Serbia

Definition of the economic and social context

TheSerbia has a constantly changing political context, bearing the scars of the bloody civil conflicts of the 1990s. Despite the progress made over the last ten years, more than 21% of the population is at risk of poverty, while a good half of families are barely able to meet housing costs: these factors explain the decrease in the birth rate and the strong internal and external emigration.

TheVojvodina is an autonomous province located in the north of the country and characterized by a great ethnic diversity: in fact, there are more than 25 different ethnic groups, which tend to remain isolated to preserve their identity. Although rich in fertile agricultural land, the region has low levels of development, hence low wages, and consequent considerable outward migration flows. This situation generates economic crisis and psychological difficulties in families and a hollowing out of rural centres, resulting in a contraction of social, cultural, and educational services.

Geographic Location

TheSerbia is a country in southeastern Europe and has a population of about 6.8 million The autonomous province of Vojvodina is located in the northern part of the country, with its capital in Novi Sad. It is characterized by a great ethnic and cultural diversity, and has 5 official languages: Serbian, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovak and Ruthenian. The project takes place in Gornji Breg,a village located in the municipality of Senta, in the North Banat district 5 km west of the Tisa River. It has an ethnic Hungarian majority and its population numbers 1,889 people – a number that is steadily decreasing.

Composition and structure of the project

The activities take place mainly on the premises of the Association “Put srca” in Gornji Breg and on the agricultural land belonging to the parish of St. Joseph in Gornji Breg. People from the surrounding municipalities also take part: Bogaras, Senta, Tornjos, Ada, Mol. Hippotherapy activities take place at a private residence in Gornji Breg.

The project staff consists of 20 people, namely: 1 coordinator, 1 family counsellor, 8 volunteers for home visits, 5 animators for activities with children, 1 agronomist, 1 mental hygiene expert, 1 psychologist, 1 therapist, 1 project manager.

Activities and services implemented

•  Distribution of clothes and basic necessities
• Recreational, and educational activities with children and families
• Children’s Summer Camps
• Support Group on Family Life Issues and Conflict Management

• Listening centre both by phone and in person
• Hippotherapy for children for therapeutic-rehabilitative purposes
• Social garden run by families in economic difficulty
•  Agricultural training and ecology awareness courses

Beneficiaries

The program is aimed at 60 minors and their families, about 40 adults,for a total of 100 people, who meet the following requirements: having a low family salary, being disabled or family members of a disabled person, having difficulty in sustaining housing costs.

Actions

• Project support – SOP

This is an ongoing commitment to support the food, school-training and health and hygiene program aimed at the entire group of minors and their families who are part of the AFN project.

• Donations

These are free-flow payments, in support of a food, school-training and health and hygiene programme aimed at the entire group of minors and their families who are part of the AFN project.

What can you do?

• Support for the project. Please contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and payment details.;

Causal Reason“New SOP Serbia” in subsequent payments “renewal SOP Serbia”

• Donations – Causal Reason “Donazione progetto SerbiaPlease contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and donation details.