“WIN FOR THE CHILDREN’S SHELTER”

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

THE BELGRADE CHILDREN’S SHELTER

ABOUT BELGRADE CHILDREN’S SHELTER

Under the aegis of the City of Belgrade, the Belgrade Children's Shelter accommodates and assists at-risk children and adolescents from Serbia and the surrounding countries. With a tradition of over 50 years, the Shelter has from its founding taken into care over 60,000 children and adolescents.

The Shelter offers assistance and placement to children ages 7-18 that are without parental care or adequate care, abandoned and abused children, victims of human trafficking, children with behavioral and social disorders, children from readmission and other vulnerable groups.

The Shelter provides these children with temporary emergency care until a solution for their long-term accommodation is provided in cooperation with their centers for social work.

Since its founding, the Shelter has changed its location many times. In 1961 it was relocated to Zvecanska Street 52 where it operated for 37 years. In 1998 it was temporarily moved because of reconstruction works, but never returned to the building in Zvecanska. Today it still operates within The Institute for Education of Children and YouthinBulevar oslobodjenja 219.

The space in Zvecanska 52 had 1,130sqm, while today the Shelter operates on only 250 sqm. Even though the official current Shelter’s placement capacity is for 30 children, there is room onlyfor 16 beds. At times there are situations when the number of admitted at-risk children goes to 25. This capacity is not nearly enough to provide placement for all the children in Serbia that need our help.

Programs of the Belgrade Children’s Shelter

Around 600 children and adolescents, ages 7-18, come to the Shelter every year. They are brought to us by their centers for social work, the police or by court orders. Every year more and more children come to us on their own looking for shelter and help.

The children who walk through our doors are those without parental care or adequate care, abandoned and abused children, victims of human trafficking, children with behavioral and social disorders, children from readmission and other vulnerable groups.

The Children's Shelter has two programs for child care:

1) The Shelter Program (up to 30 days)

2) The Reception Centre Program (up to 7 days)

The stay in the Shelter Program is limited by the law to a maximum of 30 days, except in the cases of children undergoing a court process, where their stay is prolonged until the process is finalized. This can take up to one year.

All the children that come to us are given interviews and psychological and medical examinations, an overview of their social and family history and recommendations for long-term post-shelter treatment and care. At the Shelter, children participate in various workshops,excursions and an array of learning activities.Various cultural and leisure activities are organized for the children throughout the year, as having fun is important for the general well-being of the children.

Physical activity is associated with positive social, mental and physical health. This is why we try to provide as much time for sports as we can. From bowling and football to curling and horseback riding, with the help of our friends and donors, we manage to give the children a high variety of sporting events.

The Children's Shelter organizes field trips, theatre and museum visits, arts and crafts workshops for the best rehabilitation of the children possible. Learning and having fun is the best thing we can offer them. Many volunteers come to work with the children teaching them new skills.

ABOUT THE PROJECT WIN FOR THE CHILDREN’S SHELTER

The Children's Shelter cares for the most vulnerable groups of children in society.

Statistics show that the number of at-risk children is growing. The capacity of the Shelter with only 16 beds (8 for girls and 8 for boys) and 250 sqm of space, is not nearly enough to help all the children in need. Thus, the relocation of the Shelter is crucial for providing enough room for all at-risk children. The goal is to collect funds for buying a house of at least 900 sqm and 30 beds.

On the initiative of friends, celebrities and donors who are aware of the difficulties the Shelter has, the project "Win for the Children’s Shelter" began in June 2010, with the aim of collecting needed funds for a new home.

As the first activity within the project, an online auction was organized with celebrities donating their personal items that were then put on auction. Many other events have since been organized with public figures, theatres, sport clubs for raising funds and awareness of the public.

In the beginning of November, it was our honor to have Bishop Dr Irinej of Backa visit the Shelter and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Shelter’s Manager Mrs. Danijela Stajkovic with the Eparchy of Backa. The first collaboration regardedthe Eparchy’s production of five TV commercials for the project"Win for the Children’s Shelter".

To view the first TV commercial, please visit

Still, without important financial donations of companies and institutions, it won't be possible to achieve the project’s goal. We have opened a dinar and foreign currency bank accounts for project donations. With your donation, you will help the most vulnerable children, for generations to come, to have a happier childhood.

DINAR BANK ACCOUNT:

Beneficiary: Zavod za vaspitanje dece i omladine, Pobedi za decu Prihvatilista, Bulevar oslobodjenja 219, 11000 Beograd

Payment details: "Pobedi za decu Prihvatilista br. 08-979"

Account number: 840-1421761-32

FOREIGN CURRENCY BANK ACCOUNT:

BENEFICIARY Zavod za vaspitanje dece i omladine, Beograd, account number:01-504100-100007693-000000-0000;

Receiving Bank or Account with Institution: Narodna banka Srbije, Kralja Petra 12, Beograd, Republika Srbija

PAYMENT PURPOSE: Donation for the Win for the Children’s Shelter

CURRENCY EUROS

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 01-504100-100007693-000000-0000

IBAN: RS 35908504100000769397

SWIFT CODE NBSRRSBGXXX viaDEUTSCHE BANK AG, F/M/ DEUTDEFF/ ACC.NO. 100 9359308 0000

METHODS OF CONTRIBUTION

Financial donations are one of the ways in which every citizen of Serbia and other countries, domestic or foreign companies, state institutions, diplomatic offices, public institutions, non-governmental, humanitarian or international organizations and others, can become a part of the project.

Possible methods of participation and contribution are:

  • State, regional and municipal bodies and organizations can contribute via political and material support, fundraising events, event venues and information pertaining to the project, contacts and advice
  • Foreign diplomatic, economic and cultural offices, international organizations and domestic and foreign humanitarian organizations, besides financial support, can contribute with organizing fundraising events, providing significant information pertaining to the project, contacts and advice
  • Sports organizations, theaters and other cultural and art institutions can contribute with the organizationof sports, cultural and art events as a fundraising tool for the project.
  • Celebrities and public persons can contribute with public fundraising events and by participatiing in promotional activities for the project.
  • Domestic and foreign media can contribute with lending informative and promotional space in the form of TV service announcements, newspaper ads, radio announcements, promoting the project online.

CONCLUSION

The realistic need of the Shelter is a house of at least 900 m2 that could room 30 beds. To accomplish this goal, the help of institutions, businesses and the general public is crucial. Remember, in only 50 years Shelter has taken care for more than 60000 children.

CONTACT

Person: Danijela Stajkovic, Shelter Manager

Address: Prihvatilište i Prihvatna stanica Beograd
Zavod za vaspitanje dece i omladine Beograd
Bulevar oslobođenja 219
11000 Belgrade
Serbia

Phone:+381 11 30 96 741

Fax:+381 11 24 92 301

Email:

Website: (in both Serbian and English)