During the pre-war period two schools were active in the town of Obrovac. One building for the pupils of the primary school, the other building for the students of the secondary school. During the recent war, the building of the secondary school has been so badly damaged, that the security of students and teachers could no longer be guaranteed.

Mr. Dirk Stuer proposed us to send a questionnaire to the director of the school. He immediately responded (the original letter can be found in our archives). He told us that at the moment, there were 120 pupils of the primary school and 150 students of the secondary school, all in that one same building.

But in the near future, when the fugitives will be returning back home during the so called ‘stabilisation process’, the number of pupils and students will increase significantly. Taking in consideration the predictions of the direction of the school, one can expect an increase of 360 respectively 380 new pupils and students by the year 2001-2002.

In the past war period, our association has already shown what it is capable of. We sent numerous food convoys and adopted many orphans (project still running). And now we have also decided to support this school. Our project is double: ‘Support’ and ‘Build’. On the next pages we will give you further explanation of ‘Support’ and ‘Build’ with some pictures and some more details.

And at the end you will find ‘Something already exists’. Yes indeed... something already exists. This project isn’t starting from zero. One school building may be standing there, empty and needing a complete refurbishment. The other may function already but with a lot of things to improve and to complete... nevertheless something already exists!

The support is already going on for some time now. Personal computers have been provided, and sport material, and school material, ... all this elements make part of a living school community.

During the first year of our ‘Support’’ we have already provided 4 new personal computers (these personal computers are already installed and being used by the students), sport material, sport shoes and T-shirts for all the children of the first year. It’s also our intention to make a yearly returning habit of this. We consider this ‘the red thread’ of our support program. Supporting all the children of the first year by providing them with a pair of quality sport shoes, all sorts of things for school and T-shirts. And we will do this year after year and soon, the whole school community will be fully equipped.

We also keep contact with the direction of the school on a regular basis. And they tell us what sort of material they need. Through our network of loyal co-operators we are continuously looking for new quality material (in Belgium and abroad, even on the internet) and sending it to the school. Everything is welcome: furniture, sport material, and computer material ... even second hand material. By the way, the Obrovac school has an excellent informatics teacher. He works miracles with everything that passes through his hands.

We support the in many ways, on the right spots where all possible help is really needed. You can help us with everything to help these people. Large or small, a pair of sport shoes, 20-30 personal computers, hundreds of pens, school paper. All will be delivered to this children. And therefore, everybody and also you can help us financially and materially to support this school community.

"Building"

Help with the reconstruction of the destroyed little school next to the school, which is now in service. An empty pre-war school. The direction of the school in Obrovac has sent us a cost-evaluation of all the material needed for this project and a detailed building scheme of the empty school building. You’ll find the cost-evaluation a little bit further on in this brochure. This construction project is a bigger and more ambitious project than providing the children with all sorts of school material. We are still looking for one or more sponsors willing to help us financially in the realisation of the construction project.

We don’t have to start from zero. Absolutely not. The local community is also very active. Under the direction of Mr. Modric Zeljko, this school knows very well how to give the right formation and education to this children. This school isn’t just another school between the many others.