Thirty years ago a pioneering Chesham-based youth charity began as a response to the conflict in Bosnia. This is the story…

Bosnian War

In 1992, war began in the Bosnia and Herzegovina region of Yugoslavia. In 1993, the destruction of the historic stone bridge in the town of Mostar, called the Stari Most (meaning ‘old bridge’) was symbolic of the destruction of shattered communities. For centuries the bridge had linked different communities – Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Muslims - which lived in different parts of the town - but became symbolic of the broken links in a divided community. It was not rebuilt until 2004.

Start of Novi Most

Amongst those who were driven to help were a young Christian couple Nikola and Sandra Škrinjarić. In 1993 and 1994, they spoke at an interdenominational Christian festival in England called Spring Harvest. Money was raised to buy a minibus to take young people from across the communities in Mostar, away from the horrors of the warzone, to the peace of Makarska on the Croatian coast.

The leadership of Spring Harvest set up a charity to continue the peace building efforts, aspiring to build reconciliation across the communities, and in July 1994, Novi Most International (NMI) was registered as a UK charity galvanising support from individuals and churches across the UK.

Novi Most in Chesham

Paul Brooks of Chesham was appointed director, and he set up office at the back of Broadway Baptist Church in Chesham. The charity was established to help the young people regardless of their background, to offer healing and hope, and foster reconciliation. Revd Tim Stone, the minister of Broadway Baptist Church, took a great interest and became a Trustee, and eventually deputy director.

Humanitarian Aid

At first, the focus was to send emergency relief. Many local fundraising events were organised by churches in Chesham and elsewhere, and there was a lot of support especially from Elmtree School in Chesham and Chesham Park Community College (now Chiltern Hills Academy).

In November 1994, members of Broadway Baptist church went out by Land Rover and renovated a refugee centre. In February 1995, a depot was set up in Waterside, Chesham to receive tons of donated clothing, which was washed, sorted, ironed and labelled. Chesham Park Community College made a link with a school in Mostar, and many pupils, came to help sort donations for Bosnian children.

From 1995, food, clothing and medical supplies were driven out by volunteers from local churches to places like Mostar, Tuzla and Trebinje. In July 1995, the first summer camps were held on the Croatian coast with volunteers from Britain, including some from Broadway Baptist, St Mary’s and Emmanuel churches of Chesham. From 1998, these camps were run by Novi Most.

Bosnia

In December 1995, the Dayton Peace Accords ended the war in Bosnia and the country was basically split into a complicated federated system of government. Although the war ended, the country continued to suffer from the legacy of ethnic divisions, poverty and corruption.

Activities in Bosnia

As the situation improved, the focus shifted to reconciliation work with youth within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over the years different people from the Chesham area have gone out to visit and help. One local Chesham girl, Claire Gingell, first went out to Mostar in 1998 as a volunteer, and now lives there. A Roma education project began in addition to the aid runs and summer camps. In 2001, Klub Novi Most opened as a permanent youth centre in East Mostar.

Chesham Offices

In March 1999, Novi Most moved to new bigger offices at 118-120 Broad Street, Chesham, where items were collected and packed, and long (3 year) and short term (summer) volunteers were recruited, trained and prepared for their time abroad. Also, around 20 volunteers, mostly from local churches, would regularly come to help stuff envelopes for mailings appealing for donations, with news updates from the ‘New Bridge’ newsletter.

In 2004, Revd Gill Rowell, of Emmanuel church in Broad Street, Chesham, who had been responsible for processing donations, and then recruiting summer volunteers since 1998, became director. Soon afterwards she became part-time minister at St John’s Church in Ashley Green. She left that role in 2010 to focus on Novi Most and prepare the organisation for local leadership.

Recognition

In 2004, on its tenth anniversary, Novi Most was featured on the BBC television programme Songs of Praise. In 2005, to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords, Novi Most was invited to host a celebration at St James’ Palace.

Youth Centres

Novi Most expanded its youth work within Bosnia with new drop-in clubs. In 2007, one was opened in Čapljina; in 2010 in Jajce; in 2012 in West Mostar; and in 2016 in the capital Sarajevo. From 2017, Novi Most came under local management. The activities of the youth centres differ such as English lessons, music lessons and workshops, sports tournaments and Royal Rangers – a Christian uniformed youth organisation. Summer camps continue now run by local churches, with leadership support from Novi Most team members, and in the winter, young people are offered ski-ing and snowboarding opportunities.

30 Years of Work

30 years ago, Novi Most was founded to bring humanitarian relief, healing and hope to a war-ravaged nation. Today, they are transforming the lives of young people, and raising up local youth leaders to be peacemakers, and providing internships and university scholarships to provide opportunities for young people. Since August 2018, the Novi Most office has been at Lee Common Methodist Church.

Novia Most celebrated its 30th Anniversary on July 4, 2024 at summer camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On November 16, 2024 there will be a special celebration for British supporters, when past volunteers, supporters and members of the current team in Bosnia and Herzegovina will join the celebrations.

You can read more about Novi Most on their website https://www.novimost.org/ or Facebook page.

With thanks to Revd Gill Rowell