FIELD OF WORK

The list of HELP’s support activities in BiH is long. An important task following the signing of the Dayton Agreement was the clearance of explosive remnants of war and mine-contaminated areas. Equally important was the building up of a Bosnian Civil Protection Force to create local structures to demine as well as an institution for disaster control.

HELP has cleaned up millions of square meters of mined areas and destroyed thousands of mines and unexploded ordnance. The number of human lives that have been saved cannot be counted. 12 million Euros were invested in this project. Reconstructing infrastructures, houses and apartments is also a central activity that HELP has been carrying out for the past 13 years and which provided more than 15.000 people with a new home. More than 25 million Euros went into this reconstruction programme.

Through the years, HELP has also developed a solid expertise regarding the support to the local economic development (in Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro as well) by providing help to people with sound business ideas. Whether it is to start up a business or to develop it and create new jobs, HELP provides small and medium entrepreneurs with an in-kind grant (material/equipment) as well as trainings. In fact, each beneficiary comes with his/her own ideas and material request which we assess. Once the request is approved, the beneficiary is required to contribute an amount equal to 15% of the grant value into a fund for community projects. In fact, our aim is to encourage self-reliance and sustainable solutions for individuals as well as for their community; this is why the beneficiaries are asked to take an active part in their own business development and that HELP works in close partnership with the local authorities and institutions, co-funders of the projects .