Update

I encourage any interested undergraduates to apply for the Beyond Good Intentions fellowship.

This is an opportunity unlike any other. As an undergraduate, I had unparalleled support to  research international aid effectiveness. With complete autonomy and mobility I could then pursue my focus areas of human rights, legal aid, and psychosocial effects on returnees and refugees. This experience profoundly impacted my career direction and provided a window into a world most only read about. I would suggest this experience to anyone flirting with the idea of international work, NGOs, etc.

Since finishing my fellowship, I have continued to maintain my personal blog, Ali Is Now Abroad. I leave for South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana February of 2010.

100% of the proceeds

Attention September Babies, charity:water is here

Shakespeare Goes Mobile

It was a powerful moment, and I only saw the stage. Alex and  Averil, two Dartmouth students working for Youth Bridge Global, took me to see where the performances of Much Ado About Nothing were debuting. We were surprised to discover the courtyard of the bombed out library, their stage, was hosting a concert. We witnessed Bosnians claiming their space and using their voices to transform the rubble into  creative destruction.

Even Shakespeare could not predict the post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dayton Peace Accords solidified the boundaries that divide, these sharp lines now define people based on ethnicity, religion, and language. Mostar has become a playground for nationalistic fervor, easily separating people between the river, leaving Croat Catholics and Bosniak Muslims divided. The three municipalities have created a framework that leaves even the schools segregated, having the students come in separate shifts so that no overlap is possible. The infamous bridge has become a hypocritical symbol, some have never crossed it and thus never spanned the divide. Luckily,  Shakespeare has arrived in Mostar towing with him multi-ethinc productions of Romeo and Juliet & Much Ado About Nothing.

Youth Bridge Global can be described in one word, refreshing. It is a creative  NGO using applied drama as a tool of peace and reconciliation. Working also in the Marshall Islands (where the US tested nuclear weapons) they then “repeated the Shakespeare model in the Balkans in order to promote reconciliation and mutual understanding across the dangerous ethnic and religious divides that threaten peace in the region. The first production in Mostar, featuring a Muslim Romeo and a Croat Juliet, forged a number of inter-ethnic friendships and generated immense communal support in a city divided by deep-seated nationalism” (http://think.mtv.com/profile/youthbridgeglobal).

Professor Andrew Garrod,  Co-founder of YBG explains, “Romeo and Juliet in this setting has a particular resonance because of the feuding between the different groups in this country and the feuding between the Capulets and the Montague” (www.ybglobal.org/).

I only hope Shakespeare is here to stay.

Creative Destruction

“One wonders what would happen if good-hearted Americans realized that a mere 10% of the US military budget, if reinvested in foreign aid and development, could care for the basic needs of the entire world’s poor. Or if they realized that one-half of 1% of the US military budget would cut hunger in Africa in half by 2015. Would there be marches in the streets calling for budgetary reform?”
Everything Must Change, Brian D. McLaren

We now have the ability to kill without ever being in the country. Why go to Afghanistan if you can kill combatants and still make it home for dinner?

I sat watching the CNN report of the first kill by the US Army’s drone from Mostar, the most heavily bombed city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I was stunned, just as I was beginning to grasp the full implications of war, I was introduced to a new version. Luckily, I was refreshed after spending the evening  with Youth Bridge Global, an NGO using applied drama as a tool of peace and reconciliation. Their first year they barely performed Romeo and Juliet in a city now fragmented by the war, leaving Bosniaks and Croatians divided. Averil, Alex, and I walked to see their stage, a courtyard of the bombed out library. We found a concert instead, a witness to Bosnians claiming their space and using their voices in a world that can now kill with a video game.

It is critical that I am touching the remains of war the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has become casual, normal even, to walk by phosphorous bombed buildings, shell markings, to meet concentration camp survivors, watch (free) war criminals and mass grave findings on the nightly news or talk on a cell phone next to a graveyard. But, it is also here,  that the passion of the people washes over me, cleansing me of this violence.

The spirit of resistance has  manifested itself in the form of passionate nonviolence, the arts. The Sarajevo film festival started during the war to salvage civil society,  and has now grown to become one of the largest in Europe. The Miss Sarajevo beauty contest was held during the peak of fighting; U2 would later sing about this beautiful act of courage. The war Theater in Sarajevo continued to perform, famously debuting Hair in the city under siege. Education never collapsed because they were sustained by the  brave teachers that would walk among snipers and shells to hold class in basements. The newspaper Oslobeđenje (Freedom) never missed a single day of print. A 700-yard tunnel was hand dug right under the UN controlled airport, past their inability to do anything but hand out old food, and into the”valley prison” (Clancy).  A lifeline was then established to transport food, ammunition and supplies. Finally,  Vedran Smailovića, caught the worlds attention as the Cellist of Sarajevo, playing Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor for 22 days; dressed in his tuxedo, he played each day to honor the 22 victims killed while in line for bread. “He played for human dignity that is the first causality in war. Ultimately, he played for life, for peace, and for the possibility that exists even in the darkest hour. Asked by a journalist whether he was not crazy doing what he was doing, Smailović replied: ‘You ask me am I crazy for playing the cello, why do you not ask if they are not crazy for shelling Sarajevo?’” (Swati Chopra)

CNN reports that war has been revolutionized, that warfare will never be the same. Indeed, I fear what we are capable of now. Never to set foot on the ground of the people we destroy anonymously. We now live in a world that can mobilize 1 billion dollars a week for war, but fails to find 5 billion for children’s health care. In this context, we rely on unmanned aerial vehicles,  no longer dependent on killing with our hands. We will not feel a pulse stop or the weight of life leave the body. We will no longer see the people left behind, the ones “born into blood and fire” (Galeano)  picking up their lives and choosing to fight with words, not weapons.

Mighty Hands

The Healing Hands Network is a powerful testimony  to people recognizing “an immense  need”  and immediately rising to meet it. These mighty hands have treated over 12,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1997.

A small group of therapists coming from the United Kingdom, volunteer their time for two week intervals to treat the survivors of war. The clients are only adult civil victims of war, referred from either The Concentration Camp Union, Mothers of Srebrenica, or the Civil War Union.   Healing Hands Network is the only known NGO offering free physical therapy services such as: massage, reflexology, aromatherapy,  acupuncture, and reiki. They work for a season each year treating as many people as possible with volunteers and a small local staff.

I spent three days with Healing Hands trying to grasp an in-depth understanding of their work.  I was able to observe their work in the clinic and on community outreach. I was impressed by the level of care offered for each person.  An initial assessment if done when the client arrives, and then a follow up is completed after each treatment. In addition, an evaluation is done after every four treatments.  Healing Hands strives “not be an extension of health services” in BiH. However, the State care is short, expensive and often done with machines. In contrast, the quality offered by Healing Hands is personal and magnetic. I watched countless times as the therapists demonstrated exercises that could be done at home, even going as far to get on the floor as an example. The therapists volunteer their time, fundraise for their trip, and complete a training workshop. The time frame of a two week maximum is set to avoid “rescue syndrome;” boundaries become flexible and volunteers feel they are not offering enough, but that level of giving “cannot be sustained.”

It is obvious t hat the work is needed and appreciated, but it can be hard to measure. The classic response to a treatment is “super.” It is a Catch 22 because if people responds they are doing well, without pain, and able to function, they can no longer access the care and the spot is given to another person on the formidable waiting list. I spoke to two Bosnians, one  new and one regular client, both of which were extremely appreciative of the services offered. They reiterated how grateful they were for the free, high quality services offered.

This was the first time I knowingly met any victims of war. I was shocked how casual war survival has become.  Phrases like “concentration camps, sniper victims, torture, land mines, and grenades “were tossed around as labels. Reduced to acronyms on charts. They help identify the need of the person but nothing else. They are seen as people. I was the only one still caught on the Ids. Concentration camp survivor?  This woman wearing pink and pearls? Sniper victim? This man who was shot while trying to help another person. Torture survivor? This quiet and reserved man I could have easily passed on the street this morning?

The work of this network cannot be underestimated. It is not sexy or glamorous. It is meeting a need often overlooked. However, this care is critical. The Union Secretary of Civilian Victims of War,  Muzafer  Teskeredzic, stated that the “treatment gives our members a reason for living.” While on community outreach, a representative from the Concentration Camp Union came during lunch to personally thank Healing Hands. I witnessed this intimate moment, as genuine gratitude was expressed through a letter and tears.

Healing Hands warned of the roadblocks to effective aid. Nepotism and true accountability remain hurdles to organizations and governments. Regardless, Healing Hands remains committed: “although Sarajevo is no longer much featured in the media, we are determined to stay involved. The ravages of rape, torture, the disappearance of loved ones and extensive land mines have taken a huge toll. Rebuilding is under way but the psychosocial and psychological scars take longer to heal.”

You Can’t Sell Volvos to Dead People

“War burns money. For each bomb you see, imagine a million dollars in cinders. For each body you see … imagine someone who can’t buy a thousand more Cokes. Losses add up. The West might let killing creep on in Ethiopia or Somalia. .. But they’re in the Dark Ages. We are in Europe. We have Benettons here on Vase Miskina Street. Richard Branson sells music next door. Forget that human life is priceless. Consumers’ lives have market value. In the end, it’s a better guarantee. My Motto: you can’t sell Volvos to dead people.“
Pretty Birds

War saturates the country, it drips from everything – buildings, people, and conversations (“before the war, after the war”).  International aid is within the magnetic orbit of the war, it is pushed and pulled by it constantly. Based on this, we need to break the war down to understand how aid functions in this environment.

Bosnia and Herzegovina voted for independence on April 6, 1992. The Yugoslav army, the fifth largest army in the world,  turned against itself. It collapsed into a Serb army and started a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing.  The peaceful protests against armed conflict ended in a sick form of forshadowing, snipers hiding in the Jewish cometary signaled the start of hell.

“Freedom for Bosnia was greeted with a genocide that had  not been seen on European soil since the attempted extermination of the Jews in World War II.”  … The war the West had  labeled as a civil war had no front lines and no opposing army. It was clearly genocide and it was clear who was implementing a policy of ethnic cleansing (Tim Clancy).”   While the West chirped superficial explanations, the Serb army carried out a 3 year campaign of terror, dancing around the world’s explanations:

677 Concentration Camps, rape as a weapon of war, massacres like Srebrenica where 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed, burning people alive, torture, beatings, and  the siege of Sarajevo with  contestant sniper fire, shells, and bombs.

Religion proved an easy tool to divide people.  The three nationalities, formerly part of Yugoslavia, now were used an an identification tool. Nationality = religion. To create a “greater Serbia” propaganda (months of television reports) was used to convince Serbs of a Muslim jihad and Croatian fascist threat. Like Rwanda, this turned neighbor against neighbor.

Time magazine reported on the Muslims trapped in camps at the start of the war. Yet, the world watched Rwanda and Bosnia melt into a living hell.

Nationalism has poisened everything. What colors you wear, football team you favor, side of the river you live on, your last name, the taxi you take, music, television stations,  and your god instantly associate you with a side of the war.

Justice has not been fully served in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Just today a war criminal escaped in Zenica. The forPresident of Serbia,  Radovan Karadžić was an indicted war criminal. Many remain at large, but can be seen on the nightly news or walking your friendly neighborhood streets. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia is pressing ahead. On Monday two Serb cousins were convicted to burning Muslims in Bosnia alive.

Bosnia is currently missing 200,000 people. The same people who sold weapons to both sides during the war, that ran the black market, and then rushed in to rebuild, are now wondering where the dead are. The 1,360,000 refugees are  not enough. They need more people to buy Cokes and Volvos.

Boxing a Youtube Genocide

“Tears spring to my eyes. But I have been preparing for this. I feel like a boxer who knows he is about to be hit, each muscle tightening so as not to crumble when the actual blow lands; ready to hit back. Not to think but to act.”

Mariane Pearl

I was ready. I had no choice. I had to go in prepared, rehearsed and researched. Three massacre sites in 16 months; but this time I was living and working where it happened for three weeks in and around the burial ceremony of 534 Muslim men and boys.

I am in Srebrenica. The site of the worst massacre since World War II. Over 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed in an act of genocide by the Serb Army in a “protected”UN Safe Zone filled with refugees. I didn’t brake when I saw the shockingly casual site of burned houses, the intimate naked skeletons of three story houses. The shell markings and bullet holes. I walked the streets of Srebrenica, passing the destroyed houses. I continued with my daily routine, trying to forget that the house in front of mine lost 3 boys. I explained to the women behind our house that I was locked out and found a kitten, not dwelling on the fact that her family buried a husband and son of 16 years this July. I continue shopping for groceries even after realizing the man in the juice aisle has no left arm and that he is a man, alive. I joined the 30, 000 people at the Memorial Ceremony. I tolerated the VIPs at a funeral. I met people, made introductions. I witnessed the line of coffins, 534 filing by me with my meager offerings – my camera, my witness, this voice. I didn’t brake, didn’t cry. I had no right to cry, I have lost nothing. I finally broke over a video I saw on Youtube. It was recorded during the genocide; a father was yelling for his son to come down from hiding in the woods, screaming that it was safe while surrounded by Serb soldiers that would eventually add him to mass graves. Genocide had found Youtube, and I couldn’t take it. If we can casually watch people being slaughtered and do nothing the next time, what kind of sick game is this? When taught about the Holocaust, why are we not also taught about the concentration camps in Argentina, the 677 in Bosnia? Where is the follow up on genocides in Rwanda, the killing fields of Cambodia or the one happening now in Darfur?

We need to stop saying “Never Again.” Never Again has witnessed Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Algeria and Darfur. I think “Until Next Time” is more appropriate. Justice has not been served in Srebrenica. War criminals walk around the town, Bosnia, and even serve as President of Serbia. The day after the burial ceremony, Serb nationalists came into Srebrenica and yelled, “don’t worry Europe, we can do it … we will rid the Balkans of Muslims”

Please act to end the current genocide in Darfur. Start by signing the petition.

United States Embassy

“At best, you’ll remain among the poorest countries in Europe. At worst, you’ll descend into ethnic chaos that defined your country for the better part of a decade. And you will be judged harshly by history and your children.” Vice President Biden’s remarks to the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina

My meeting with the Human Rights officer of the US Embassy left me profoundly humbled. It is easy to throw stones after you are hyped up on college classes and university clubs and organizations. Quite simply, meetings, emails, and homework are a start, but just that. A foundation to build on with experience.

I chose to meet with a representative from the United States Embassy to color the background of human rights and the American presence within Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United States is seen as a positive presence- Clinton catalyzed the end of the war and left America involved up until the present day.

Politics gets in the way of human rights. Everyone is “in the minority and the majority” in BiH. Human rights abuses occur on both sides (“everyone has dirty hands”), but it is evident the Muslims have suffered severely. War, with all its games: ethnic cleansing, massacres, concentration camps, snipers, bombing, starvation, etc. have left the people “exhausted.” This manifests itself in a weak and “underdeveloped civil society” that is simply “fatigued.” People have a “hard time caring” and thus responding to human rights issues. For some, the “war is ancient history” that people want to move away from. Human rights have to fight for attention. The human rights report released by the Embassy only received minimum press coverage within the country. Luckily, the press covered the visit of American Vice President Biden when he poke about some challenges destabilizing the country:

“Americans feel that we have a stake in your success. We feel that we have earned the right to speak honestly, even bluntly, in a country that captured our hearts. Today, we are worried about the direction your country, your future, and your children’s future are taking. For three years, we have seen a sharp and dangerous rise in nationalist rhetoric designed to play on people’s fears, to stir up anger and resentment.
We have seen state institutions – which must be strengthened for Bosnia to meet the challenges of the 21st century and to advance toward EU and NATO membership – openly challenged and deliberately undermined.
We have witnessed attempts to roll back the reforms of the last decade — the very reforms that prompted EU and NATO to open their doors to the citizens of this country.We have heard voices speaking the language of maximalism and absolutism that destroys states — not the language of compromise and cooperation that builds them.The results are predictable – deepening mistrust between communities, deadlock on reforms, and dangerous talk about the country’s future that is reminiscent of the tragedies the people of this country have worked so hard to overcome.This must stop.Let me be clear: Your only real path to a secure and prosperous future is to join Europe as Bosnia and Herzegovina.Right now, you’re off that path.”

The governmental framework that ideally process human rights is stumbling, it is trying to gain legitimacy but faces extreme hurdles such as corruption, nationalism, and scandals. People do not trust the government and are weary of changes after 14 years of barely noticeable results. A minority of politicians have genuine multi-ethnic hopes or aspirations. There is a “lack of attention” from the European Union and little accountability for perpetrators. The Office of the Hight Representative has the right to remove officials, but it “hasn’t exercised it in so long.” the risk of the process becoming a complete joke is palpable. Massive houses bought with illegal money are not only visible, but close to government buildings. War criminals notoriously run around with impunity. Nevertheless, progress is being made, but remains in the beginning stages. For example, the Ombudsman was “just born.”

Mr. Hanish offered some advice for further work. There is “no need for further training.” Thousands of people have been educated by international organizations. We can move on from capacity building and trainings. Trust needs to be strengthened as individual citizens begin to work against preconceptions.

Ultimately, the holes left for the NGO sector to fill are quite intimidating. In addition, some NGOs act as political fronts, furthering particular agendas and ideologies. For example, a religious NGO is immediately affiliated with a nationality and then linked to a side in the war. It is not simple altruism, rather, “what country does your god belong to?” And, will your god help me?

Loyal Opposition: Speaking Truth to Power

“My country can boast that we produce 53.4% of the world’s weapons … perhaps (Americans) believe that McNamara was more rational than President Jimmy Carter, who in 1976 said, ‘We cannot have it both ways. We can’t be both the world’s leading champion for peace and the world’s leading supplier of arms.’ It gets worse. In 2003, 80% of the top buyers of US weapons (twenty of the top twenty-five clients) were countries that our State Department labeled undemocratic or countries known for their failure to uphold human rights, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In 1999, the US weapons industry supplied arms to 92% of the conflicts in process anywhere on the planet, and in a stroke of elegant fairness, often supplied both sides in conflict. Perhaps most shocking and awful of all: between 1998 and 2001, the United States, Great Britain, and France earned more income from selling weapons to developing countries than they gave those developing countries in aid.”
John Perkins in Justice For All

I lost my patriotic virginity two years ago when I first visited El Salvador. My age of innocence was forever gone, left on the Holy Grounds of El Mozote and the UCA. I swore loyal opposition to a my country. After studying for two months in Latin America, I further understood the legacy of the Cold War; that in reality, it was a hot conflict that burned its way through Latin America, exposing the connections between human rights perpetrators and the United States government. I was disgusted by our hypocritical human rights abuses and shocked when I discovered the chronic mistakes of our foreign policy. We waged war to impose peace. Few know that President Reagan broke international and federal law by continuing to fund the Contras after the House of Representatives voted unanimously 411-0 to stop aid. A pattern emerged of US involvement: the torture case of the American nun, Diana Ortiz, the Atlactal Battalion, the paramilitary death squads trained on US soil, and coups supported and sometimes orchestrated by the US.

I feel like I have cheated in my political activism; just as I was learning of the grave mistakes of the United States, Change took his place in the White House. I only had time to be horrified, write a few research papers on torture policy, and then feel profound relief and hope when Obama was elected. I came to Sarajevo prepared to showcase my mature understanding of the real United States. I knew why the world hates us, I can even give you statistics. I was ready for Srebrenica because I had been to a massacre sites before. I knew what to look for and who to ask questions about. We continue to echo “Never Again” from the end of the Holocaust to the start of another genocide in Darfur; we watched as Rwanda unfolded and waited to act in Bosnia, but we finally sent help and brought a swift end to the war. For that, I was surprised and humbled when I arrived because the United States is a positive force in the Balkans.

My ignorant bliss will never return, it ran away somewhere between El Salvador and Guatemala, but it seems pride for my country may finally start to rebuild itself. I am slowly picking up the pieces. I love and respect my country, more now as an outsider. By living in the Balkans, I am again able to recognize the diversity and freedom in my country. As a student researching the effectiveness of international aid, I am convinced we are needed more now than ever to speak truth to power. To ask to ask the hard questions and shed light on the fact that more money is spent for military purposes than foreign aid.

“One wonders what would happen if good-hearted Americans realized that a mere 10% of the US military budget, if reinvested in foreign aid and development, could care for the basic needs of the entire world’s poor. Or if they realized that one-half of 1% of the US military budget would cut hunger in Africa in half by 2015. Would there be marches in the streets calling for budgetary reform?”
Everything Must Change by Brian D. McLaren

The fence at the School of the Americas/WHINSEC – Each cross represents a victim

El Salvador: A Crucified People
The Stations of the Cross in the chapel of the UCA
Each station depicts just one of the 75, 000 Salvadorans who were tortured and killed by the paramilitary death squads

The shirt Archbishop Oscar Romero was wearing when he was shot during Mass for his
belief in a “preferential option for the poor”

“Presente”
Sara Walker and I standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Latin America.
We were two of 20, 000 at the gates of Fort Benning on November 21, 2008.

Wings of Hope: Working Even When the Cameras Leave

Wings of Hope is an organization familiar with international aid. They were born from the war, meeting the needs with humanitarian aid and organizing camps for youth. It was soon realized that “reconstruction is not enough” and psychosocial support was needed for youth. Today, they work with youth ranging from 3 to 27 years old.They have transformed from part of an international organization to full local ownership, as an professional NGO providing post-traumatic aid to youth.

Transparency and accountability are built into the framework of Wings of Hope. Two internal evaluations have been conducted (1998 & 2000), every project is first researched, and Masters students complete a 6 months of research on the work of WoH. This research is published in a book, complete with the research findings, medical charts, methods used, graphs, and even drawings done by the children during therapy. In depth evaluations such as these offer concrete evidence that aid is administered and monitored effectively.

The government of BiH is a problematic partner. Organizations like WoH must work with a system they know is “dysfunction [because] it is our system.” Only until recently has the government started to collaborate with WoH. The same theme of competitor was also voiced by WoH, NGOs were initially seen as competitors and even “spies” all competing for funds. However, this partnership is extremely crucial as society starts to heal itself. take for example, youth delinquency, which is a “huge problem.” Very violent crimes are being committed by youth. All aspects of the private and public sector must be utilized to address this problem. For example, Wings of Hope can offer psychosocial support for youth and parenting classes. The government can then change policies that provide immunity for these youth.

Predictably, the situation is complicated. Layers of problems play off one another. People are still trying to cope with the trauma of war, producing “double problems.” Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is only now surfacing; it has taken years to show itself because survival mode mandates that security is provided in housing, food, etc. until the mind copes with the effects of war. Thus, the problems are constantly evolving.

I was able to witness the staff support of WoH. Each morning they have a meeting and share a meal. They discuss projects, briefings, etc. I was shown genuine hospitality when I arrived for the interview. I was invited into the meeting, served cake (for a birthday) and offered coffee. I proceeded to spend the next 3 hours talking with 5 people about international aid.

“When the cameras are gone, the funds are gone, and the real problems start.” There is a constant ‘fight for funds” that produces a “contradiction in the system.” NGOs are forced to conform to donors wishes and often suffer because donors “have no clue what you need on the ground.”

For example, it is currently very trendy to work with the Roma (gypsy) population. If NGOs are not already working with Roma, they develop new programs because they know key words catalyze the money. However, WoH does not discriminate and will not open and close services to follow monetary aid. It was described as being a game between “blue spots” and “green stripes: blue spots … next year [it is] green stripe. No continuity [. . .] how does this work for long term problems? Every year we have to figure out what they want … just fashion. Next year we have to adapt. [This is] a fundamental problem all over the world.”

Wings of Hope has learned to “fight prejudices” that people in BiH are “stupid.” I was told explicitly that they are “not all stupid and poor.” The education level of the staff was stressed, many hold multiple degrees from universities in Bosnia and abroad. Now, public perception must be changed to remind people of the quality of education offered before the war is also being implemented after.

On a personal note, I am only a student but have had the opportunity of exposure to many organizations, mainly in Latin America and now in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wings of Hope is one of the best NGOs I have encountered. They offered me honest narratives about the problems that pose a challenge to effective aid while simultaneously encouraging me to keep asking questions. I hope that other organizations reflect the passion of WoH and follow the lead of an organization that personifies effective aid: their Tent Camp for youth won the most original project award in BiH and the CBF Seal in the Netherlands.

Wings of Hope not only sets the bar, it pushes it higher each year.