Man tracks down siblings who sent him Christmas present as he fled war 33 years ago
Dalibor Sentic was 10 when in the early 1990s his family fled Croatia for Sweden.
A man who, as a child, was forced to leave his war-torn home in Croatia 33 years ago has successfully used social media to locate and express gratitude to the Welsh siblings who sent him a Christmas present.
Dalibor Sentic was 10 years old in the early 1990s when his family departed from the newly independent Croatia, which had recently become embroiled in conflict, and relocated to Stockholm, Sweden. Dalibor had received a gift from two young siblings, eight-year-old Claire and six-year-old Peter, from Mold, Flintshire. He had long hoped to find them but possessed only scant information.
Decades later, Dalibor, now 44, managed to find the pair to thank them, stating that the gesture had "meant a lot" during a period of immense hardship. Recalling his childhood escape from his homeland, Dalibor said, "we had basically nothing." He added, "It was like starting all over again. I was so innocent but remember hearing the bombs."
Dalibor noted that despite the surrounding conflict, his parents ensured he felt "loved and secure," though he acknowledged that moving countries was "tough on a kid."
Months before their departure, Dalibor recounted how his teacher led him into a room filled with packages and told him to choose one to open. Inside was a picture of Claire and Peter, which he kept for over three decades. "The older you get the more you understand the meaning behind small gestures... it meant a lot," he reflected.
Many years later, using the limited details inscribed on the back of the picture, he resolved to find them. He joined a local community group for Mold online and shared the picture. In less than five hours, he had found them: Claire Powell and Peter Sanders. "I couldn't believe it was actually them," Dalibor exclaimed.
Peter expressed that hearing from Dalibor "knocked me sideways," but he added that it showcased the "positive side of social media." He continued, "And more importantly how those little acts of kindness can have such an impact on others."
Speaking about the initiative to send packages to children facing difficulties, Peter mentioned they participated every year. "Our mum and dad were both teachers so they were all for this type of thing. We were brought up to take part in these things and certainly to recognise that not everybody was as fortunate as us." He said this development has prompted him to consider the "small things" that can be done to assist others.
Peter, who now has three children, showed the picture to his family and recounted the story. They are now eager to participate in a similar initiative. "All of a sudden, all three of them wanted to put some toys and stuff in a box and send it out," he said.