Missionaries from Herzegovina have been active in Africa for decades. It is becoming increasingly common for young people from Herzegovina to join priests on missions, contributing to projects aimed at building local communities with the basic conditions for life. One such young person is Marija Zorka Vasilj from Međugorje, who has spent almost a year in Africa in a mission led by Fra Ivica Perić.
Everything that Marija Zorka Vasilj experienced in Africa made such an impression on her that she decided to start a charity project upon returning to Herzegovina, with the aim of significantly contributing to the Mwakapandula mission and the children in the area. Because of this, Herzegovina will have the opportunity to once again show its humanitarian spirit at the end of January and beginning of February and help build a school in the mentioned mission.
Marija Zorka Vasilj, in collaboration with her friends, is planning to hold four charity concerts, with the proceeds being directed toward building the school. The concerts will take place in Mostar, Međugorje, Posušje, and Livno, and a large number of people who recognize the nobility of this idea have already joined the project.
"The idea came up spontaneously, even during my stay in Africa, where I saw the needs of the population for a better and higher quality life, especially regarding education, through daily life and working with people, especially with the children of Mwakapandula, and the missionary Fra Ivica Perić, as well as the 'Heart for Africa' association. And when you present this same idea to your friends, artists, and musicians, who are as young, enthusiastic, and well-intentioned as you are, you have an excellent idea to realize. The goal of all these charity concerts we are organizing for the Mwakapandula mission, Fra Ivica, and the 'Heart for Africa' association is to help with the planned projects to improve education in this small African village, especially the construction of a school," said Marija Zorka Vasilj at the beginning of the conversation.
The concert in Mostar is scheduled for January 30 at the Croatian Home of Herceg Stjepan Kosača at 8 p.m. The second concert will take place on January 31 at 8 p.m. at the Ivan Paul II Hall in Međugorje, while the third concert will be held in Posušje at the cinema hall at 7 p.m. on February 1. Livno will host the fourth concert on February 2 at 7 p.m. at the National University Hall.
The idea has been wholeheartedly supported by the Mostar choir 'Amadeus', led by Emil Bevanda, who is well-known for his successful humanitarian projects in which he participates and organizes. This project for the children of Africa will be no exception.
"We gladly responded to Zorka's call to do acts of love for the little ones in Africa. The idea is to visit Herzegovina through four concerts, singing both spiritual and secular music. The 'Amadeus' choir, as one of the initiators and organizers of the concerts, will perform at each concert in collaboration with local musicians. In Mostar, we will perform together with Antonija Batinić, Josip Drinovac, and Fra Marin Karačić; in Međugorje, with Vinko Ćemeraš; in Posušje, with Fra Marin Karačić and Stjepan Lach; and in Livno, with Marko Omazić and Sotto Voce. Local children's choirs will join us at the concerts in Mostar and Livno: the children's choir of the parish of All Saints in Livno, the children's choir Blizanac (parish of St. Thomas, Mostar), and the children's choir Slavuji (Cathedral). The children of Herzegovina will thus support the children of Africa, and, as in every event we participate in, emotions and empathy will certainly not be lacking," emphasizes Bevanda.
Marija Zorka Vasilj adds that the events will bring the people of Herzegovina closer to the life in Africa, from which we can often learn so much through its simplicity.
"I believe that with these concerts, we will not only send a part of Herzegovina to the Mwakapandula mission but also manage to bring a touch of Africa to the people here. We can learn a lot from each other, and through such projects, we realize the importance of each day of life, every smile, and sincere care for others. I believe that the messages from these events will stay with us for a long time and motivate us to try to be better people every day, fully aware that every day is a new opportunity to do good for our neighbors and the community we live in," concluded Marija Zorka Vasilj.
In the coming days, details about each concert will be revealed, and everyone is invited to support this charity project by attending the concerts and donating. There is no doubt that Herzegovina will once again show its big heart, and in the end, we will be able to proudly say that, with our small contributions, we have ensured better educational conditions for the children of the Mwakapandula mission, so that one day they too can make a great contribution to building a better society.
ai-translated
