Zenica is a beautiful city, only just over an hour north of Sarajevo by bus. There are refugee settlements not far from the town, housing refugees from East Bosnia. There still remain ethnic tensions, manifested by the fact that children from a minority ethnic group are not allowed to go to the schools, and therefore have to go to temporary schools in garages or private rooms. We currently have firm contacts with one centre in Zenica, the a centre for pre-school children called “Dolaca”. The refugee camp centres around the outskirts of the town, which we have visited for many years, are finally closing as people return to their homes after the war. Since Dolaca has not yet been visited by volunteers, all the trip reports below refer to the previous destinations.

Dolaca Pre-school Centre

New this year!
This is a centre for pre-school children living in villages around Zenica. It has 50 children and would be interested in taking volunteers this summer.

Attractive facade of the youth centre, with equally attractive MCAB committee members enhancing it

Dom Mladih Youth Centre, Zenica

No longer taking volunteers. Zenica Dom Mladih is referred to in some of the trip reports below, but no longer takes OXAB volunteers. OXAB are no longer in contact with the centre.

Kamp Arnauti and Kamp Putoviči, near Zenica

These centres close to Zenica are closing in the near future as a result of the return of the refugees to their home areas after the war. As a result we may not be able to send volunteers to them. Ask at meetings for the latest details.

Kamp Arnauti and Kamp Putoviči are two refugee camps, each a few kilometres from Zenica, which volunteers in Zenica may be able to visit. Kamp Putoviči has been the focus of the recent trips to Zenica, and is situated on a mountainside near the village of Putoviči. For more details, please read the trip reports below.

Trip Reports:

Summer 2002 Summer 2001 Summer 2000 (Group 1) Summer 2000 (Group 2)

Last updated: March 2nd, 2008