Maris is seven years old, a small girl with a serious expression, quiet and withdrawn. She lives in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Home has not always felt safe to Maris. Her mother, Iva, went through a very difficult time with her husband who is an addict, and her older son who is 20 and prone to violence. Iva is now separated from her husband, but she and Maris have been deeply affected by their experiences.
Iva said, “I’d been with my husband for many years, and I could never find a way out of that relationship. But when I had Maris, I had new hope and strength. I became a different woman when I gave birth to her because at that moment, I knew that I didn't want her to go through the same things as me. I wanted to become a stronger version of myself – for her.”
When home life is turbulent, it can lead to children growing up too early. They do their best to be well-behaved and to avoid being an extra burden in an already volatile situation.
It’s easy for children like Maris to forget they are just a child, one who should have their own childlike worries, rather than taking on adult concerns; a child who should be carefree and playful, free to grow and learn.
This summer, Maris had the opportunity to do just that. She was invited along to Mission Without Borders’s summer camp, where the atmosphere was very different from home. Here, there was fun and food in abundance, Christian leaders creating a happy, peaceful environment, and lots of other children ready to be friends. It was also Maris’s first time going to the seaside.
Matea, who works for Mission Without Borders, was Maris’s group leader at summer camp. She said, “At summer camp, we’re always careful when we have kids who are there for the first time. Before the camp, we get to know their background, their skills, their situation at home. This is because we want to make sure that every child is really well taken care of and that every child gets exactly what they need.
“Although we’re always well prepared, each camp brings a surprise. Maris was our surprise this year. Her maturity surprised us. Seeing her at the camp – how brave and mature she is – but knowing that it all comes from her challenges at home, was very sobering.”
Maris (in the middle) with her new friends Ema and Naida at summer camp