Carroll University student is trying to make life better for children of survivors of the Bosnian war, and she herself is a Bosnian refugee.
Emina Halilovic was born in 1994 during the Bosnian War.
"When the war broke out my dad had to flee on foot to get to safety while me and my mom were put on trucks and sent to camp," she said.
Halilovic lost family members in death camps and remembers all too well the horrors of war. Horrors that she says are too difficult to talk about.
In 2002, Halilovic and her family came to the United States and made a home in Waukesha. Today, she is a pre-med student at Carroll University.
In 2013, she decided she needed to do something to help the children back home so she organized a benefit walk.
"The money goes directly to kids in Bosnia," she said. "We pay for their transportation and meals monthly."
When Halilovic goes back to Bosnia she is overwhelmed by how thankful the children are.
"They're so grateful and so happy they had that chance and somebody that doesn't even live anywhere in the proximity close to them is looking out for them," she said.
Carroll University's Associate Director of Student Activities Jake Eisch said the university is proud to play a small role.
"It's something that's near and dear to Emina’s heart so any chance that we have to support the story or the passion of a student is really important to us," he said.
The Walk for Bosnia is Saturday, April 22 at 10 am at Carroll University. It is a 5K and people can register tomorrow. Registration is $20 and all proceeds go to children in Bosnia.
