Making it happen: the programme. Choosing the right moment.

Bosfam began in 1993 as an Oxfam project in Tuzla; the project created knitting corners in 57 collective centers as occupational therapy. 3500 homeless women living in public buildings participated in 1994. Travel and communication were difficult; shooting and shelling were constant. Many women became heads of households that were totally dependent on humanitarian aid. Eight centers were established as alternative spaces to the collective centers. The regional representative of Oxfam placed Oxfam Tuzla in contact with the Centre for Women War Victims (CWWV) in Croatia; CWWV ran intensive 2-week training courses for Oxfam staff from Tuzla centers. The Croatian women were welcomed, and Bosfam was created. Bosfam sent a representative to the UN Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995; this broke the information blockade. Bosfam is an active advocate regarding missing persons; it may potentially press the Bosnian government to incorporate women's needs into law into the post-election period. Bosfam has its own name, governing body, and president; it is legally registered. Oxfam and Bosfam will continue to work together to help the women of Bosnia.