Serb for Serbs Report March 2016.

Monthly Report for March www.serbsforserbs.org 2016

Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634

Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS

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2016

Monthly Report for March

www.serbsforserbs.org

Monthly Report No. 3 March, 2016

Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org

PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS

Website: www.serbsforserbs.org E-Mail: [email protected]




Dear friends and donors, Charity organization Serbs for Serbs registered in the state of Illinois in United States in Jun 2010 by the group of the Serbian youth. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization. Donation is tax-deductible to the extent followed by the law. On 30th September, 2011 we finally got the letter from department of the treasury (IRS) with tax exempt 501(c)3 approval. All donations to our organization donated from June 16, 2010 are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code. We are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers of gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code.

About Us

The mission of Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is to affect on consciousness of Americans, Serbs and their friends through planned projects, social and humanitarian activities in order to develop and foster better society for future generations and provide aid for underprivileged families in need. Although there are many humanitarian organizations and associations, help often doesn't reach the most jeopardized. Due to unnecessary administration, missing information and slow decision making, the delivery of aid arrives too late to the final consumers, or not at all. It is a sad and embarrassing, but true fact that more than 18.000 children daily die around the world because of starvation and malnutrition. There, among us, the blind and deaf. We are witnesses of the bad demographic situation of our nation, decreasing natality, increasing number of singles, abortions, accelerated aging of

the population and generally bad economic condition of the households in Serbia, Republic of Srpska and other countries in the Balkan. An average couple has "fallen" on one child. Analysts warn that Serbs will become a minority in its own country in the following century if the nation, individuals and government don't wake up from the nescient in which they've fallen! On the other hand, nobody is talking about the families with many children which grieve by living in bitter poverty. Occupied by their everyday struggle for survival, they are being humbly in their desire for implementing rights which belong to them. Their life stories, fears and problems are identical, but almost invisible and unheard in order to gain the attention of the public, media and even state. That's why the idea of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs arose. The organization was formed by a group of young and trustful people, who are united by the common vision of helping families blessed by many children and who are aware of the fact that even a small help means a lot for those who don't live in a material excess. We are united by the humane idea to help the poorest part of the Serbian nation. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs try to revive the spiritless energy of the Serbian Diaspora which would be able to reinforce people of Serbian heritage as well as all good people throughout the world with minimal, but constant monthly donations. We hope and believe that there is also a grain of doing good and that you will join us in the endless struggle against poverty. God bless and save all Serbian families with many children and our honored donors who participate in the noble effort to return smile on children faces.

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE!

www.serbsforserbs.org




Ambitions

Our mission The mission of Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is to affect on consciousness of Serbian people through our projects and humanitarian activities, in order to develop better society for future generations.

Why Serbs for Serbs? We wanted to alleviate impaired spirit of Serbian people in togetherness and brotherhood help through humanitarian work and social aid.

Who do we help? We help Serbian families who live in the Balkans, have five or more children and live in terrible poverty. Under terrible poverty we define absence of one or more basic factors required for living: food, clothes, shoes, and safe space for living.

Why do we help? We believe that there is a basic need for one human (or a group) to help others in distress. A help is not only human virtue but also a Christian responsibility. By focusing our help on families with many children, we directly affect on their stirring toward becoming independent from social-dependable government programs.

What are our long term goals?

• family is ready to support itself daily and manage to pay all required expenses;

• their children are encouraged to continue with school and raising their own family;

• our donors are satisfied with the activities and they are ready to help other families;

• our organization is satisfied with the results;

• family is ready in the future to become our donor and if necessary help other families that are in need of help.

Who do we need in organization? We need members and donors that will secure financial stability through supporting our programs and activities in the future. Donors may join our daily activities within the organization in order to coordinate our work better. We also need volunteers ready to donate several hours per week for actual work within the organization. Activities of volunteers and their specific tasks would be determined by the required projects and their personal interest. From that group of volunteers we would look for future leaders of organization.

How to donate?

1. PayPal donation: [email protected]

2. Direct Deposit to Wells Fargo Bank account Please email us at: [email protected]

3. You can mail personal or business check to:

Serbs for Serbs PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634

4. Donation boxes: BEOGRAD CAFÉ 2937 West Irving Park Road Chicago, Illinois Owner: Dule Pavlovic

NADA’S DELI & BAKERY 7316 West Lawrence Avenue Harwood Heights, Illinois

BALKAN BAKERY 541 South LaGrange Road LaGrange, Illinois Owner: Olja Igic

COMPASS FUEL STATION 8147 Joliet Road McCook, Illinois Owner: Roy and Maria Dobrasinovic

ST. NIKOLA CHURCH 4301 Prairie Ave.

Brookfield, Illinois

CITY FRESH MARKET 3201 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659




AID FOR RADISIC FAMILY FROM MOSTAR

As part of the traditional Christmas action, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs helped the Radisic family from Hodbina near Mostar. The family consists of the parents, Sreto and Nikolina, and their four children: Eva (9), Ljuba (8), Rada (6), and Uros (3). Two of the children have serious walking difficulties. First time we helped the Radisics two years ago by purchasing an electric stove. This time we helped them by providing construction material. The total value of the aid is 500 Euros.

Youngest Radisics were eager to play

Construction material delivered to Radisic family




Radisic family in front of their house

We call upon all people of good will to get involved and through their contributions help the projects of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs, which aim at helping socially disadvantaged Serbian multiple children families throughout the Balkans.

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTUE! SERBS FOR SERBS




BOOKS FOR LIBRARY IN PREBILOVCI

Charity organization Serbs for Serbs responded to the invitation of Church Municipality of Capljina to help the fit out of the library Saint Stana Arnaut in Prebilovci. The first package of 53 books was delivered to the newly founded library. Logistic support was given by the friends from the “Osmeh na Dar” Student Foundation, and this project, as many other projects of book collection, was started with the great help of our longstanding associate Mr. Bane Kojic and his friends.

Books delivered to library in Prebilovci

The project of fitting out the library in Prebilovci is of great importance, and our organization, together with its associates, will continue to support this project.




BETTER LIFE FOR NIKOLIC FAMILY FROM KLADOVO

A month before the start of the fifth jubilary season of the “Trojka iz Bloka” Tournaments, great news arrive from Kladovo! Bathroom and part of the house were renovated for the nine-member Nikolic family from the village of Veliki Sip near Kladovo. The family was visited last year, when the works were arranged, and the total cost of the works was 294,983 Dinars. The parents, Zoran and Zivadinka, have seven daughters: Zorana (17), Jelena (13), Marina (12), Tanja (9), Rada (9), Milica (4), and Eugenija (1). Using the funds raised at the last year’s well visited tournament in Kladovo and thanks to our proud sponsors, donors and technical sponsors, as well as selfless engagement of the Municipality of Kladovo, the bathroom and part of the house intended for the kitchen were renovated, a washing machine was bought, complete sewage and water lines and electrical infrastructure were renewed, with new sanitary ware and a new fuse box.

Bathroom in the Nikolic home when Serbs for Serbs first

visited the family

Renovated bathroom in the Nikolic home

Tanja, Rada, and Milica Nikolic in the new shower

This solved the biggest problem for the family, the problem of dampness. We wrote about it earlier when we invited good people to engage and help the Nikolics, and Kladovo responded to the invitation.




After a lot of hard work and many problems that had to be solved concerning the property ownership and the family situation, the team of the sports-charity “Trojka iz Bloka” project Kladovo, and with the help of good people, managed to carry out this big undertaking.

Bathroom and kitchen area - renovated and fitted out

The mission of the tournament – construction and renovation of bathrooms – once again proved how important it is to have conditions for maintaining personal hygiene in a large family. Three generations of the Nikolics – the parents, their seven daughters, and the grandparents, who visit them daily, now have far better living conditions and they have a starting point to try and improve their situation further.

Renovated space intended for the new kitchen

New fuse box installed

The situation of the Nikolic family is far from ideal and they will need help in the future, but “Trojka iz Bloka” Kladovo gave them faith in people and in the miracle of brotherly love, which they felt thanks to their kind neighbors and fellow townspeople.




The next tournament in Kladovo is on July 31, so we take this opportunity to invite all sportsmen and humanists from Kladovo and vicinity to join us for another sports-charity spectacle – this will be the best way to celebrate the new beginning for the Nikolics and to repay our sponsors, donors, technical sponsors and all good people from Kladovo for the big success we achieved together.

Talking to workers and Nikolic family

The youngest express their gratitude to donors with

satisfaction and smiles

A big thank you to donors worldwide and also to kind volunteers who, as always, selflessly did the biggest portion of the job. We are awaiting the next Kladovo Tournament with great optimism! Once again, we invite you to come, so we can together do our best to help, because – CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE! CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE! NO SURRENDER! SERBS FOR SERBS




COW AND CALF FOR FAMILY KRSTIC FROM GORAZDEVAC

Within the traditional Christmas action, Charity organization Serbs for Serbs delivered the cow with calf to family Krstic from Gorazdevac on Kosovo and Metohija. Parents Boban and Sladjana have two sons, Lazar (5) and Damjan (3). Father Boban is in serious animal husbandry business, and during our working visit at the end of last year he expressed the need of another cow or two calves for husbandry. We extend our gratitude to the brotherhood of the Visoki Decani monastery without whom this action, as well as many previous ones, wouldn’t be realized.

Boban Krstic next to his new cow with calf

Family Krstic in the Visoki Decani monastery courtyard

We call upon all the people of good will to get involved and donate in order to help the projects of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs with the aim of helping the socially disadvantaged multiple children Serbian families throughout Balkan.




FINISHED HOUSES FOR 3 FAMILIES IN LOPARE

Within one of its biggest projects – FIGHT AGAINST FLOODS, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs finished reconstruction of three houses for the families with children who were hit by the floods and landslides during 2014 on the territory of the Lopare municipality in the Republic of Srpska. We finished the works in building three houses for families Mitrovic, Gasic and Jokic. The total amount of help is 78,296 BAM.

The landslide completely destroyed the Mitrovic family

home

These three families had lost their homes due to landslides which caused great damage to the Lopare inhabitants. The first family we helped was family Mitrovic.

Setting the grounds for building a new house for the

family Mitrovic

Milosavka Mitrovic is a single mother of four children: Perica (19), Stojanka (17), Dragana (10) and Drazen (8). They were forced to move out from the family house which was damaged during the mudslide, but it didn’t collapse but the landslide had created the cracks and made huge damage after which it wasn’t safe to continue living in the house.




The family temporary moved in to the local Veterinarian Station and hoped to meet the conditions to get back to normal life.

Completed works on the family Mitrovic house

Charity organization SERBS FOR SERBS fulfilled their hope and built them a house on the lot provided by the Lopare municipality, and the amount spent on building was 23,257.60 BAM. We continued working on the new house of family Mitrovic during 2015 – the façade and interior were finished. In 2015, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs delivered the keys of the new home to family Mitrovic.

Serbs for Serbs with family Mitrovic in their new home

The Lopare municipality plans to bring the water to the house in 2016 in order to finally move in the family and bring it back to normal life. The total amount spent on building the house to family Mitrovic is 33,787.78 BAM.

Family Gasic in front of their old house in 2014

The second family we helped was family Gasic. They lived in the storey house which was filled in by mud during the landslide due to the heavy terrain slope. It was possible to build a new home upon the existing storey, so we went from words to deeds.




The multiple children family consists of father Cvijetin and his wife Marina with six children, of whom two daughters are married. Dijana (24), Risto (19), Vinka (15) and Ivana (10) still live with their parents. Cvijetin’s parents Diko and Pelka and Cvijetin’s brother Risto are living under the same roof. Risto has two children – Danijel (12) and Blazenko (11).

Current outlook of the family Gasic house

Until 2015, the house was built and covered with the investment of 13,857.03 BAM, while in 2015, we bought carpentry and plastering material for the inner walls in the amount of 4,284.30 BAM. The multiple children, hardworking family will take care for the remaining works on their new house.

The youngest of the Gasic family next to the material for

inner plastering

Marina Gasic with her children in front of her upgraded

house

The total amount spent on building the house for the family Gasic is18,141.33 BAM.




Cracked walls on the family Jokic house in 2014

The third family to which the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs built a house is family Jokic from the Piperi village. The landslides of May 2014 triggered the hill above their house and moved the house. The house wasn’t pulled down, but the geological commission established that family Jokic had to leave its home.

Built ground for the new Jokic house

Construction works in 2014 on the new family Jokic

house

Father Sreten and his wife Ljuba are living with three children: Danijela (20), Nedja (18) and Marko (13). Unfortunately, Sreten has trichinosis. Apart from his children, he is taking care of his mother-in-law who has Parkison’s disease. During the year the family had a death case – after the severe disease, Sreten’s mother died. Family Jokic lives in poverty without any income.

Current look of the new family Jokic house




Until 2015 we invested 15,150 BAM into building a new home for family Jokic, and in 2015 we continued working and covered the house, set the carpentry and finished the inner works. During 2015 we spent additional 11,216.46 BAM. Now family Jokic finally has a house in which it can live peacefully.

A photo with family Jokic in front of new house

The total amount spent on building the house to family Jokic is 26,366.46 BAM.

Delivery of acknowledgments to the Charity

organization Serbs for Serbs

In the middle of last year the Lopare municipality gave the acknowledgment to Charity organization Serbs for Serbs for helping in remediation of damage after the floods. Families Mitrovic, Gasic and Jokic extend their gratitude to donors worldwide who were with them in the most difficult time and provided the new roofs over their heads, and to good people who had helped them in finishing the works.




HELP FOR SIMOVIC FAMILY FROM MONTENEGRO

As part of the traditional Christmas action, Charity organization Serbs for Serbshelped the Simovic family from Herceg Novi inMontenegro. The family consists of the parents Velibor and Anastasija, and their four children: Vasilisa (9), the twins Jelena and Milica (7), and Vladislav (4). We previously visited the family at the end of January and agreed on providing them with a washing machine, wardrobe, desk, and footwear for the children, in the total amount of 504 Euro.

Washing machine will be of great use to mother

Anastasija

Wardrobe which means a lot to Vladislav, Vasilisa,

Jelena, and MIlica




Work desk for little Simovics

Simovic family would like to thank all donors for their

help

We call upon all people of good will to get involved and through their contributions help the projects of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs, which aim at helping socially disadvantaged Serbian families throughout the Balkans.




AID FOR JAKOVLJEVIC FAMILY FROM KRAJINA

As part of the traditional Christmas action, Charity organization Serbs for Serbs helped the Jakovljevic family from Gracac in Lika. The single mother Radmila has two daughters, Paula (5), and Marisela (3). The aid consisted of purchasing furniture for the children’s room, more precisely, a bed with mattress, a wardrobe, a desk and a cupboard. The total value of the aid is 460 Euro.

Jakovljevic sisters with assembled bed

Mattress with slat bed frame

Elements for children’s room delivered




Children’s room assembled

We call upon all people of good will to get involved and through their contributions help the projects of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs, which aim at helping socially disadvantaged Serbian multiple children families throughout the Balkans.

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE! SEBS FOR SERBS




SEEDLINGS FOR TWO FAMILIES IN DALAMATIA

Within the Christmas action with the aim to help the families in the areas of Krajina, Charity organization Serbs for Serbs in cooperation with the organization "Zene Kosovske doline" from Dalmatia helped the two families by providing the walnut seedlings. With the help of the abovementioned association, we delivered to families Beric, consisting of parents Bogdan and Radmila and children Djordje (17), Milos (13) and Bojan (8) and Cenic, consisting of the single mother Danijela with her daughters Andjela (17) and Anastasija (14), 30 seedlings, respectively. Within this small project, these two families will commence the process of growing walnuts in order to provide additional income and a certain future for their children. The total value of help was 1,035 Euro.

Three generations of family Beric in front of their home

We thank the organization “Zene Kosovske doline” for its support within our traditional Christmas action and we call upon all who are interested to give their specified donations and thus join the project of renovation of the abandoned elementary school in the Ridjane village which the association is going to use for its activities after the renovation and recovery.




Family Beric with provided 30 walnut seedlings

Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is actively preparing the big traditional Easter action in the Krajina region where it plans to help approximately twenty-five families and support two projects which will benefit the large number of children and people from that area.

Anastasija and Andjela with grandmother and mother

Danijela

Family Cenic with provided 30 walnut seedlings

We call upon all the people of good will to participate and donate in order to support the projects of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs with the aim to help the socially disadvantaged multiple children Serbian families throughout Balkan.

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE! SERBS FOR SERBS




SECOND PART OF THE CHRISTMAS HELP ON KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

Charity organization Serbs for Serbs has successfully finished the delivery of the second part of help to families on Kosovo and Metohija within the Christmas action. During February, we delivered the vast part of the help to families who had been previously visited at the end of December 2015. During the Christmas action we helped 14 Serbian families in the enclaves in northern Kosmet in the total value of 1,450,000 RSD.

Family Ristic is provided with wood-burning stove

Family Ristic consists of parents Sreten and Sonja and as much as five children: Snezana (16), Jovana (15), Milos (11) and Ivana (10). We started big project for family Ristic in order to provide the means to renovate several rooms in the ground floor of their, to say the least, unsuitable house. The unemployment of parents is a great concern which is related to various other problems and the lack of a serious center for social work because the family needs a good social worker.

Family of Milan Milicevic from Socanica is provided

with cow

Besides the families south from Ibar in this action we also helped family Milicevic from Socanica near Leposavic in the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija. The family consists of father Milan, mother Sneza and children Jana (17), Perica (14), Nikolina (11) and Mihajlo (4). The host Milan is working in the local Water supply company, they are receiving the child benefit and are engaged in agriculture and we have provided them a cow in order to provide dairy products for their needs and for sale.

Bathroom condition during the first visit




Renovated bathroom of family Arsic

New tiles set in the family Arsic kitchen

In New Badovac near Gracanica we helped the young married couple Arsic. Parents Milos and Dragana have two sons, Djordje (3) and a newborn Todor. For the needs of sanation of the bathroom wall we bought tiles, knauf and isolation.

Ivan Jovic next to the delivered construction material

Family Jovic from Lipljane consists of parents Ivan and Jelena, and in their household also live Ivan’s mother and two children: Andjelina (5) and Nikolina (1). The house is in pretty bad state, so we provided construction material for the wall sanation. Family Milic from Skulanevo lives in a small hidebound room in difficult conditions. Family consists of parents Igor and Vera and children Nikolija (2) and Neda (1). We provided a cow with a calf for the family.




Ivan Jovic next to the delivered construction material

Construction material for family Jovic

Father Isaia with Serbs for Serbs and family Djuric

Doors and windows for family Djuric

New windows installed on the Djuric family home

We call upon all relevant institutions, associations and individuals to understand the seriousness of the whole security situation in our southern province and contribute by providing modest donations in order to provide carefree childhood to Serbian children.




COW AND CALF FOR FAMILY STANKOVIC NEAR TUZLA

Within the traditional Christmas action the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs has helped family Stankovic from the village of Pozarnica in the Tuzla area, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The family consists of five members: grandmother Slavojka, her son Dragan with his wife Branka and two sons: Mihajlo (6) and Aleksandar (2). The help consisted in providing cow with a calf for the family. The total value was 2,600 BAM.

Buying and transporting of cow to family Stankovic near

Tuzla

Young Mihajlo Stankovic is most pleased for receiving a

calf

Prior to the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, family Stankovic used to live in the village called Pozarnica which is 10 km away from Tuzla in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pozarnica was a Serbian village with several hundred Serbian households. During the war, Serbs had left their homes and moved to the Republic of Srpska. So did family Stankovic who went to Bijeljina where they lived in the refugee settlement until 2001.




Cow with calf arrived to family Stankovic

When they had returned to their homes, they weren’t able to find much, because there was a great material damage on the houses. Zeljko Pantic from the Association of youth “Restoration” asked us to help the family. The Stankovic family has no income since it is very difficult for a Serb to find a job in Tuzla. The village is cut off from Tuzla, there is no ambulance, store, public transportation, and in a case of any need, one must go to the town. The cow which died was providing enough milk for the family members and for sale, and the money from selling the milk was the greatest source of income for family Stankovic.

With the help of donors, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs provided the means for buying a cow with a calf. Great happiness and tears of joy could be seen on the faces of members of the Stankovic family. The family is overwhelmed with happiness and thankful to all the donors who provided great help.

We call upon all the people of good will to get involved and donate in order to help the projects of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs with the aim of helping the socially disadvantaged multiple children Serbian families throughout Balkan.




SFS MADE FAMILY PESIC HAPPY

Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is always adjusting the help primarily to the needs of the children, but on this occasion we had finished unusual and special action – at the end of March we provided for family Pesic from Pirot with the creative workshop “Our little family production” the machine which would improve their work and enable them to continue creating better and more beautiful creations of which they live and which are making the lives of their children more beautiful. Family Pesic consists of parents Momcilo and Irena and four children: Matija (10), Sergej (9), Doroteja (8) and Amelija (5) and in these days they are expecting their fifth child! The value of the bought machine is 499 Euro.

While brothers and sisters are anxious to meet the new baby, additional help came to this blessed, hardworking and honest family. Thanks to the donors worldwide we also helped family Pesic in 2015. Apart from renovating the house, we helped them to spread their creative job. The new machine will help them in the flourishing of their job.

Creative family Pesic together

Their idea is to create art in all possible forms, from the quality paintings painted by father and mother to the different toys for the youngest and little older ones. Their ideas are endless and the only thing which stood on their way and caused problems concerned, of course, finances. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs provided family Pesic with tools for work so different from all those which socially disadvantaged families usually need.

Creation of art




Father Momcilo is having a health issue and he cannot plow or take care of the farm, but he decided a long time ago not to despair but to fight with all his forces. And he found the strength in beauty, art and creativity. This action is special because the donation of new and modern machine is not only providing nourishment for the family but it is also opening new world and new opportunities to the children who are growing surrounded by the creative energy – it is developing imagination, ideas and paving the way to progress.

The master at work

Through this action the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is also continuing the glorious tradition of the old crafts from Pirot – according to their possibilities family Pesic is making both rugs and other valuable artistic works from the Pirot area and thus not allowing the extinction of the rich heritage. By joining the fight for better future of our children and defending the old crafts, a new world and a new opportunity have been created for family Pesic.

Happy members of family Pesic with new machine

We call upon all the people of good will to get involved and donate in order to help the projects of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs with the aim of helping the socially disadvantaged Serbian families throughout Balkan.




SFS AT KRAJISKO PRELO NEAR CHICAGO

On Saturday, March 5, 2016, the Chicago chapter of Serbs for Serbs was invited to attend the event, “Krajisko Prelo” organized by the Udruzenje Krajiska Srba "Prelo" whose president Petar Putic, and Vice President Dusko Cuckovic. Avid followers of Serbs for Serbs, they wanted to start a working relationship with our organization to help Serbs in Srpska Krajina.

The event was held at the reception hall of the Nova Gracanica Monastery just outside of Chicago. The event was the annual meeting of the émigré from Srpska Krajina who have found their way to Chicago over the past decades.

President SFS USA Petko Petkovic

Every year, their organization holds their annual “Prelo” and in doing so, always choose to support a couple of project and collect donations for these projects.




This year, among the three projects they chose to collect donations for, one was to go towards Serbs for Serbs for help to be delivered to Serbian families in Srpska Krajina. We will get the final amount to be donated after their organizations annual meeting schedule a few weeks from today, but so far, there is about $450 already collected for Serbs for Serbs to provide aid to Serbian families in Krajina.

The evening’s event was extremely well attended. The gathering collected over 400 people and was an example of how Serbs can gather together to be festive and provide help at the same time. Along with the Consulate General of Serbia, Dejan Radulovic, there were many distinguished guests including well known actors, musicians and folklore ensemble like Folklorni Ensemble Bozur.

Consistently through the evening, we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of people who very aware of our charitable organization and the work we do. Specifically, they followed very closely our Easter and Christmas Charity actions in Krajina. Other than Serbs from Krajina, they felt we were one of the only Charity Organizations who truly help in Srpska Krajina.

We are truly very proud to have been invited by a wonderful organization such as Udruzenje Krajiski Srba Prelo who have been united for 15 years.




TALK AT FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

Rap, pop, “turbo folk”, folk music… What influence does music have on young people? Can religion and music go together? These questions were the key points of the talk held at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade. The talk was given by those who make it - Skabo from BS and THCF. The hall was filled with young people who wanted to talk to Skabo from Beogradski Sindikat, Stefan and Bore from the group THC La Familija”, and Nikola Stanoev – Uncle Dzo. The people were also addressed by Milos Simovic, spokesman of the organization “Serbs for Serbs”.

Skabo “broke the ice” by revealing that until recently he

had looked on things differently

- When some people first told me that my lyrics have religious connotation, I didn’t see it that way and I had to sit down and think. Then I realized that everyone experiences music in their own way.

And, today I’m actually proud and glad because of that – said Skabo. The guys also talked about folk music and pointed out that there is quality music and garbage. Young Nikola explained that it is enough to just listen to the lyrics.

- What kind of a song is that which says: “I have a daughter, and she is female”?! Students had a chance to ask questions via SMS, and the situation became a little heated when Bore and Stefan were asked how the name of their group can be something that young people can look up to (meaning THC which is a substance contained in marijuana).

- We sing the truth and that substance was part of our past. Young people today have to find their own way - said Stefan. - We focused on creation and work, and the name stuck from when we were kids. You know that all kinds of things are available on the streets of Belgrade. This “La Familija” was added later and is much more important – Stefan pointed out. Thunderous applause was echoing through the amphitheater, while the rappers were explaining to the students how important it is to stay on the right path.




What needs to be said is that all these rappers are engaged in the work of the organization “Serbs for Serbs”, said Milos Simovic. - Skabo came to us by himself and expressed a wish to help. The same goes for members of THC. “They said – this is a good thing and we’re here to help”, said Milos.

Another question students asked was about the music the rappers make – do they think that some of their songs which talk about drugs and similar things are a good thing? - Our music is about the things that exist. We’re realistic and really, if you look around, you’ll see that a lot of things we sing about are true, explained the rappers.

And the students were more than happy with the talk. - Things like this should be organized more often, because the last talk on music was held in 2012 - said one of the students.

The rappers continue to raise public awareness and influence the young, and it will not be long before they appear at some other place.

NO SURRENDER!




GATHERING AT THE “SERBIAN HOUSE OF BEER”

On Wednesday, March 16, in cooperation with the friends from the café the “Serbian house of beer” from Belgrade, Charity organization Serbs for Serbs organized another fundraising evening. We especially extend our gratitude to the Crow brewery from Vranovo near Smederevo who gave up their profit and donated the entire income towards our charity. At the end of the evening, we collected 25,670 RSD in the donation box.

An Acknowledgments was delivered to friends from the

café “Serbian house of beer” by the

Serbs for Serbs charity




We would like to thank again to our friends from the café “Serbian house of beer” as well as all the people of good will who contributed to the pleasant memory of the evening by their presence and donations.

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE! NO SURRENDER! SERBS FOR SERBS




SERBS FOR SERBS RECEIVED ORDER OF GONJOKARLOVAC

DIOCESE

On Saturday, March 19, on St. Teodor’s Day, at Komogovina monastery near Kostajnica in Croatia, on the initiative of Bishop Gerasim of the Upper Karlovac Diocese, the order of Saint New Martyrs of Upper Karlovac was solemnly awarded to the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs. The Order was received by President Igor Rasula together with members of the organization, who came from Belgrade especially for this occasion. This great honor, which the Serbian Orthodox Church bestowed upon the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs, followed after numerous charity aid actions intended for returnee families in Slavonija, Banovina, Kordun, Lika, and Dalmatia over the last several years.

Bishop Gerasim of Upper Karlovac Diocese, awarding

the Order of Saint New Martyrs of Upper Karlovac to

Igor Rasula, president of the Charity organization

Serbs for Serbs

Serbs for Serbs with Bishop Gerasim in front of the

Komogovina monastery

After receiving the Order of Saint Sava, which was awarded to the organization Serbs for Serbs in Gracanica, on Vidovdan 2015, by Patriarch Irinej, the Order of Saint New Martyrs of Upper Karlovac is the highest decoration received from a Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Actions speak louder than words, and charity actions in the Upper Karlovac Diocese definitely did not go unnoticed. Gratitude of the people who have received aid from the organization over the last several years was also recognized by the Serbian Church, which rewarded the benevolence and zeal with this Order. After the solemn Order awarding ceremony, members of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs visited the Jasenovac Monastery and former Jasenovac concentration camp to pay respects to hundreds of thousands of people and children who were brutally tortured and killed during the World War II.




Serbs for Serbs in front of the Komogovina monastery

Serbs for Serbs in front of the Jasenovac monastery

Serbs for Serbs paid respects to casualties in Jasenovac

concentration camp

Please support our future charity activities in order to help more children and their families.




SERBS FOR SERBS CANADA IN MEDIA

In time like this when genuine compassion and solidarity are very rare, new people shine through and restore our faith in humanity, inspiring us to be better and take pride in ourselves and in our origin. Every day, life in Canada brings on new challenges which many of us didn’t know even existed. Fund raising – collecting money on voluntary basis for something or someone is integral part of life in Canada. Almost daily, we are exposed to letters, phone calls, special events, charity concerts, games, marathons whose aim is to raise a certain amount of money which is going to change the world. There is a real army of different organizations, foundations, societies and associations that work for the cause throughout the entire year, but are particularly active in the season of giving, around Christmas and New Year's. It's wonderful to be a benefactor and there's no greater feeling than when we help someone, who we, in most cases, don't even know. Those warm feelings of humanity are awakened in us, the feeling that we have done something good, that we've given a small contribution to humankind. In the sea of such organizations, one charity organization shone through, an organization which came up with unprecedented system of transparency and full financial openness towards its donors. The transparency and full accountability is reflected in each step of their work, which is documented on a monthly basis and publicly available at any time. Bank balance is published daily, as are the names of all donors and amounts of donations. All expenditures have been documented by receipts which have been published on the web page in our monthly reports, with pictures and video clips after charity actions end.

Unbelievable! Have you ever encountered such form of openness and communication with donors? Surely you have not, and to make things even more interesting, we are talking about our own, Serbian charity organization! A modest beginning and a strong growth of the organization Charity organization Serbs for Serbs was founded in 2005, and it was officially registered in Belgrade in 2007.The organization was launched by educated young people, who at first set solid foundations based solely on an honest, patient and persistent work. The reason for starting up the organization was to fight against and suppress the white plague which has spread throughout the Serbian nation, and to use all the funds raised to deliver aid for multiple-child families living in poverty and under harsh conditions. Churches and monasteries are an excellent source of information about such families, because the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs regularly visits local churches and monasteries when they get out in the field. In addition to numerous awards, the organization and its members were awarded The Order of St. Sava of second degree by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, on Vidovdan in 2015, in the Gračanica Monastery in Kosovo and Metohija. These young people gathered around the idea to connect Serbs in homeland and those in the Diaspora, to reinforce and bring about solidarity within the Serbian nation, in order to financially and morally help endangered Serbian families.




Everyone is welcome to get involved and engage in charity work in the field, when visiting families or delivering aid. By choosing the name Serbs for Serbs, the organization's members have at the same time described its mission which is to affect on the consciousness of the Serbian nation through planned projects in order to develop and foster a better society for future generations. The aim of the organization is to help underprivileged families get on their own feet, in order to become valuable members of the society that are going to live off their own work and possibly become donors themselves to others in need. It couldn't get better! The working principle of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is based on the idea of home visits to the families and then, in conversation with them, identifying key family problems. In accordance with the requirements, the help is reflected in the form of acquisition of construction materials, livestock and agricultural machines, repairs and house or barn upgrade, household appliances, working materials etc. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs never provides financial aid to the families, because they consider themselves to be accountable before donors to ensure what is essential and make a thorough report about it. Such reports on each supported family can be found on our web page www.srbizasrbe.org Serbs for Serbs made major accomplishments helping the flood victims in 2014.They delivered over 700 household appliances, construction materials and еquipment for restoration and repair of damaged houses and other facilities in Serbia and Republic of Srpska. Since it started, the organization has raised over 1,422,000.00 Euros and has helped over 1,400 families that live in Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Herzegovina, Republic of Srpska and FYR Macedonia. The help has repeatedly been delivered to health centers, hospitals, soup kitchens, secondary and primary schools and other institutions that primarily care for children's welfare. The motto of our organization is ''Children are our future!'' The Charity organization Serbs for Serbs reach even the most remote villages in all parts of the Balkans inhabited by Serbs, while a special emphasis is placed on Kosovo and Metohia, as the cradle of Serbian Orthodoxy and culture. Generosity of donors from around the world Thanks to donors from around the world, today numerous families live in warm homes, children sleep in new beds, they have clean water and electricity, a bathroom, a stove, a fridge..

With their generosity, donors have given them hope and built faith in the fact that someone is thinking of them, they have given them strength to stay on their fatherland and raise their offspring on their own land. During its ten-year existence, the organization has been growing strongly and it has spread to several countries. The organization has officially registered branches in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, The United States of America, Republic of Srpska, Montenegro and Canada as well as friendship clubs to the organization in Australia and The Netherlands. The strength has been built naturally, organically because , from project to project, this demonstrated trust, accountability and transparency has found its audience and like-minded people, donors from around the world. A new branch in Canada Since November 2015, the Canadian branch of the organization, Serbs for Serbs Canada, has been officially registered as a non-profit organization. Even prior to the registration of the branch, friends of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs from Canada held several successful charity events when they raised money to help several families: a single mother Pecirep of four from Višegrad who they helped to get a new house, a single father of the six-member Srdic family from village Amajlije near Bijeljina had his house upgraded, and similar support in the form of house upgrading was given to the Vranic family with eleven children from Belgrade, Djordjevic family with four children from village Strpce in Kosovo, Bjelanovic family with four children from Kistanje in Krajina, and a new barn was built for the Perovic family near Cacak , because the old one had completely fallen apart. Board of Directors of the Canadian branch of the organization consists of: Angelina Racic – president, Mirjana Brkic – vice president, Lidija Borojevic- treasurer, Olga Lukic – communication and Dragana Kubura- secretary. Even though they come from almost all Serbian regions of the former Yugoslavia: Angelina and Dragana are from Sarajevo, Lidija is from Banija, while Mirjana and Olga were both born in Canada, but are from Herzegovina and Dalmatia by origin, these hard-working women have felt a sincere need to help their nation in Homeland through work and commitment in Canada.




So far, the Canadian branch of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs had two Christmas campaigns under the name 'In Time For Božić ' , as well as two friendly gatherings around pancakes under the name 'Palačinka party' in the Serbian centre in Mississauga, Ontario. The total amount raised in these actions sums up to $40,400!!! The application for a charity organization status has been sent and has been in procedure, which lasts 6 to 8 months, since November 2015, and as soon as it is approved by the Canadian authorities, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs Canada will be able to issue certificates of donations (tax receipts). The next action will be the organization of the traditional spring palacinka party in the Serbian center in Mississauga scheduled for May 15, right after the service. You can find all information about the Charity organization on the following web pages: www.srbizasrbe.org www.serbsforserbs.org www.facebook.com/sfscanada Please send all questions to following mail address:

[email protected] Serbs from Calgary Friends of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs from Calgary, ten families who called themselves Serbos, each pay on average $30 each month and since 2009 they have donated around $32,000 in such a manner to the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs! This type of organized monthly help is very impressive and inspiring, and the person who came up with the idea is Dragan Vujic. When Serbs come together, great things happen! Grain by grain When you walk around shopping malls, you can see volunteers of organizations such as Salvation Army or UNICEF, standing and trying to draw your attention with their bells. They are raising money and are surely doing it in their best intentions. The money will then be directed for the children in Africa or some other tragic destination struck by a disaster. Drawing from experience, who will help us then, if not we ourselves? Grains of sands make a mountain, and we are but a single grain. Imagine if every grain went to its mountain. Making those mountains is our duty towards our ancestors who gave lives for their national identity and language, as well as our Christian duty to preserve the same for our offspring and future generations.

Serbs for Serbs Canada




SFS COLLECTION BOX IN STADION SCHOPING CENTER

At the beginning of March, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs set up a collection box on the ground floor of the Stadion Shopping Center (near the entrance to the mega market). All the money collected in the box will be used for helping socially disadvantaged Serbian families with multiple children. We take this opportunity to thank the people from the Stadion Shopping Center, who supported the biggest project of the organization “Children are our Future”. Stadion Shopping Center is located in 32 Zaplanjska Street, Vozdovac Municipality, Belgrade.

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE! SERB FOR SEBS




TRIP AROUND THE WORLD WITH DANCE GROUP FLY

On Sunday, March 27 in the Cultural institution Palilula, the dance group “Fly” performed a musical-scene spectacle Trip around the world, and the ticket consisted of the donation into the donor box of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs. In this manner we collected 13.028 RSD! The filled hall enjoyed in the dance of the talented girls, and everyone’s heart was full due to the noble idea of the dancing group Fly. Long and successful cooperation of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs and group Fly is going on within the sport-charity project “Trojka iz bloka”.

The guests on most of the tournaments in Belgrade are well aware that during the break beautiful dancers who are showing their art of dancing most often run out on the field. Good fun, good music and good people gathered around the noble mission inspired the managers of the dance group Fly to make the original organization with tickets for their show.

The standing tickets were a good cause for people to get to know the work of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs while putting the money into the donation box. The children were persuading their parents those were the best tickets, and even the children who were performing were running around and giving the money for the tickets for their friends during the brake.




Uros Markovic on behalf of the project “Trojka iz bloka” addressed the spectators at the end of the show and shortly presented the work of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs and success so far and thanked everyone for their generosity as they were coming to the show. Trip around the world of the dance group “Fly” is announcing the trip around the world of “Trojka iz bloka” which is going to be present in over 40 towns during this year. Thanks to good people of the dancing group and their friends and guests who have announced the tournament season this is approaching on the best possible manner.




NEW SFS DONATION BOXES IN BELGRADE

At the end of March, Charity organization Serbs for Serbs placed two donor boxes in Belgrade: in the hall of the Faculty of political sciences and in the hall of the Belgrade business school. The total income collected in the boxes will be used for helping the socially disadvantaged families. We are thankful to of the Faculty of political sciences and Belgrade business school who supported the biggest project of the organization “Children are our future”. The Faculty of political sciences is located in the Jove Ilica 156 street, and Belgrade business school in Kraljice Marije 73 street.

Donation box in the hall of Belgrade business school

Donation box in the hall of Faculty of political sciencesа

Donation box in the hall of Faculty of political sciences

SERBS FOR SERBS




SERBS FOR SERBS RECEVED ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The annual awarding of acknowledgments of the Association of Serbs of the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina was held in the Great hall of the Russian home on March 11. The Charity organization Serbs for Serbs has been awarded with the acknowledgments for the charity work, help to the victims of floods in 2014, and providing aid to Serbian families and children since 2005.

Acknowledgment awarded to the Charity organization

Serbs for Serbs

A short documentary on humanitarian work in Serbia was played, and the deserving individuals and institutions who contributed to the work of the Association with their action were awarded the acknowledgments as well.

The evening was embellished by the music program and

performance of the minstrel Milan Mrdovic




RECORD NUMBER OF VISITS TO SFS WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK

The official website of the Charity organization SERBS FOR SERBS, www.srbizasrbe.org recorded on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 12 million visits since 2007 when we set the clock face on the website, and almost a million new visits since the end of November until the end of February. Also, the official Facebook page recorded more than 200,000 followers. This is indeed additional support to our charity work and the actions of helping the socially disadvantaged families throughout Serbia, Republic of Srpska and the region. ……………………………………………………….......

889 MESSAGES TO 7763 ON FEBRUARY

At the beginning of March, 2015, the Charity organization SERBS FOR SERBS, in cooperation with mobile service providers Telekom, Telenor and Vip, started a national campaign for helping socially disadvantaged families throughout Serbia.

During February, 889 messages were sent to the charity SMS number 7763. The charity campaign SMS to 7763 continues. It is sufficient to send an empty SMS or an SMS with any text you want. Your message will be charged at 100 RSD (without the charge of your service provider). We extend our deep gratitude to all donors and friends of the organization who have taken part in the charity campaign of the organization SERBS FOR SERBS. …………………………………………………………...

17 YEARS SINCE NATO ATTACKED SERBIA

NATO bombing of our homeland started on March 24, 1999, and lasted continually for 78 days. Over a 1,000 civilians and hundreds of soldiers were killed, and material damage is estimated to be over $30 billion. Infrastructure and industrial facilities were destroyed, and schools, healthcare centers, media headquarters, and even embassies of countries that are not members of NATO were not spared. Serbian people suffered another epic disaster at the end of the 20th century, again being forced to defend themselves against the enemy superior in number, and for the umpteenth time defended their freedom with great sacrifice. …………………………………………………………...




SERBS FOR SERBS CHARITY SHOP




Donors in March : 1. Compass Fuel donation box (IL) - $ 70 2. Beograd Café donation box (IL) - $ 10 3. Nada's Deli & Bakery d. box (IL) - $ 48 4. St. Nikola, Brookfield d.box (IL) - $ 32 5. Bubamara cafe d. box (IL) - $ 10 6. iSerbApparel.com - $ 10 7. Abbvie employee - $ 20 8. Abbvie employee - $ 25 9. Milorad Bozickovic (OH) - $ 30 10. AT&T employee - $ 97,56 11. Microsoft employee - $ 115 12. CVS Caremark - $ 1.000 13. Biljana Zdrale (CAN) - $ 50 CAD 14. Aleksandar Curcic (CAN) - $ 250 CAD 15. Serbosi Kalgari (CAN) - $ 260 CAD 16. Srdjan Gavrilovic (GA) - $ 15 17. Radomans Framing (CA) - $ 15 18. Zoran Zdravkovic (MI) - $ 15 19. www.usaserbs.net - $ 25 20. Vujica Zivkovic - $ 30 21. Milan Dobras (AZ) - $ 15 22. www.designswww.com - $ 15 23. Slavisa Karach (GA) - $ 25 24. Tanja Josipovic (AZ) - $ 25 25. Zeljka Bucalo (NV) - $ 25 26. Anonymous - $ 50 27. Tihomir Bajic (CA) - $ 100 28. Nikola Mihajlovic - $ 100 29. Aleksandar Drezga (Australia) - $ 150 30. Vozi Inc. - $ 50 31. Ivan Aksentijevic (MD) - $ 25 32. Ana Radomirovic (IL) - $ 30 33. Boris Mijalkovic - $ 50 34. G. T. (IN) - $ 50 35. Dragana Beara (CAN) - $ 50 36. Ivan Radulovic (NY) - $ 25 37. Nina & Maksim Krsmanovic(VA) - $50 38. Helena Urukalo (CAN) - $ 15 39. Milos Kuburovic (FL) - $ 15 40. Aleksandar Micic (MO) - $ 15 41. Milos Arsenijevic (MA) - $ 15 42. Milan Zdrnja - $ 25 43. Vesna Kozomora (IL) - $ 25 44. Dragana Opacic - $ 100 45. Olja Meyer (NY) - $ 15 46. Nikola Mrdakovic (IL) - $ 40 47. SD (CA) - $ 50 48. Zelimir Lucic (WA) - $ 50 49. Zoran Starcevic - $ 20

50. Ian Kennedy (FL) - $ 20 51. Daniel Plavsic (WA) - $ 25 52. Nenad Milasinovic (Australia) - $ 25 53. Milan Dukic - $ 50 54. Zeljka Bucalo (NV) - $ 50 55. Danijela Dusevic - $ 75 56. V. D. - $ 100 57. Jelica Sejat - $ 40 58. Milos Stankovic - $ 50 59. Rade Karac - $ 24 60. Cvetan Staletovic (IL) - $ 50 61. Ljiljana & Ljubisa Milovanovic (IL) - $ 50 62. Protecta El. Serv. (Australia) - $ 15 63. Dragisa Djordjevic (MD) - $ 15 64. Ivan Aksentijevic (MD) - $ 25 65. Vladimir Milosavljevic - $ 25 66. Slavica Petrovic (IL) - $ 25 67. Violet Vukotich (AZ) - $ 25 68. David Gavric (IN) - $ 50 69. Dragomir Stanojevic (CAN) - $ 50 70. Milan Stankovich (IL) - $ 100 71. Sasa Savic (TX) - $ 30 72. Marta Stojanovic (CAN) - $ 25 73. Biljana Bursac (CO) - $ 15 74. Bojan Jovanovic (IL) - $ 25 75. Srdjan Markovic (CA) - $ 25 76. Stuart Murray (Norway) - $ 25 77. Neven Cvetkovic (Sweden) - $ 50 78. Делије Њујорк - $ 15 79. Yvonne Murray (United Kindom) - $ 25 80. Ankica D. (NJ) - $ 25 81. Dragan Pantelic (IL) - $ 25 82. Milos Stavanovic (NJ) - $ 15 83. Sinisa & Mirjana Peric (MD) - $ 50 84. Brankica Paunovic - $ 25 85. Serbosi iz Kalgarija(CAN)- $275 CAD 86. Ranko Milanovic - $ 50 87. Zoran Mladenovic (MD) - $ 100 88. Aleksandar Tanasic (CAN) - $ 25 89. Marko Saric - $ 20 ________________________

TOTAL IN MARCH: $ 4.246 USD

$ 835 CAD




DONATIONS IN USA 2016.

NUMBER OF DONORS IN USA 2016.




DONATIONS IN CANADA 2016.

NUMBER OF DONORS IN CANADA 2016.




www.serbsforserbs.org [email protected]

www.facebook/serbsforserbs

Serb for Serbs Report March 2016.

Documents

Transcript of Serb for Serbs Report March 2016.