Winter MVA Workshop in Kranjska Gora

The International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assistance (ITF) in cooperation with the Croatian NGO »BEMBO« organized the second “winter workshop” for young mine victims from Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo*. The workshop took place in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia from 3 to 9 March 2008. Thirty-seven children and youngsters from Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo* participated in the workshops, which included skiing, music, computer, art and photo lessons. Two special ski-instructors from Switzerland offered the very first ski-lessons to some of the young participants.

Croatian ambassador to Slovenia, H.E. Mario Nobilo and Croatian alpine ski champion Ivica Kosteli? visited the participants of the winter workshop.  Ivica Kosteli? took part in the Alpine ski Vitranc Cup competition in Podkoren, Kranjska Gora (slalom competition) at the same time the winter workshop took place in Kranjska Gora. The Winter workshop was carried out one month before April 4, which has been declared by the UN General Assembly as the »International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action«. 

Each month there are approximately 2000 mine related fatalities in the world and scores people are left with lifelong consequences of these accidents. Out of these casualties 80% are civilians (with 25% of these casualties being children).