Croatian refugee tracks down Mold siblings who sent him a gift 33 years ago

Croatian refugee tracks down Mold siblings who sent him a gift 33 years ago

As a child, Dalibor Sentic was forced to escape the war-torn landscape of Croatia during the early 1990s. At just 10 years old, his family sought refuge in Stockholm, Sweden, fleeing the violence triggered by the country’s involvement in the Balkan conflict. Amidst this turmoil, Dalibor received a Christmas gift from two young siblings, Claire and Peter, aged eight and six respectively, who lived in Mold, Flintshire, Wales.

Though Dalibor treasured the gift, he had only limited details about the generous children who sent it. Over thirty years later, now 44 years old, he managed to locate Claire and Peter through social media. He expressed deep gratitude toward them, explaining how much their kindness had meant during such an incredibly challenging period in his life.

Reflecting on those early years, Dalibor recalled the immense hardship of leaving his homeland with nothing but the clothes on his back. “We had basically nothing,” he said, adding that the experience felt like starting “all over again.” Though he was young and innocent, he remembered the terrifying sounds of bombs nearby. Despite the chaos, his parents endeavored to provide him with love and security, yet Dalibor acknowledged how difficult the transition was for a child.

Before his family escaped, Dalibor’s teacher guided him to a room filled with packages and told him to select one to open. Inside, he found a photo of Claire and Peter, which he has kept safe ever since. “The older you get the more you understand the meaning behind small gestures… it meant a lot,” he reflected, highlighting how a simple act of kindness had a lasting impact on his life

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More