They chop wood, care for their sick mom and bedridden grandma, do homework on the floor – meet these brave boys!

“I chop wood, fetch water, go to the store, and do whatever is needed to help my mom. It’s a bit hard for me, but I have to do it,” shared young Andrija, a little hero who is only 10 years old and lives in a repurposed truck garage.

The Božić family consists of single mother Ivana, almost completely immobile grandmother Zorica, and brothers Andrija (10), Stefan (9), and Milan (8), whom we met while they were doing their homework—one on the floor, another at the table, and the third on the bed. Their home in the village of Lece, near Medveđa, is a former mining facility converted into living space, so small that it’s difficult to turn around or pass by someone without bumping into them.

“We were given this place to use because we had nowhere else to go. These used to be truck garages for hauling ore. The building was condemned for demolition back in 2000, but here we are, still living in it. Unfortunately, the conditions are very bad—the beams have cracked, and the ceiling is sagging. I fear for my children every day, especially when it snows,” says Ivana, a humble woman with a gentle gaze, bearing an immense burden on her shoulders.

In addition to managing the household, caring for her nearly immobile mother with severely swollen legs, and raising three school-aged children, Ivana herself struggles with joint problems, bone density issues, and cartilage damage. She also underwent surgery for a tumor. Although she is not supposed to lift anything heavy, she is constantly forced to chop wood. There is no work available for her, as is the case for most people in the area, even though without her boys the village school would have to close down. She draws strength from her children and her faith in God.

“Our faith is what keeps us going. Without it, we wouldn’t exist—nothing would. I teach my children to be good and honest, to be grateful for every second of life, and  to pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Mother of God, and all the saints. I would love to take them to a monastery someday. I hope that kind-hearted people will help,” says Ivana. Her former husband at one time fought in the war to defend the Republic of Srpska and Kosovo and Metohija, barely making it out alive, but suffering lasting psychological and other effects.

The list of problems the Božić family faces is long. Weak electricity with frequent outages, excessive humidity, sleeping on virtually bare wooden planks—two broken and patched-up beds pushed together, lined up like sardines under a leaking roof—bathing in a shed, occasional flooding… A taxi ride to Medveđa and back costs them 2,000 dinars, an expense they must cover from their meager income whenever the children need to see a doctor.

“I just want my own little room and a bathtub with rubber duckies,” shared little Milan, revealing with a smile that their mother often tells them to settle down a bit.

They spend a lot of time caring for the dogs they have adopted. The eldest son, Nikola (16), is part of the family too, but due to poor and cramped living conditions, he attends high school in Svilajnac and only visits them during school breaks. They hope he might return permanently if they were to get a new house.

“I try to keep everything clean because I believe it would be a shame for it to be dirty. Yes, we are poor, but we can still be clean. It is a bit crowded because we have nowhere to put all our things, and the boys can be mischievous, but I always try to keep things as tidy as possible given the circumstances. They help a lot too—when they decide to listen, rather than just hear me,” says Ivana with a smile.

It is unimaginably difficult to be a single parent of four children, to lack basic living conditions, and struggle with health issues. Yet, this courageous and noble woman, a delight to meet, manages it all, facing life’s challenges with remarkable calmness. The visit from representatives of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs brought immense joy to the family and sparked hope that kind-hearted people worldwide will hear their story. Let’s hear it and help!

We invite all donors to join our organization’s new initiative. The wonderful Božić family should not have to live in a cold and dark home—they deserve all our support!

YOU CAN DONATE THROUGH THE DONATION PLATFORM: www.srbizasrbe.org/donacije

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