“When I saw my father again, he was skinny, his face was grey, and his once bright deep blue eyes had lost their shine. His big smile was gone and the worst thing was that he only spoke quietly to my mother and could not even look at my sister and I. We felt confused, rejected, and for a teenager everything was so weird and hard to understand.
“My mother told us that my father’s brother had been killed by a sniper outside his family home. My father was devastated. Many of his friends had also been killed and sent to concentration camps. He was filled with huge grief and a shame that is hard to understand if you have not been through such a time.
“But we all had to live, move on and get on with life. I studied law at university, qualified and began working for MWB. For the past 15 years this has been my calling. My faith helped me through that time of despair, as God was with me and comforted me.
“Today we are strong as a family, and my children have a wonderful grandfather who, despite his experiences, is able to show his grandchildren that life is beautiful.
“I can only comprehend what happened by saying that at that time, Mostar was in the firm grip of evil. MWB’s work ever since with communities, families, the elderly and children is all aimed at healing and releasing that grip.”