Croatian nonprofit enterprise BRODOTO and partners launched a successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo yesterday to provide strong, non-toxic baby slings for refugee mothers. After less than 36 hours of receiving donations, the campaign was 350% funded. The slings will be distributed to families travelling the Western Balkan route with small children and babies. This campaign began on Monday, September 21 and lasts until October 7, with an original fundraising goal of €2,000 ($2,300).

Editor’s note: Although the original amount of this campaign has been funded, Lighten the Load is still raising money to bring additional slings to refugee families who need them. They are also accepting gently used slings, please see the Indiegogo page for more information.

According to human rights organizations based in Belgrade, the proportion of children traveling this route has tripled in the last three months, making this especially vulnerable group 25 percent of the total. Most migrants are leaving their homes in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, countries that have been plagued by war and the accompanying horrors for years. For many, the migration to safety lasts more than 2,000 kilometers, sometimes traveled by buses, boats, trains but often by foot.

Marko Gregovic, organizer of the event and managing director of BRODOTO, explained that the inspiration for “Lighten the Load” came from mothers passing through Belgrade who had no way to safely or comfortably carry their children on this hazardous journey.

“We wanted to provide something that wasn’t readily available in most places, like food or water, but still essential for travel,” explained Gregovic. “After seeing so many parents along the route who didn’t have a comfortable or convenient way to hold their baby, we decided on baby slings.”

The slings will be produced by a Croatian women-run textile cooperative, Kamensko and distributed throughout the Balkan route in countries including Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia by project partners. The total cost of one sling is €20 ($23) and all collected money will be directed towards their production and distribution.

“The main goal of the campaign is to make this journey easier for families with babies, who already have extra challenges,” said Batul Hassan, campaign volunteer based in Belgrade. “But we also wanted to create connections between donors and recipients… Every parent, no matter their situation, is mainly concerned with keeping their kids safe.”

Partner organizations include Parents in Action (RODA), grassroots movement Be Human! (Budimo ljudi!), Serbian photo collective Kamerades and more.

Indiegogo Page

Brodoto Website

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