|
TWI for the Children Camps to Kids |
| Date |
Activity (Updates
in Black; planned itinerary in Green) |
| 7/2/2008 (Wednesday) |
Team departs USA:
Bobby and Lisbeth departed Philadelphia, PA with 19 bags of donated
clothes,
camp crafts and games and materials for orphanages. First stop is
Munich, Germany.
|
| 7/3/2008 (Thursday) |
The airplane for Bobby and Lisbeth was not able to
continue to Sarajevo so the team stayed overnight in Munich and planned on
leaving early morning - 4 July.
David missed his flight in Chicago because of weather, but was able
to get a flight out to Vienna. We hope that he will be able to arrive on 4
July.
|
| 7/4/2008 (Friday) |
Bobby and Lisbeth arrived in Sarajevo with all 19 bags.
Dzanan, our driver, carried all 19 bags three flights up to the apartment.
Great to be back in Sarajevo and the beautiful mountains and friends. Hope
to meet with Margaret and Laura to discuss the success of the Educational
Project at the Mostar Orphanage. Margaret and Laura participated in the
New Jersey camp series after finishing their month at the Mostar
Orphanage.
We keep our fingers crossed that David will arrive at 9:00 PM.
David Arrived at 10:00 PM without his bags.
|
| 7/5/2008 (Saturday) |
The TWI team minus Azra and Vjeko and Drew traveled to
Srebrenica, Bosnia by van early the morning of 5 July. We visited the
memorial to those killed at Srebrenica and then went to the home of our
dear friends the Halilovic's. The team spent the night with these dear
people and enjoyed their hospitality. |
7/6/2008 (Sunday) |
We were up early and out to the "Olympic Camp"
for kids held at Liptor Center in Srebrenica. The Olympic camp hosted
about 65 children, parents and grandparents for a day of Olympic fun. The
children were registered and signed our Olympic banner. We broke into
our Olympic groups - China, USA, Greece and England. The teams built
a lego-bridge and played games and competitions. The craft was to make
Olympic medals and everyone made one (even the mothers and fathers of the
children. After lunch we held more songs and games and after the closing
ceremony, we all recited the Olympic creed. We hated to leave, but
had to return to Sarajevo.
Upon arrival in Sarajevo, we met with the remainder of our team and
were overjoyed to have Azra and Vjeko again with us. They had just seen
the New Jersey teams on the airplane taking those teams back to the United
States after two-weeks of super camps through-out Bosnia. We were ready
for bed and ready to start early tomorrow for Zenica with the full team.
We hope to see Ajsa the former director of the Zenica Orphanage along with
Merila, one of our first friends from Zenica when we get there.
Good-night. Overnight
Sarajevo
Drew arrived from London in Sarajevo earlier in the day and we
hosted a team meeting at Erma's apartment this evening..
|
| 7/7/2008 (Monday) |
We were up early and on the road to Zenica from Sarajevo
at 8:30 AM. We now have our van and Vjeko's car. Our interpreters are
Pater, Amina and Alden. The American Team is Bobby, Lisbeth, Kristen,
David and Drew. The chiefs are Vjeko and Azra. We arrived at the
Zenica Orphanage and had a great discussion with the director. We then
joined the bus with all 65 kids, 20 staff and 12 returning kids and we
were off to the picnic grounds. They started cooking immediately. Fires on
pits with chicken, hot dogs, chovop, and many other Bosnian foods. We
began our Olympic games and crafts. Everyone participated and gold medals
were received by all. They built bridges to friendship, and Olympic medals
to take home with them. We finished the picnic in the early afternoon as
it was quite warm and we had to get the little kids back to the orphanage
for nap-time.
It was great seeing our children at the orphanage and the many
returning teens now on their own. After 10 years we have quite a
following. We then returned to Sarajevo and dinner at a new restaurant in
town. Then to bed as we travel to Kozarac tomorrow.
|
| 7/8/2008 (Tuesday) |
Traveled to Kozarac by van and car.
Arrived about 6:00 PM and had a delicious dinner prepared by the wonderful
ladies of the "House of Peace". Many of the team went for a swim
at the water-park. Overnight Kozarac. |
| 7/9/2008 (Wednesday) |
Up early and on the road to the wonderful school in
Prejedor. We hosted about 110 children and 15 super helpful teachers and
administrators. Children signed the registration banner, had their
pictures taken and went into the new gym for some free play. Bobby told
the story of the Olympics to be held in August in China and the kids were
broken into three teams (China, USA, Greece). The teams played games
(Bobby, Alden and Dzanan); worked on their Olympic craft, and sang songs
and danced. Lunch was served and after lunch we had the final Olympic
Ceremony and turned off the torch. Gifts were provided to all.
After the camp we traveled to Sanski Most and stayed in a wonderful
hotel by the river. Everyone loved relaxing and having supper.
|
| 7/10/2008 (Thursday) |
 Our camp in Sanski Most hosted 75 kids and 10 teachers.
We took pictures of each child, and they all participated in the opening
Olympic ceremony where we lighted the Olympic torch ( crepe paper with a
light and a fan to make it look like flame) all sang the Olympic song and
Bobby told about what will happen at the Olympics in China in August 2008.
Crafts, games, songs, competitions all went smoothly. Lunch was great and
after lunch we held the closing ceremony where each child received a medal
and a TWI bag. The staff received TWI tee shirts. TWI always gives balls
and sports equipment to each school we visit.
At the close of camp we traveled back to Sarajevo and on the way
stopped by a lake for a swim. We arrived back in our apartments in
Sarajevo about 8:00 PM tired and ready for bed. Tomorrow we are off to
Rama and the camp for Special Needs Children - a special project we host
each year. We look forward to the arrival of Vanja from Montenegro and Pat
from the USA.
|
| 7/11/2008 (Friday) |
The
team traveled by van to Rama this afternoon. Pat arrived safely and
on-time with all of her luggage. At the Rama monastery we were
treated to a delicious dinner with fish, fresh veggies, cabbage, pita,
potatoes, watermelon. The team is now sitting down to a cup of
coffee at the cafe. Tomorrow the children will arrive by bus at
11:00 AM and we will swim and have free time before camp. Vanja also
arrived from Montenegro by bus on time and ready to join the
team. |
| 7/12/2008 (Saturday) |
Camp for Disabled Children at Rama.
We have rooms for 46 but it
appears that we miscounted and ended up having to put mattresses on the
floor for some of the kids! The TWI team arrived Friday evening in time
for a 7:30 dinner, a swim, long time at the coffee house to talk and then
all were in bed by the magic hour of midnight. All were awakened at 7:00am
this morning with the ringing of the church bells -- I am in the room by
the bells, so for sure I was up and dressed by 7:30..... we spent the
morning with a team meeting, time to set up the room and...of course a
swim before the bus arrived with the children at 11:30. That is when we
discovered that we had more children and mothers than we had beds ---
thanks to our dear friend Fra Mata we got things settled after lunch and
now everyone is either swimming, lying in the shade, napping or at the
coffee shop.
We have officially opened camp
at lunch and will begin our craft time at 3:30 PM followed by games in the
yard behind the chapel...then free time before dinner at 7:30 PM which is
followed by musical activities. Then the kids go to bed at 10:00 PM and
the mothers can have time for coffee on the lawn with the team.
Lunch was fantastic - veal cutlet, chicken, rice, tomatoes, bread, juice
followed by water-mellon.
Vjeko took the children for a
hike in the afternoon. They had several stops where they were introduced
to the Olympic countries and told about these countries. When they
returned to the Rama Monastery, they worked on crafts and played games. In
the evening we held a dance time. The craft was to make a butterfly. It
was a big hit!
Overnight Rama |
| 7/13/2008 (Sunday) |
We were up early and the children and their families had
free time to swim and just enjoy the natural beauty of Rama. We again had
a short hike and held our Olympic Camp complete with torch. After another
wonderful lunch, the campers packed and we prepared to leave Rama for yet
another great year. This is the eighth year we have held our camp for
Special Needs children at Rama and the staff and Fra Mata just get better
with each passing year.
We finally left at 6:00PM and stopped along the way at a beautiful
lake to have supper. When we finally dropped off all of our staff, it was
quite late and we were ready for bed. Tomorrow we plan to take it easy in
the morning and leave for Mostar about 3:00PM. We hope to see the former
director of the Potoci school near Mostar tomorrow evening and possibly
have our traditional dinner by the river.
|
| 7/14/2008 (Monday) |
Travel to Mostar. Overnight Mostar. |
| 7/15/2008 (Tuesday) |
Camp in Mostar Orphanage. Overnight Mostar |
| 7/16/2008 (Wednesday) |
Camp in Mostar Orphanage. Travel to Trebjne. Overnight
Trebjne. |
| 7/17/2008 (Thursday) |
Camp at Trebijne. Travel to Montenegro.
Leadership
Camp, Overnight Montenegro. |
| 7/18/2008 (Friday) |
Camp at Montenegro Orphanage. Leadership
Camp, Overnight Montenegro. |
| 7/19/2008 (Saturday) |
Camp at Montenegro Orphanage. Leadership
Camp, Overnight Montenegro |
| 7/20/2008 (Sunday) |
Leadership Camp, Montenegro,
Travel to Mlini, Overnight Mlini. |
| 7/21/2008 (Monday) |
Day in Mlini, Croatia. Overnight Mlini. |
| 7/22/2008 (Tuesday) |
Day in Mlini, Croatia. Overnight Mlini. |
| 7/23/2008 (Wednesday) |
Travel to Sarajevo, Bosnia. Overnight Sarajevo. |
| 7/24/2008 (Thursday) |
Day Free in Sarajevo. Overnight Sarajevo. |
| 7/25/2008 (Friday) |
Day Free in Sarajevo. Overnight Sarajevo. |
| 7/26/2008 (Saturday) |
Depart for USA |
Return
to Camp Overview