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An Englishman in the Balkans - Behind the Scenes of the Rebuilding of the Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka
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Behind the Scenes of the Rebuilding of the Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka

An Englishman in the Balkans

01/19/24

20m

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In this episode, we delve into the fascinating story of the Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka, highlighting its destruction and subsequent rebuilding process.

This story of resilience, determination, and the power of community showcases the efforts of many unsung heroes, including the remarkable Donald Reeves and his NGO, the Soul of Europe.

Join us as we explore the history, challenges, and triumphs of rebuilding Ferhadija, symbolising hope and reconciliation in the Western Balkans.

00:00 Introduction and Background of the Ferhadija Mosque

00:44 Meet Donald Reeves: The Unsung Hero Behind the Mosque's Rebuilding

01:27 Donald's Journey: From Maverick Priest to Peace Builder

02:14 The Challenges and Triumphs of Rebuilding the Mosque

05:06 The Role of International Organizations and Funding

05:13 The Impact of the Mosque's Rebuilding on the Local Community

05:45 The Struggles and Successes of Fundraising for the Mosque

06:07 The Role of Religion and Politics in the Rebuilding Process

07:21 The Importance of Local Involvement and Ownership

07:47 Reflections on the Rebuilding Process and Its Legacy

09:10 The Role of Foreigners in Local Development Projects

10:21 The Importance of Local Priorities and Needs

11:49 Reflections on the Completed Mosque and Its Impact

13:41 The Role of Older Generations in Guiding the Young

15:45 Conclusion: A Call to Action for Future Generations

Please also do share this episode and maybe leave a 5 start review on the podcast platform you listened to this on.

Stay tuned for more exciting stories and adventures from the Englishman in the Balkans podcast!

Thank you for being a part of our podcasting community, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting content in the future.

You can support my work, by maybe leaving a Tip or by becoming a member of our podcast family at: https://anenglishmaninthebalkanspodcast.com/support

Get full access to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 An Englishman in the Balkans Blog 🇧🇦 at https://www.anenglishmaninthebalkans.com/

Previous Episode

undefined - We would LOVE your input
We would LOVE your input

January 18, 2024

4m

Hello and welcome to Čardačani in northwest Bosnia. Normally today Tamara and I are in the studio here recording an episode of our Coffee Talk podcast where we keep you up to date with all the things that are happening for us in our life here during the past week. Today, we're going to just take a little pause for this week, because we've been running the podcast, not only Coffee Talk, but also an Englishman in the Balkans podcast for a little over eight months.

And in that time, it's been great with you guys downloading the podcast, whether that's on Apple or Spotify or wherever else you listen to. Or even if you listen to it through our Substack, which is an Englishman in the Balkans an Englishman in the Balkans dot Substack dot com. But today I wanted just to tell you that we have now got a survey that is out.

So if you're listening to this through Apple or Spotify or wherever, in the show notes below. There's a link to our small survey. It won't take you more than five minutes to complete it So if you are a listener and you like the podcast please answer those questions If you're new to the podcast that would be even greater because we'll get exactly Your feedback what you would like to hear from a podcast that comes from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Western Balkans.

So that's in the show notes below on Substack. It's also down below that link. So please click on it. We do ask for your email address. We're not going to abuse it. And yeah, the questions are very simple, but they mean a lot. So that we can produce a podcast for the future, which has more relevance.

Because to be honest, up until now. Tam and I have been thinking maybe you'd to listen to this. Maybe they'd like to listen to that. So this is your chance to have your input into the podcast. It's nice and sunny. If you're watching this on the video that we're creating, it's a nice sunny day out there.

It's 14 degrees and we are what? On the 18th of January, should be very cold, but it isn't, but crazy weather everywhere. Thank you very much for listening and watching. Once again, please do hit that link that you'll see in the show notes or the description, wherever you listen or see this. And that support from you would be absolutely amazing to us.

That's it. We'll be back on Sunday with our normal Englishman in the Balkans podcast next Wednesday. Thursday we'll have another episode seven. I think it will be of the coffee talk podcast until then Please stay safe wherever you are in the world.

The Podcast Survey is HERE.

Please also do share this episode and maybe leave a 5 start review on the podcast platform you listened to this on.

Stay tuned for more exciting stories and adventures from the Englishman in the Balkans podcast!

Thank you for being a part of our podcasting community, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting content in the future.

You can support my work, by maybe leaving a Tip or by becoming a member of our podcast family at: https://anenglishmaninthebalkanspodcast.com/support

Get full access to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 An Englishman in the Balkans Blog 🇧🇦 at https://www.anenglishmaninthebalkans.com/

Next Episode

undefined - The Bosnian Who Lives on a Boat
The Bosnian Who Lives on a Boat

January 21, 2024

30m

In this episode I get to talk to Biljana Lipić, a resident of Cornwall in the United Kingdom but originally from Sarajevo.Biljana lives on a boat anchored on a Cornish river. I first found out about Biljana from a story that I stumbled across online.

I have to admit that I have always had an interest in narrow boating, and living on the water in general, so when I saw that someone from Sarajevo had achieved what was one of my dreams back in the day, I just had to find out more.Please also do share this episode and maybe leave a 5 start review on the podcast platform you listened to this on.

Stay tuned for more exciting stories and adventures from the Englishman in the Balkans podcast!

Thank you for being a part of our podcasting community, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting content in the future.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast.

Stay tuned for more stories and adventures from the Englishman in the Balkans podcast!

Thank you for being a part of our podcasting community, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting content in the future.

And Finally

Don’t forget that you can read back editions of the newsletter, listen to previous podcasts (we have quite an archive now), or catch other content, all this is available on the web interface, just like a regular blog.

Oh, and please share the newsletter with friends, relatives and colleagues using the button below.

Tamara and I appreciate your faithful readership, your comments, and your generosity! Until our next post.

THANKS SO MUCH ❤️


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