Goran lost his home during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s and settled with his family in the vicinity of Banja Luka. Determined to support his family, he spent years working for various employers doing car body repair and painting. Yet, he always dreamed of building something of his own, and needed help to make that dream a reality.
Through IOCC’s microloan program in Bosnia and Herzegovina, families and small businesses gain access to financial support to strengthen their livelihoods.
With an IOCC loan, Goran set up a small repair workshop and purchased essential equipment. Over the past 14 years, he has secured five business loans, repaying each before taking out another. Goran now works alongside his son Vladimir, and together they not only repair damaged vehicles but also restore old, non-functional cars brought in by classic car enthusiasts—bringing them back to life and making them fully operational once again. He said, “Without IOCC loans, I would still be working for someone else, and my family wouldn’t be able to move forward. Now, both my son and I have a good business, and we look forward to the future,” he said.
