A kilo of beans is a treasure for them, and mice in their home a daily occurrence
It is never easy witnessing the harsh living conditions in which some children are raised. The Lončina family, single mother and her three beautiful daughters from Klupci by Loznica, are one such example. The house they were given to live in needs lots of work in order to provide them with normal living conditions. Their biggest problem at this time is that their home is overrun with mice!
Mother Dragica has a growth under her eye which still hasn’t been diagnosed, but they suspect it is a tumor:
I will soon go for diagnostic imaging to determine what it is. Maybe I will need an operation. The growth is sometimes small, and at other times large enough to close the whole eye. As a result, I have headaches and see poorly. It all started with fainting spells, says Dragica.
The worst part is that because of this no one will hire her, leaving them to struggle to get the basics. Their only guaranteed income is social assistance and child allowance.
Believe me, when I have a kilo of beans I feel like an empress, as my children that day are not hungry. I admit that things are a little easier now because we get our meals from a soup kitchen. Unfortunately, I have no one of my own to help because I was adopted as a child. Just one neighbour helps us, continues Dragica.
This woman, from Krajina (Prijedor-Banja Luka), divorced her husband five years ago. He should be paying alimony, but he doesn’t do so regularly. This next sentence best describes the type of woman she is:
What can the poor guy do? I can’t rip out his soul. He gives when he can.
The home in which they live is in poor condition. One of the rooms was made of reeds and the ceiling collapsed while one of the daughters was sleeping there. Thanks to some generous people, they fixed it by doing some patching. It is unreal that three such wonderful and talented girls, Adriana (11), Ivana (13) and Gordana (14) are being raised under such conditions.
They are my pride. They are excellent students. They sing, are happy, smart, and especially, thank God, are healthy. I teach them that it is no shame to accept help, and that what is a shame is stealing. Maybe one day they will be in a position to help others, adds their mother.
Gordana is learning to play the guitar, while Ivana draws and writes poetry. She has entered competitions. She happily recited for us some of her poems about the seasons.
Although there are many things that they need, mother Dragica tries to settle the bills regularly. She admits that she, unfortunately, can’t afford to send Adriana to recreational activities like the other children:
I explain everything as it is. I have always been honest in life, come what may. I would most like to have a plot of land next to our house, where I could plant and work on the land. I am from the village and I can do it. The children are growing so they can do the selling. I didn’t study to be a director, and want to live from my work and from what I know how to do!
The wishes of the Lončina family are modest (the children’s last name is Korać). But what they urgently need are better living conditions. The concrete throughout the house makes it cold. One wood stove is not sufficient to heat the whole house. Some of the worn-out furniture was given to them and some they found. With a desire to help this family, members of the charity organization Serbs for Serbs recently visited them:
We make an effort each year to help at least one from family from the Loznica area. We believe that these children deserve help, so with that goal in mind, we will organize fundraisers in Loznica in the upcoming period. We hope for a great response from businesses and our local residents, said Darko Božić, representative of Serbs for Serbs in Loznica.
Our charity invites all our donors worldwide to support this action. Let’s support our children, our Adriana, Ivana and Gordana, so that they, too, can enjoy children’s games!
Here is how you can donate:
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