Young Friends in Britain have adopted a charity that sows the seeds of peace in Bosnia as the basis of their new appeal. The decision was taken at Young Friends General Meeting last night to back Firefly, an organisation that was set up in 1998 to run youth and arts projects in the wartorn country. Significantly, YFGM decided to adopt this appeal exactly a year after Britain Yearly Meeting ended its direct funding for organisations in former-Yugoslav countries.

The war in the Balkans may be "old news", as something that happened ten years ago, but many communities were damaged and divided, and people's fear and psychological scars take a long time to heal

‘The YFGM appeal exists as a chance for YFGM to look outwards to a society both nationally and internationally’, explained co-clerk Cáit Gould. ‘It offers those within YFGM a chance to build their own awareness and that of others’ in a wider society to issues that are perhaps not so prevalent in society at the current time. This therefore brings support either financially or through voluntary assistance and awareness-raising to people who wouldn't receive much from elsewhere and struggle without it. Those who are supported by the YFGM appeal in turn bring a great input to the life of YFGM in sharing their stories, lives and work with us. We hope to be able to help the seeds of peace take root and flourish through supporting the positive work of Firefly International in areas of extreme conflict’.

Appeal convenor Majk Stokes said: ‘The war in the Balkans may be "old news", as something that happened ten years ago, but many communities were damaged and divided, and people's fear and psychological scars take a long time to heal. Inequality, nationalism and prejudice have been growing in Bosnia in recent years, and ethnic tensions and animosity are still major problems that are going to take at least a generation to break down. The attention of the international community may no longer be focused on the region but Firefly's work to break down divisions, and to develop young people's skills and employment opportunities, is still urgently needed.’