Contributed by: Duska Andric-Ruzicic, Bosnia and Herzegovina National VAW Monitor

"The Kolo: Women’s Cross Cultural Collaboration, (The Kolo: WCCC) was formed after a collaborative partnership with Bosnian Muslim middle-aged and older women who survived the Balkan war (1991-1994) in the towns of Ahmici and Novi Travnik, Bosnia.   Exposed to the aftermath of another major war on Bosnian soil, the Bosnian women who were middle-class or business owners before the war faced severe economic issues, escalated domestic violence pogroms and very real female human rights concerns. 

The Kolo: WCCC since March 1999 implemented an engendered psychosocial educational trauma treatment and training format that also provided skills for Conflict Evolution. The Kolo: WCCC continues treatments and trainings to present day to stem the overwhelming chronic acute trauma situations, which rests on the women in their communities."

Cited in: Bosnia April 2006 Ahmici War Crimes Memorial and July 2006 Trauma Training, The South Slavic Hard Rain, The Kolo - Women’s Cross Cultural Collaboration.

To read more, see The South Slavic Hard Rain.