As I drove into the town of Olovo it became immediately obvious why this town, in a valley between two high mountains, like so many, had been the site of so many war casualties. The wooded mountains climbed high on either side of us, but they still hide dangerous memories. Only a few weeks ago a young father gathering berries in the forest was killed by a land mine. There are still small signs with a white 'skull and crossbone' on a red background along the road where there is known to have been mine fields. Militia and snipers hid in these mountains and picked off the population below.
Today Olovo is a majority Muslim village, but before the war, like most villages in Bosnia, it was a mixed religion and ethnic village. High on the mountain side stands an old Catholic Monastery, a proud building, prised by all the village. During the war the Muslim community protected the Catholic Monastry and would not let the Muslim militia destroy it. Today it still stands proud, a symbol of unity, with the Muslim mosque just below it - both stand out as you look up to the mountain.
It was cold, the fog still hung low in the valley when I arrived at the well refursbished two storey 'home' of the Olovo Womens' Association at about 10am. Quickly ushered into the warnth of th kitchen I passed by well stocked shelves with all kinds of pickled vegetables and fruit preserves and syrups.Over the past few years this (Home League) Women's Association has increased to 80 paid up members - and is open to any women. (The Imam is an honorary member!)
They have bought over 30 greenhouses where families grow vegetables and fruit, and becuase they have been helped, they give 10% of all produce, annually, to the association. In the kitch I now stood a volunteer army of women of all ages pickle, stew, preserve the produce. Labelled with their new branding, of which they are very proud, this produce is sold in the village and surrounds. The profits have establisehed and staffed the only kindergarten in town where up to forty 2-5 year olds are learning all the socialisation and early learning skills that kids everywhere enjoy.
Outings are arranged for the women to visit each others holy sites and centres. Workshops are held to teach how to cook and grow. Health clinics are held in the village. But the message they wanted to me to hear more than anything was: 'now we make our own money, we make money for our kids - we don't just wait for people to help us - we are in control - and we are dong good'.
An inspritational, and formiddable group of women. (At 10:30am I was served a lunch of all kinds of preserves and pickles with roast chicken and potatoes - and I was hungry, even if I didn't htink I was!)
