On the heels of International Women's Day, be inspired by Nela Hasic, From Refugee to Women's Hero On the heels of International Women's Day, be inspired by Nela Hasic, Program Director of JDC's Women's Health Empowerment Program. See how far this Sarajevo mom has come, sparking hope for breast cancer survivors and their families across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ever since Oscar was old enough to kick a ball across a dusty sports field in Port-au-Prince, his dream has been to play professional soccer—and also follow in the technological and philanthropic footsteps of his idol, Bill Gates. Those aspirations were very much alive for Oscar, now 23, in the moments just before the January 2010 earthquake tore through the walls of his three-story high school, killing all but two of his classmates. Oscar escaped with his life, but he lost 250,000 of his Haitian brothers and sisters—and his right leg—to one of this century’s worst natural disasters.
The Mardakhayev children were so cold, their parents had to burn their own furniture for warmth. Read how JDC helps them and a destitute grandmother survive the harsh winters in Baku, Azerbaijan.
In time for disabilities awareness month, meet people who have been empowered by JDC's global programs for the mentally and physically disabled.
Jennifer A., a 16-year-old Haitian girl with nine siblings, recently took her first steps—for the second time. On January 12th while Jennifer was studying French literature, the walls of her classroom shook until they collapsed. In her flight for safety, Jennifer’s leg was crushed and she lost consciousness. When she awoke, her leg had been amputated. But Jennifer learned she was one of the lucky ones; many of her classmates had not made it out of the rubble alive. Still, she had little hope of ever standing again until she met a JDC-supported Israeli medical team at Haiti’s University Hospital and received the treatment and encouragement she needed.