The "Duga" Women's Humanitarian organization was founded in 1992 as the first non-governmental organization in the Republic of Srpksa.
We engage in humanitarian work, preserving traditions in the sphere of handicrafts. We also create souvenirs, textiles for the home and many more products that are connected to creative fields.
We're received significant recognition for our humanitarian activities alongside many regional and global awards, acknowledgements and medal for our success in the sphere of promoting handiwork techniques while organizing educational programs. These accomplishments speak to the extent to which the Organization has contributed to society when it comes to furthering the interests of our local and wider community.
Duga is a member of a network, within Bosnia and Herzegovina, that is engaged in the protection of material and intangible cultural heritage.
A significant accomplishment for our Organization was the fact that we participated in activities related to the nomination of Zmijanje embroidery for the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As a result of these activities alongside those of relevant institutions on the level of the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a while, this unique embroidery style became a part of UNESCO's Representative List in 2014.
Since then, we've taken on the task of promoting the uniqueness of Zmijanje embroidery, while supporting all those who are interested to learn and master the techniques of this embroidery style as well as other traditional handiwork skills.
With these goals in mind, we organize workshops that are intended for all generations, with a special focus on youth and children.
Dear friends and followers of Duga,
our organization’s new website is currently being designed. As a result, we’ve created this temporary site to communicate with our community while our technical goals for the new website are in the process of being accomplished.
Soon, our fresh website will facilitate connection and socialization, with both new and traditional topics that will be better organized and easier for you to access as part of our website’s new design.
Thank you for your understanding.
Your WHO Duga
About us and our work
Mission:
The Duga Women’s Humanitarian Organization provides support in the process of strengthening the role of women within their families and wider societal environment. Duga empowers women economically, and provides education by passing on traditional knowledge, skills and values from older to younger generations.
Vision:
The Duga WHO strives to create better and more humane living conditions, while mitigating poverty, preserving spirituality and spreading love and good intentions between people.
Here are some of the activities that the NGO is focused on:
The School of Zmijanje Embroidery is an activity indented for Elementary School students who wish to, as part of their Summer holiday, learn the skills and techniques of Zmijanje embroidery. At the same time, participants learn about traditions, cultural heritage and the importance of treating one another with kindness and respect. All of the resulting artworks are utilized to, by being placed on the market, generate funding for organizations that provide essential help and assistance to local children.
Joy of Living at 65+ is a project conceptualized so that the oldest female members of our city’s society can socialize by learning and creating together. During the program, participants learn traditional trades and handicrafts. They learn basic abilities in the comfortable atmosphere of Duga’s Ethno house while attending workshops on embroidery, weaving, knitting and crocheting. While learning and socializing, attendees can further enjoy cultural and educational events.
Tailoring and sewing courses are intended for those who are enamoured by fashion design. Attendees are provided with the opportunity to master both basic and advanced techniques.
Duga offers experiences for tourists that are intended for explorers who seek to make their holiday more meaningful by engaging in activities enjoyed by those who live in our city. This program includes workshops on the creative process of Zmijanje embroidery, the ability to socialize with locals and enjoy traditional foods.
Dear friends of Duga and our valued customers, the site's Web Shop is currently not available as we are actively working on technical updates.
We respect your time and interest in our products and apologize for the inconvenience caused by this situation. We genuinely hope that you will understand the delay once you see the new possibilities that will be available.
We are working on making the process of online shopping from the comfort of your home more efficient and user-friendly.
At Duga's Ethno Gallery, in the centre of Banja Luka, at Srpska 14, you can find souvenirs, textiles for the home, as well as clothing created and decorated by traditional techniques.
Since 2014, when UNESCO proclaimed Zmijanje embroidery as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, we've taken on the task of promoting this unique technique.
Over 500 participants have, through courses, workshops and practical work, gained the ability to create and embroider designs in alignment with this traditional trade. Duga members present our organization’s historical accomplishments at exhibitions, conferences and fashion shows.
As part of achieving our goals related to promoting Zmijanje embroidery, the longest traditional towel in the world was embroidered by 42 women in cooperation with our organization. In 7 hours and 47 minutes, 155 Zmijanje motifs were embroidered on this towel that is 31 meters in length.
