Connecting Cultures’ Corner
“CONNECTING CULTURES’ CORNER,” a monthly newsletter supplement!
An increasing number of individuals who are victimized by torture in their homelands are currently re-settling their lives in Vermont and the greater New England area. The impact of such torture can be far-reaching, not only affecting individuals who have directly experienced trauma but extended families and communities within which these individuals exist. Failing to adequately address these issues can lead to re-traumatization, poverty, discrimination, and unsuccessful reintegration.
Connecting Cultures is a direct partnership between psychological and social work services (Vermont Psychological Services), legal services (Vermont Asylum Assistance Project), physical therapy services (DeePT), and the University of Vermont. Our goal is to provide survivors of “torture” as defined by the T.V.P.A. with holistic, integrated, and effective services in a culturally relevant, client-centered context.
Every month, VAAP will publish this Connecting Cultures’ Corner supplement to its monthly newsletter, sharing highlights from our treasured partners! Learn more at https://www.connectingculturesvt.org/.
Expand Your Knowledge:Bosnia-Herzegovina
Language spoken: Bosnian, sometimes referred to as Bosniak language, is the main language spoken in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bosnian is spoken by approximately 2 million speakers. Bosnia-Herzegovina has three national languages, Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian.
Greeting: "Hello" in Bosnian is "zdravo."
Geographic info: Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its countryside is home to medieval villages, rivers and lakes, plus the Dinaric Alps. National capital Sarajevo has a well-preserved old quarter, Baščaršija, with landmarks like 16th-century Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque. Ottoman-era Latin Bridge is the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which ignited World War I.
Population: The population size in the Bosnia-Herzegovina is 3,156,413.
Life expectancy: Life expectancy is 75 years old.
Religious composition: Muslims make the largest religious community in Bosnia-Herzegovina (52%) (the other two large groups being Eastern Orthodox Christians (31%), almost all of whom identify as Serbs, and Roman Catholics (16%), almost all of whom identify as Croats).
Bosnians in Vermont: As of 2018. Bosnians account for more than a fifth of one percent of Vermont’s population the highest percentage of any state in the country. A group used to exist in Burlington called the Bosnian Lillies, an afterschool group which taught traditional dancing, the language, and culture of Bosnia. One perspective from a local Bosnian community member on why this group no longer exists is that there are higher levels of assimilation in their community and there is less emphasis on teaching youth about the traditions of their culture.
Overview of conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Starting in April 1992, Serbia set out to “ethnically cleanse” Bosnian territory by systematically removing all Bosnian Muslims, known as Bosniaks. Serbia, together with ethnic Bosnian Serbs, attacked Bosniaks with former Yugoslavian military equipment and surrounded Sarajevo, the capital city. Many Bosniaks were driven into concentration camps, gender-based violence occurred, and other civilians were tortured, starved and murdered. In 1993, the United Nations (UN) Security Council declared that Sarajevo, Goradze, Srebrenica and other Muslim enclaves were to be safe areas, protected by a contingent of UN peacekeepers. But in July 1995, Serbs committed the largest massacre in Europe since World War II in one such area, Srebrenica. An estimated 23,000 women, children and elderly people were put on buses and driven to Muslim-controlled territory, while 8,000 “battle-age” men were detained and slaughtered. The so-called safe area of Srebrenica fell without a single shot fired by the UN. In 1994, NATO initiated air strikes against Bosnian Serbs to stop the attacks. In December 1995, U.S.-led negotiations in Dayton, Ohio (The Dayton Peace Accords) ended the conflict in Bosnia, and a force was created to maintain the ceasefire.
Refugee statistics: As of September 1996, about 2.3 million Bosnians were refugees or internally displaced. Of these, more than 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Roughly 450,000 Bosnian refugees are currently in neighboring countries, with most located in Croatia and Serbia-Montenegro. Additionally, more than 600,000 were scattered throughout western and central Europe. During the 1990s, approximately 300,000 Bosnian immigrants came to the United States. Today there are roughly 3 million Bosnians living outside of Bosnia-Herzegovina. More than 110,000 refugees and migrants from Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions have arrived in Bosnia-Herzegovina via the Western Balkans route since 2018. Only a small percentage remain in the country to claim asylum while most try to reach western Europe.
Why is the country called Bosnia-Herzegovina: The state's name recognizes two historical regions, each of which has sub-regions: 'Bosnia,' roughly the northern two-thirds of the country, and 'Herzegovina,' the southern one-third.
Support a local Bosnian owned business: European Market is a popular Bosnian owned business which you can support by checking them out at 1295 Williston Road in South Burlington. Read more about European Market (previously named Euro Market and Taste of Europe).
Upcoming Events by other VT or related organizations
17th National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs Annual Research Symposium
This year's NCTTP symposium will focus on the Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma and Healing, providing a dynamic platform for researchers to present their findings and discuss ongoing challenges in the field. The event will be held in a hybrid format, featuring a full day of engaging sessions. Attendees can look forward to presentations from leading researchers, a thought-provoking Presidential Panel, and a special keynote address by Juan E. Méndez, Professor of Human Rights Law in Residence at American University – Washington College of Law.
Details: March 17, 2025 at Georgetown University, Washington D.C. and virtual option.
Who should attend: This symposium is directed to physicians, psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, journalists, human rights advocates, political scientists, and lawyers in disciplines such as medicine, psychology, social work, case management, epidemiology, human rights, and justice and reparation. Cost and early bird discount information: Price for tickets ranges from $30 to $130. Early bird discount ends November 9, 2024! Register here: https://www.ncttp.org/symposium.
Winter Wellness Herbal Preparations
Join community herbalists Katherine Elmer and Kara Buchanan to explore key herbal strategies to prevent and relieve symptoms of common winter ailments. Participants will learn how to make elderberry and wild cherry bark syrup, simple and traditional herbal winter wellness formulas, and take home jars of their own! Cost is $25 on Thursday, November 21 from 5 - 6:30pm EST. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-wellness-herbal-preparations-registration-1043798167417?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.
Social Work Spotlight: Desirea Swick
Areas of Interest: Hospital Social Work/Case Management, Post-migration Living, Mental Health Advocacy, Veterinary Social Work.
Desirea's thoughts on working with Connecting Cultures: My time at Connecting Cultures has truly been life changing. I have been given the opportunity to work with clients who have suffered unimaginable trauma, yet they are still so kind, humble, grateful, and full of light and positivity. Each client I am blessed to meet teaches me something new and reminds me to be grateful for each day. Connecting Cultures provides such essential wrap-around services to our clients, and I am thrilled to be part of their work in our community. From delivering weekly food-shares, attending important healthcare visits, to connecting clients with local resources, I have been able to witness improvements in many lives in the short time I have been with Connecting Cultures.
Favorite book/artist/movie/inspirational quote: "The time is always right to do what is right" - Martin Luther King Jr.
