The Association of Women "Duga" is the first NGO in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was founded in 1992, and officially registered in 1995. In its longtime work, Duga has helped tens of thousands of people.

Thanks to new experiences and knowledge, Duga's members have managed to respond to the challenges caused by the social transition, and thus contribute to mental and economic strengthening of the woman and her family.
A special attention is paid to education in the field of the civil society development and democratic processes.

WORKSHOP 'DUGA' involves around 100 women who make traditional handicrafts applying the ancient techniques of weaving, embroidering and knitting.
The members are working in cooperation with ethnologists, designers and artists who offer professional advice and help.

At the beginning of the war, when the crowds of refugees, wounded and homeless people were flocking in Banjaluka, a lot of women came out to offer them their instinctive and barely organized help. They shared their shoes, clothes, hygienic stuff and food with them. They were also giving a bath to babies and taking care of the elderly. As the foreign organizations weren't distributing humanitarian aid, and as the imposed sanctions had exhausted all the supplies, there was an urge for organized help. This is how Duga, the organization founded by humanists and volunteers, was brought into being.
The group of women started their humanitarian work, helping primarily women, children refugees and other victims who needed help. They were visiting refugee camps, hospitals, the wounded, and the families of the deceased. They were collecting the humanitarian aid and founding knitting workshops in the refugee centers. In its longtime work. Duga has helped tens of thousands of people.
With time, Duga has been expanding its activities according to the needs of its beneficiaries, and grew up into an NGO with clearly defined goals. Duga's members have been attending international and local seminars, courses and other educational workshops. Thanks to new experiences and knowledge, Duga's members have managed to respond to the challenges caused by the social transition, and thus contribute to mental and economic strengthening of the woman and her family.

HUMANITARIAN WORK AND PSYCHO-SOCIAL HELP

This program includes support in clothing, hygienic stuff, shoes and clothes for the socially vulnerable categories of people.

It also provides professional advising and services. Social workers, psycho-logists, solicitors, Duga' housewives,and house-visit volunteers are all activelys involved in implementing this program.

The program has about 200 permanent beneficiaries and several hundred temporary ones, per year.

WORK ACTIVITIES

WORKSHOP 'DUGA' involves around 100 women who make traditional handicrafts applying the ancient techniques of weaving, embroidering and knitting. A large number of knitted items is distributed as a humanitarian aid. Exclusive and modern clothing items, and souvenirs are produced in the ethno-workshop. The members are working in cooperation with ethnologists, designers and artists who offer professional advice and help.
Selling these items enables the women working in the workshop to support their families.

Beneficiaries of the Duga's program are: Socially and economically vulnerable women, single mothers, children without one or both parents, elderly and ill people.