R: 1321000309185277, Tuzlanska Banka dd Tuzla R: 3060410000547951, Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank dd

Udruenje Snaga ene Tuzla Slanac bb 75000 Tuzla, BiH tel./fax: + 387 35/ 225 447; 314 741; 314 740 e-mail: s.zenebh@bih.net.ba www.snagazene.org ID: 420929936009

PROJECT REPORT FLOWER VALLEY

Tuzla, July 2011

Project location: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eastern Republic of Srpska, Srebrenica, Potoari and Bratunac Reporting period: April 2009 June 2011

Project description Flower valley project is implemented in the region of Srebrenica, i.e. in Srebrenica, Bratunac and Potocari since 2006. The primary objective of the project is the psychosocial recovery through occupational therapy, reintegration and economic empowerment and poverty reduction in the region. An important segment of the projects objective was to strengthen the return process and improve the social and psychological state of the target group. During the entire project period Snaga Zene was providing psychosocial treatments, and professional monitoring of the project was done by an agronomist throughout trainings of beneficiaries in the area of cultivation of flowers (roses and tulips), herbs (calendula, lavender, Echinacea), and greenhouse production. Through its activities Flower valley project offers a positive approach to life through joint work in the greenhouses, gardens and plantations, gatherings, positive experiences sharing in a positive environment.

Target group In the Flower valley project are included beneficiaries from Potoari, Bratunac and Srebrenica as well as beneficiaries from surrounding villages - Sueska, Bajramovii, Budak, Peite and others who have decided to deal with production and cultivation of flowers - tulips and roses, medicinal herbs and production of vegetables in greenhouses. The project involved 55 direct and 200 indirect beneficiaries.

The selection of beneficiaries for material support was made on the basis of conducted evaluation by social workers and with the agreement made with the members of psychosocial groups from Srebrenica and Potoari. In accordance to project goals and objectives, Snaga Zene determined following criteria for project beneficiaries selection: - all project beneficiaries are victims of war and post-war trauma, - all project beneficiaries live under socially and economically poor conditions, - all project beneficiaries are going through the process of reintegration and reconciliation and coping with daily problems related to that, - all project beneficiaries are members of Snaga Zene group for psychological, social and medical support.

Implemented activities 1. Purchase of agricultural equipment During the reporting period within material support were purchased 13 greenhouses, from which 7 of 100 m2 and 6 of 50 m2 for the production of roses, tulips and vegetables. All procured greenhouses were installed in the open area, nearby beneficiaries homes. Greenhouses were transported to the specific locations where beneficiaries live and were installed by the supplier. Sizes of greenhouses varied depending on space and capability of project beneficiaries. Beneficiaries received training on how to use and maintain greenhouses (watering, planting and temperature maintenance). Upon instalment and received instructions, all project beneficiaries started to grow roses, tulips and vegetables (different kinds: potato, tomato, peppers, cucumbers, beans and egg plants) which are planted after tulip blossoming. 95% of all beneficiaries managed to produce roses, tulips and vegetable for sale and therefore succeeded to generate income for their families.

With aim to have better, larger and better production, 3 greenhouses of 100 m 2 have been purchased specifically for beneficiaries who are the most successful in growing the Red Berlin rose, a sort, which is extremely sensitive and require additional protection from bad weather and various diseases. Also, on 4 greenhouses which are assigned to beneficiaries within the Flower gardens project, were made replacement of foil.

Other agricultural equipment that was purchased within this project was a motocultivator with a trailer and 13 motor hoes for farming. All beneficiaries who have received material means have signed an agreement of donation in which they are committed to conscientiously use and maintain equipment and will not alienate or assign it to third parties.for each donated item.

2. Purchase of planting material Medicinal herbs In order to further develop the project, during the reporting period, emphasis is given to the activities of expansion of plantation production of roses and tulips, plantation and cultivation of medicinal plants calendula, mint, lavender and Echinacea. For this

purpose were purchased 16 kg of calendula seeds, 510 kg of mint roots, 3640 lavender and 200 Echinacea seedlings.

Production of medicinal herbs has not been yet developed in this region, but given that this is a region where organic production is possible, in spring 2009 the first fields were planted with calendula on 12.000 m2, mint on 3.000 m2 as well as on small experimental fields with Echinacea - a very useful herb which is used for immunity strengthening and it is rare in Europe, and lavender whose fresh blossom can be used for essential oil production and dried for production of various aroma-therapeutic products. In 2010 6 beneficiaries started with the plantation production of lavender, and a beneficiary of plantation production with Echinacea. During this year the production was expanded to 11 more plantations of lavender and 2 of Echinacea, so at this moment we have 17 plantations of lavender and 3 of Echinacea. Plantation production of calendula is also expended and now 22 beneficiaries are dealing with this production. Unfortunately, mint production was not proved to be profitable due to the great supply on the BH market this medicinal herb is difficult to sell, and for these reasons, the cultivation of these crops was withdrawn. For the purpose of drying herbs was purchased the material from which were made a total 70 pieces of girds for drying. During the period from July 2009 to July 2011 were produced approximately in total 3.330 kg of dried calendula flowers by 22 beneficiaries, 5 kg of calendula Princess Gold seeds the first plantations in BiH, 400 kg of fresh Echinacea flower, 10 kg o Echinacea seed and 100 kg of dried mint leaves. The revenue generated from the sales was in total amount of around 19.500,00 EUR (BAM 38.000,00). Since the growing of lavender started in 2010, the yield of these plants will be generated in late summer of this year.

The most of the medicinal herbs quantities were purchased by the factory for tea productions Biljana Maoa with who Snaga Zene has signed an agreement of cooperation. One part of the production was purchased by Cooperative Smrak from Zvornik. The entire quantities of Echinacea production were purchased by pharmaceutical company Cydonia from Graanica. The cooperation has also been established with the company Ljekobilje from Trebinje which deals with purchasing and processing of medicinal, aromatic and spice herbs, with tea productions and production of tea, seedlings and seeds of mentioned herbs.

Roses and tulips In 2009, 7 beneficiaries have been dealing with roses cultivation to which in total 7.000 rose rootstocks were distributed in 2008 that were inoculated in 2009. In March 2010, 3150 roses rootstock were purchase which were planted by 6 beneficiaries and inoculated in August and 2.500 more rootstocks were delivered to three beneficiaries in September 2010. In March 2011, in total 220 rose seedlings of various sorts (sTos separate donation) were distributed to 6 beneficiaries and are used for rootstock inoculation in order to enrich cultivation of roses, beside the Red Berlin sort there will be cultivated sorts such as Pomponella, Ingrid Bergman and Barkarole, and from next year rose sort Vandela as well. Within the reporting period 22.000 rose flowers were produced and were mainly sold to local florist shops in Tuzla and Bratunac, but for the one part of production beneficiaries themselves found the market.

One of the non-project activities which realization started in November 2008 was the plantation of 24.000 tulips donated to Snaga Zene Association by Bloembollenbedrijf Melanick company. Tulips were granted to six beneficiaries who already had greenhouses where tulips were temporary planted into small flowerpots. In April 2009 tulips were transferred to Tuzla and exhibited within Flower Festival named "Flowered Holland and Srebrenica in Tuzla" at Pannonian Lakes. Festival was realized in cooperation with Municipality of Tuzla.

Within the project Flowers for Beautiful Life which was implemented in cooperation with Dutch organization sTos the plantation production of tulips was extended in November 2009 when 20.000 tulip bulbs were planted in Srebrenica region. The aim of the
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project was to economically empower women returnees and to improve the placement of flowers and other products from Srebrenica. In order to accomplish that, a market stand for selling tulips and roses at the market place in Tuzla is rented in April 2010. Income generated with this kind of sale amounted to an average 260,00 EUR (BAM 500,00) per beneficiary.

3. Other activities During the reporting period for the purpose of roses, tulips and medicinal herbs cultivation other minor equipment and accessories were also procured inoculation tools and gums, protection agents, fertilizers, cassettes and flower pots for tulips and calendula and inventory labels for donated greenhouses. For a beneficiary who deals with the livestock breeding and vegetable production were purchase 25 kg of clover seeds, 7 kg of corn seeds and 50 grams of cucumber seeds. Also, 20 seedlings of walnut were purchased and distributed to one beneficiary. In June 2009 a cooling container - the fridge for storage of roses and tulips cut flowers was purchased. The fridge is the property of Snaga Zene and it is intended for common use by beneficiaries who deal with cultivation of roses and tulips, and for this purpose it is placed in Potoari in the backyard of one of the beneficiary. As a means of mutual interest which are also the property of Snaga Zene, were purchased: scale for weighing dried and fresh medicinal herbs and compost shredder for processing, i.e. triturating flowers and stems for the production of Echinacea tincture, as well as the leftovers of flowers, fruits, vegetables and branches for production of valuable compost and mulching materials. Joint utilization, i.e. sharing the equipment by the beneficiaries who deals with flower and medicinal herbs production contributed to the development of better mutual cooperation among them, and enabled them to organize themselves into an informal group and as such to act with aim to place, sell and promote their products at the local level.

Given that the municipality of Srebrenica has five registered agricultural cooperatives, several associations, including the presence of international agencies such as TIKA, JICA, UNDP, CARE and CESVI who are dealing with the improvement of agricultural production, linking farmers, organizing the purchase and marketing of agricultural products, it has been concluded that the cooperation with these organizations is more useful and productive for the beneficiaries that the establishment of formal Cooperative of women farmers in the region of Srebrenica itself. Through this collaboration beneficiaries are able to faster and better establish contacts with other buyers, to network themselves with other producers, and even place their products at the regional level.

Unfortunately, the activity of building a house in Potoari that is planned with aim to expand and further develop the Flower Valley project due to lack of funds is not possible to realize in this period of time. That was one of the reasons why the activity of procurement of distillation aperture as proposed in the project was not realized since there would not be a place to install it and a large area is needed for that. Another reason is that the beneficiaries found buyers for their products that have purchased entire production of medicinal herbs, and those are: factory of tea and medicinal herbs processing "Biljana" from Maoa, pharmaceutical factory "Cydonia" from Graanica, and the agricultural cooperative "Smrak" from Zvornik which deals with buying medicinal herbs. One of the activities, which were realized during the reporting period, was the test of the quality of apple vinegar and jam produced by women beneficiaries from Srebrenica region and thereof the cooperation has been established with Womens Network Association from Gradaac whose aim is to help women through improvement of agriculture, small range productions and placements. The chemical and bacterial analyses it has been made of the jam made by 10 and vinegar by 2 women. Test results showed that the products are good and organic. Invited by Emina Association and with support of Snaga Zene, 44 group members from Potoari and Srebrenica participated on the Fair of healthy food in Ustikolina on 25 th
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September 2010 where they presented their products: roses, dried calendula, Echinacea and its seeds and tincture, various jams, honey, vinegar, tarhanas, green tomato sweet jam, various salads, aivar, sweet potato (batatas), dried cheese, tomato sauces, wool handicrafts slippers and socks and many other products. On the "Days of Raspberry" fair held on 24th June 2011 in Bratunac, in addition to fresh calendula flower, roses, lavender and their products, seeds and tincture of Echinacea were presented fresh raspberry and raspberry jam and juice. The fair is one of the most important trade fair of agriculture in BiH, and Snaga Zene as its participant received a first Prize for the best stand at the fair.

It is important to note that fairs as well as festival "Flowered Holland and Srebrenica in Tuzla," and a stand at the market place in Tuzla, had very good media coverage (TV, internet, newspaper articles) which has much contributed to the media promotion of the project, its objectives and results. Educations During the reporting period, a number of workshops were organized with aim to educate beneficiaries in the domain of roses, tulips, medicinal herbs cultivation and greenhouse production. The following topics were discussed: - Roses cultivation: care, inoculation, diseases and protection, fertilization; - Roses cultivation in greenhouse: land treatment, planting, irrigation and watering, inoculation, protection and fertilization; - Tulip cultivation: planting of tulip bulbs, monitoring of bulb and flower development, cutting and storing, protection, fertilization; - Cultivation of calendula, lavender and Echinacea: planting, protection, fertilization, harvesting period, drying, medical attributes; - Production of essential oils and tinctures from herbs; - Flowers and bouquets arrangements for sale; - Greenhouse production of vegetables and fruits; - Marketing, market and products placement.

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Educations were held by agronomist of Snaga Zene Andrijana Markovi, and educations in roses and tulip cultivation by Frans Neuman roses grower and Antoine van Shaik, experts from the Netherlands.

Project results The Flower Valley project in Srebrenica region achieved lots of success among our beneficiaries - especially women returnees and their children. Project beneficiaries conducted all project activities in accordance to the requirements and guidance of Snaga Zene team and created a possibility for joint production of their own products such as roses, tulips. Medicinal herbs, herbs seeds, vegetables and fruits which they managed to sell on local markets and in the region. Besides the economic benefits that beneficiaries received, it is important to emphasize the psychological effect of colours and scents of flowers on our beneficiaries as well as the impact of occupational therapy, and the production of flowers and medicinal herbs which itself has a positive psychological effect. Women, included in this project, have developed their positive emotions watching the plantations of roses, tulips and herbs grow, enjoying the beautiful colour of plantations, their scent, flowering and even drying. Researches have shown that flower therapy is very helpful to people with psychological disorders, to unemployed or employed persons with different social problems. Flower therapy proved also to be very useful to the persons with various organic and chronic diseases. Medicinal herbs, especially calendula, lavender and Echinacea with their intense colours, orange and purple, raise the spirit and make women more cheerful and ready to meet with everyday life and by its production on their properties women become the producers generating an income which improves their economic situation. In that way, sustainable return to Srebrenica region is also empowered. Six years after the establishment of the Flower Valley project we have good experience and conformation how the work with flowers and herbs contribute to the improvement of psychological state and health in general.

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In addition, project beneficiaries have established internal contacts and relations and thereby established and developed inter-cooperation with the same aim to share experiences in order to make better production of roses, tulips and medicinal herbs. The level of their personal satisfaction was visibly raised and directly influenced the process of better reintegration and living in Srebrenica region. Besides the work of psychosocial team, medical team of Snaga Zene influenced the improvement of general health situation in the region by providing additional support in providing medical attention on secondary and tertiary level of medical protection. Huge confidence that all population from the region have in Snaga Zene greatly influenced on better rehabilitation, reintegration and co-existence.

CONCLUSION Production of flowers and medicinal herbs proved to be very profitable. According to Snaga Zenes estimates beneficiaries from those activities in the period from July 2009 to July 2011 achieved total revenues of approximately 41.000,00 EUR (BAM 80.000,00), thereof 19.500,00 EUR from medicinal herbs production and 21.500,00 EUR from roses and tulip sale, and it can be concluded that the realization rate of the project is 30% more than expected given that the project involved 55 beneficiaries. The estimation of the profits from the production of vegetables and fruits, in this case, is not made, since it is individual self-sufficiency farming and one part of it is intended for the market. The primary objective of the project was to provide the support in the psychological and social aspects, i.e. to ensure faster recovery and resolution of psychological trauma caused by war, and to strengthen social networks in returning region of Srebrenica which would have provided better living conditions. Since this is a group of people who belong to socially vulnerable category with minimal or no income, most of them use the revenues generated from this project to educate their children or for their basic needs. These revenues are very important for the stay of families
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in areas of return and the project itself has achieved good results in terms of sustainable return and economic independence. It can be said that the goal of the project that women from rural areas through the activation into profitable agricultural activities gain a steady source of income for the existence of their household and thus strengthen the sustainable return is fully accomplished. The list of project beneficiaries and type of donation received in the period from April 2009 to June 2011

No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Surname and Name Ahmetovi Kada Ademovi Adaleta Ademovi Mua Aljkanovi Bahrija Avdi Alma Bekti Muka Bitinovi Mula Deli Remzija

Type of donation Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation) Motor hoe Greenhouse 50 m2 Mint root 60 kg 3 girds for drying Calendula seeds 700 gr 1 gird for drying Greenhouse 50 m2 Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation) Lavender seedlings 50 pcs Lavender seedlings 94 pcs Greenhouse 50 m2 Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation) Calendula seeds 1050.gr 3 girds for drying Greenhouse 50 m2 Rose rootstocks 200 pcs Tulip bulbs 500 pcs (separate sTos donation) Rose rootstocks 1000 pcs Lavender seedlings 315 pcs Motor hoe Rose seedlings 30 pcs (separate sTos donation) Echinacea seedlings 200 pcs Calendula Princess Gold seeds 20 gr Lavender seedlings 300 pcs Motor hoe Greenhouse foil replacement Calendula seeds 350 gr Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation) Greenhouse foil replacement
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9.

Durakovi Ajkuna

10.

Durakovi Sanela

11.

ogaz Mejra

12. 13.

ozi Fetija Efendi Fazila

14. 15. 16.

Efendi Muka Gabelji Fata Garaljevi Raza

17.

18.

19. 20.

21.

22. 23.

24.

25. 26.

27. 28. 29. 30.

Greenhouse 50 m2 Greenhouse foil replacement Lavender seedlings 50 pcs Greenhouse for roses 100 m2 Motocultivator trailer Tulip bulbs 3500 pcs (separate sTos donation) Gui Mirsada Calendula seeds 700 gr Lavender seedlings 335 pcs Rose seedlings 30 pcs (separate sTos donation) Rose rootstocks 200 pcs Mint root 150 kg, Gui Raza Calendula seeds 375 gr, 5 girds for drying Calendula seeds 700 gr Gui Razija Motor hoe Lavender seedlings 300 pcs Calendula seeds 350 gr Habibovi Nisveta Lavender seedlings 200 pcs Calendula seeds 700 gr; Motor hoe; Greenhouse 100 m2 Halilovi Muka Rose rootstock 200 pcs Rose seedlings 30 pcs (separate sTos donation) 3 girds for drying Lavender seedlings 200 pcs Hasanovi Mina Rose rootstock 300 pcs Hodi Zumreta Tulip bulbs 4000 pcs (separate sTos donation) Calendula seeds 1050 gr. Tulip bulbs 2000 pcs (separate sTos donation) Motor hoe Huseinovi Mirzaha Rose rootstock 1000 pcs. Rose seedlings 50 pcs (separate sTos donation) 5 girds for drying Greenhouse 50 m2 Ibrahimovi Behadelka Motor hoe Echinacea seeds Kari Abida Rose seedlings 50 pcs (separate sTos donation) Greenhouse 100 m2, Calendula seeds 1400 gr. Kari emsa Motor hoe 10 girds for drying Kovaevi Ljubica Greenhouse 100 m2 Merdi uhra Lavender seedlings 345 pcs Mujai Ramiza 100 pcs chickens and food for chickens
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31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

Muminovi Rukija Muratovi Nura Ori Muka Osmanovi Abida Paali Magbula

36. 37. 38. 39. 40 41. 42. 43.

Paali Sabera Pelemi Jelena Petkovi Radmila Rahmanovi Emina Rami Emina Salihovi Haa Salihovi Nediba Salki Armina

44.

Salki Fata

45. 46. 47.

Salki Hana Salki uhra Sandi Azra

48.

Sandi Fikreta

49.

Sandi Halida

Lavender seedlings 200 pcs Greenhouse 50 m2 Calendula seeds 1400 gr Motocultivator with trailer Calendula seeds 350 gr 100 pcs chickens and food for chickens Clover seeds 25 kg Corn seeds 7 kg Cucumber seeds 50 gr Mint root 300 kg Lavender seedlings 100pcs 10 girds for drying Calendula seeds 250 gr. Tulip bulbs 500 pcs (separate sTos donation) Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation) Calendula seeds 375 gr, 3 girds for drying Calendula seeds 375 gr, 3 girds for drying Tulip bulbs 500 pcs (separate sTos donation) Lavender seedlings 50 pcs Calendula seeds 700 gr Greenhouse foil replacement Motor hoe, Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation) Lavender seedlings 50 pcs Lavender seedlings 200 pcs Motor hoe Calendula seeds 700 gr, 5 girds for drying Calendula seeds 700 gr, 5 girds for drying Calendula seeds 700 gr. Tulip bulbs 5500 pcs (separate sTos donation) Lavender seedlings 700 pcs, Rose rootstock 1100 pcs Greenhouse for roses 100 m2 Motor hoe Rose seedlings 30 pcs (separate sTos donation) 5 girds for drying Calendula seeds 1750 gr. Tulip bulbs 3500 pcs (separate sTos donation) Motor hoe 5 girds for drying
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50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

Sandi Mirsada Sandi Smajo Smajlovi Bida Smajlovi Mirzeta Sulejmanovi Nezira Sulji Paa

Tulip bulbs 4500 pcs (separate sTos donation) Rose rootstock 150 pcs Greenhouse for roses 100 m2 Motor hoe Greenhouse 100 m2 Walnuts seedlings 20 Tulip bulbs 1000 pcs (separate sTos donation) Calendula seeds 350 gr Tulip bulbs 2000 pcs (separate sTos donation)

Description of donation Equipment (in pieces) Greenhouse 100 m2 1 (set with barrels and watering systems) Greenhouse 50 m2 (set 2 with barrels and watering systems) Greenhouse foil 3 replacement 4 Motocultivator Trailor for 5 motocultivator 6 Motorhoe 7 Girds for herbs drying Medicinal herbs 1 Calendula seeds 2 Lavander seedlings 3 Mint 4 Echinacea seedlings Flowers (in peices) 1 Rose rootstock Tulip bulbs separate 2 sTos donation Rose seedlings 3 separate sTos donation

Quantity

6 4 1 2 13 70 16,70 kg 3640 pcs 510 kg 200 pcs 5650 39.000 220

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