrying parts of the payments in cash together with lists that mothers or guardians of the children were signing after receiving the money.

Employees of the Croatian bank's bureau in Siroki Brijeg have great understanding for the activity of this Association so that they often work far more then they are obliged.

Because of the large number of the perished defenders' children that are living as refugees in Croatia, we have opened a foreign-exchange account in the business unity of "privredna banka Zagreb" in Imotski.

All the money that comes to the banking accounts of the Association are used only for the needs of the children, and money that the Association needs for its expenses is provided from different sources.

The Office of the Association is open every day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and during the holidays when many Godparents are coming, the working time is often extended to the whole day depending on needs. The office is visited daily by priests, parsons, commissioners and mothers-widows that are here finding comfort and light in the darkness of the war. Through our office, hundreds of trucks filled with humanitarian help cross the border bringing help to all those in need.

Since the establishment of the Association, the administrative work has been done by Slavica Crnjac, Zorica Tica, Sonja Pusic, and also for the moment Andjelka Ivankovic. Besides financial help, Father Jozo Zovko, as the President of the Association, is especially pointing to the importance of the spiritual help that saddened families need. Every year he is contacting the families with a special message, mailing them every year together with greeting cards for Christmas and Easter.

Father Ivan Bradvica and Father Blago Brkic, who have been performing the duty of Spiritual Assistants of the Association, were prepared to help at anytime, offering advice, prayer or talk. With the hope of bringing the smile back to the children's faces and freeing the children from the fear and trauma that are consequences of living in the war conditions. The Association is organizing meetings with Fathers Ivan Bradvica and Blago Brkic, with a help of the psychologists, nuns, and priests. The first meeting was held in May, and on November 2nd of 1993.

For 50 children, the Association organized a three-week visit to Austria in June 1993, with the help of the Austrian Red Cross and Mr. Zdenko Bilinovac. In August 1993, the Association organized summer vacations for 103 children on the Island of Lopud. The money for that purpose was provided from various donations. In September 1993, thanks to donations from the European Community, the children have been given free school books and supplies. In December 1994, thanks to a group of Americans that were named "Wings of Mercy", all children received valuable Christmas gifts (clothes, footwear, toys and cosmetics).

Until the beginning of May 1994, we had very little information about the children of the perished defenders of central Bosnia. Right after the calming of the conflicts, and with the help of the members of the humanitarian organization "St. David's Relief", and our commissioners, we received information on hundreds of new children in May 1994. The article was written and immediately translated into English, and sent to Medjugorje Centers all over the world. In a relatively short period, we managed to find sponsors for approximately 600 new children, but, unfortunately, we are still receiving new information about the children of the perished defenders and civil victims of the war.

In June and August of 1994, the Association organized summer vacations for another 600 members on the Island of Lopud. They stayed on the island for a week in three shifts. After these vacations, the first meeting of Godparents with their Godchildren was organized in Siroki Brijeg, and Medjugorje on 17th and 18th of August, 1994. Both staying at the seaside resort and the meeting were supported by numerous pilgrims who gave donations for that purpose. Some Godparents decided to cover the expenses for their own Godchildren. The meeting was attended by about a hundred Godparents from the countries in which the children have sponsors. On that occasion, the children and their mothers had the opportunity to meet the coordinators of the Association. The Holy Mass was celebrated, and a pilgrimage was made to the Hill of Apparitions. All of us experienced something precious during those three days, which will be held in our hearts forever, especially for the times when we need special strength.

During these two years of work, we have found a great understanding from the government, and the individuals that we are in contact with, which has helped us a lot. The only problem is when telephone lines are out of order because of the war situation. That gives us enormous problems because then we are not able to contact our coordinators and our work is made more difficult. We hope that this problem will soon be solved so we can continue helping those who lost their dear ones.

The people who have worked, or are still working for the Association, have had the time and the heart for all those who at anytime come to us to seek comfort. Our greatest pleasure is when we know that with our work will succeed to wipe at least one tear.

Secretary of the Association: Vesna Cuzic

Click here - For the Printable Agreement Form to sponsor a Herceg-Bosnian child.