About the People

The Balkan area takes its name from the Balkan Mountains, which stretch through a portion of Eastern Europe. The area was at one time part of the Ottoman Empire.

Besides beautiful mountains, there are a number of coastal areas. In northern parts of the region, summers are dry and hot, while winters are snowy and cold. In southern portions of the region, winters are more mild. Many of the coastal regions are subtropical and humid. Forests are not as abundant as they were centuries ago, but there are still plenty of woods and tree-covered mountains. Except on the plains, the soil is typically poor, but in certain regions, crops such as olives and grapes abound. Hydropower is the greatest energy resource.

Roughly 144.5 million people live in the 1.5 million km2 region, and great extents are urbanized.

The Balkans are at the intersection of Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholic Christianity and Islam, with a very small percentage of Protestant and Jewish populations. Slavic and Romance languages are the most common, with some Celtic and Germanic influences throughout history.

About the Project

There is a great need for women with training in prenatal and childbirth education or midwifery. Avenues for either gender include ESL teaching, stress management education, depression recovery counseling, or basic business and computer skills training.

The Balkan people need to know that hope and healing can only be found in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

People-Group Facts

• Population: 144.5 million
• Language: Slavic and Romance languages
• Religion: Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholic Christianity and Islam