Support for Local Response to Refugee Crisis Project

The Foundation seeks to foster community spirit and solidarity in society through philanthropy, advocacy, and volunteerism. The Foundation, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched the public campaign "Life Does Not Choose Its Paths" on September 2, 2016. The campaign aimed to raise awareness among Serbian citizens about refugees and migrants and to promote solidarity and humanity as universal human values. The results of the first public opinion survey conducted during May and June 2016 showed that 45 percent of Serbian citizens have a positive attitude towards refugees, but 55 percent expressed either fear or a negative attitude. The campaign was conducted at the national and local levels, with various workshops, sports, and cultural events organized to bring migrants and local populations closer together, particularly in municipalities with transit and asylum centers. The campaign aimed to reach 500,000 Serbian citizens. The campaign is part of the Support for Local Response to Refugee Crisis Project, which the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation is implementing with the support of USAID. The project has a value of $700,000 and began on March 1, 2016, and will be completed on August 31, 2017. During the project, the Foundation and USAID organized various social and creative activities for refugees, including the donation of medical equipment and school supplies to local communities. The Foundation also provided support to local communities affected by the refugee crisis by organizing training sessions for emergency response and providing grants for the purchase of equipment for emergency situations. In addition, the Foundation and USAID provided donations to local authorities and asylum centers, including the donation of medical equipment and school supplies to the National Kitchen of the Red Cross in Subotica, worth 1 million dinars. The Foundation also provided funding for the renovation of local youth centers in Šid, Preševo, Dimitrovgrad, and Lajkovac, totaling $10,000. Two children's playrooms in asylum centers in Tutin and Sjenica were also equipped with furniture, books, and toys to provide a suitable space for children to play and socialize. By the end of 2016, 10 elementary schools in all 7 municipalities covered by the project received a donation of 500 books and textbooks for school libraries, significantly improving access to educational resources for local children.