News

Philanthropy, Charitable Foundation of the Serbian Orthodox Church distributed food and hygiene kits to 600 older persons living in 15 villages in Ruma, Kragujevac and Kraljevo. This assistance is part of the project „ASSIST – Action to Strengthen Solidarity in Serbia and Moldova in Times of COVID 19 to Protect Older People’s Health and Wellbeing“ supported by the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection of the Republic of Austria and the organisation Brot für die Welt.

The exhibition SOLIDARITY ABOVE ALL! was organized as part of the campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women", and on the occasion of celebrating December 1, World AIDS Day, with the aim of encouraging voluntary confidential HIV counselling and testing, informs the public on modern trends in HIV prevention that reduce the impact of risk factors and rate of new infections, while building a positive attitude and solidarity of society towards people living with HIV. The exhibition was opened on 1 December 2022, in the "Branko Miljković" Library, in Belgrade, 298, Kind Aleksandar Steet, and lasts until 9 December 2022. The exhibition is part of the project SOLIDARITY ABOVE ALL!, which is implemented by the Women Plus Association and the AS Center, supported by the Municipality of Zvezdara, Philanthropy, the Charitable Foundation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, USOP, the Association of Patients' Associations of Serbia, the City of Belgrade Library and the Elementary Music School "Vladimir Đorđević".

Philanthropy, being a partner in the project " Project for Increasing Resilience to Natural Disasters and Enhancing Preparedness Strategy (PREPS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia ", took part in the final, regional conference on reducing the risk of natural disasters in local communities, which was held from November 30 to December 2, 2022, in Bijeljina, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The conference entitled "Safe Communities for a Safe Future of Citizens" brought together representatives of 14 towns and municipalities from the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of local and central authorities, public DRR institutions and agencies, representatives of USAID and UNDP. Following results were have been achieved during this project: - local authorities and local communities participated in a series of professional DRR trainings, - civil protection units were formed, strengthened and/or equipped, - simulations of evacuation and rescue in cases of disasters were prepared and implemented, - small grants were awarded, which improved the capacity of communities to respond more adequately to the needs of the population in the process of preventing the consequences of natural disasters, - DRR policies and protocols were prepared and adopted by local authorities, which normatively determine the processes and procedures of prevention and response in cases of natural disasters, etc. The project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by CRS (Catholic Relief Services) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and by Philanthropy and Caritas Serbia in Serbia.

Within the project "Project for Increasing Resilience to Natural Disasters and Enhancing Preparedness Strategy (PREPS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia", Philanthropy supported preparation and execution of the Krupanj DRR Simulation, conducted by the Municipality of Krupanj, Department for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Krupanj Police Station, Krupanj Primary Health Care Center, Red Cross Krupanj, and Krupanj Civil Protection Unit. The simulation gathered local actors in charge for all elements of protection and rescue, which presented fire protection measures, evacuation and first aid for the affected population. Krupanj is one of the eight cities and municipalities in Serbia where PREPS project is being implemented, being the community with high risk of natural disasters. In addition to Serbia, PREPS project is being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in communities facing an increased risk of natural disasters, while not having adequate DRR capacities. The project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by CRS (Catholic Relief Services) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and by Philanthropy and Caritas Serbia in Serbia.

Within the project "Project for Increasing Resilience to Natural Disasters and Enhancing Preparedness Strategy (PREPS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia", Philanthropy supported preparation and execution of the Lucani DRR Simulation, conducted by the Municipality of Lucani, Municipal Emergency Headquarters, Department for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lucani Primary Health Care Center, Red Cross Lucani, Voluntary Fire Brigade, Public Utility Company and Lucani Civil Protection Unit. The simulation was organized for the first time in 30 years in the territory of the municipality of Lucani and gathered local actors in charge for all elements of protection and rescue, which presented fire protection measures, evacuation and first aid for the affected population. Lucani is one of the eight cities and municipalities in Serbia where PREPS project is being implemented, being the community with high risk of natural disasters. In addition to Serbia, PREPS project is being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in communities facing an increased risk of natural disasters, while not having adequate DRR capacities. The project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by CRS (Catholic Relief Services) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and by Philanthropy and Caritas Serbia in Serbia.

On 12-13 October, 2022, Gerontological Society of Serbia organised the 11th International Gerontological Congress in the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade, Serbia. The congress was opened by prof. Darija Kisić Tepavčević – Minister of Labour, Employment, Social and Veterans Affairs, Brankica Jovanović – Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and Nataša Todorović – President of the Gerontological Society of Serbia. The theme of the congress was "Gerontology: Perspectives in the Post-Covid-19 World". Milena Radaković and Aleksandra Božinović-Knežević participated in the congress on behalf of Philanthropy, presenting the paper: "Challenges of Aging ofPpeopleLliving with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)".

Within the project "Project for Increasing Resilience to Natural Disasters and Enhancing Preparedness Strategy (PREPS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia", on the occasion of the International DRR Day, Philanthropy supported series of ecological events and drills of the Civil Protection Unit of the City of Kraljevo, which gathered more than 5.000 citizens, NGO Military Pensioners аnd other CSOs. The campaign was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, School Council of Kraljevo, Public Investment Management Office, Ministry of Interior – Sector for Emergencies in Kraljevo, Red Cross Kraljevo, JKP Cistoca (public utility cleaning company). Kraljevo is one of the eight cities and municipalities in Serbia where PREPS project is being implemented, being the community with high risk of natural disasters. In addition to Serbia, PREPS project is being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in communities facing an increased risk of natural disasters, while not having adequate DRR capacities. The project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by CRS (Catholic Relief Services) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and by Philanthropy and Caritas Serbia in Serbia. http://civilnazastitakraljevo.rs/obelezavanje-13-oktobra-medjunarodnog-dana-smanjenja-rizika-od-katastrofa/?fbclid=IwAR1Num-X_a65CFWIJ_lOZuoUjRfEFwG3lQQARl33rnWO4GtDgeofB1ZDwtk

Philanthropy organised students' internship for final-year students of the Faculty of Political Sciences and the Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation of the University of Belgrade, from 11-15 July 2022. Students got acquainted with Philanthropy's practical work and its employees, got in touch with external associates and beneficiaries. Philanthropy is very happy for again having the opportunity to meet, socialize and participate in the professional training of new generation of social workers and special pedagogues.

As part of the project "ACT NOW against youth marginalisation in Serbia in times of COVID-19", Philanthropy organises educational cycles for young women and men living in informal Roma settlements, as well as for young women and men living in rural areas in Kraljevo. At the aforementioned gatherings, participants have the opportunity to discuss with their peers the topics in the area of life-long education, health, social protection, peer and gender-based violence, and jointly recognize opportunities for their more active involvement in youth communities, locally and on national level. Within this project, Philanthropy develops various modalities of cooperation with young people and creates youth development platforms. The project is implemented in cooperation with the Brot für die Welt, supported by the Austrian Development Cooperation.

Philanthropy has been organizing activities to support health care, social care and support for the elderly population in the territory of the municipality of Ruma, in the villages of Klenak, Hrtkovci and Buđanovci. During the last month, number of social gatherings for older persons, computer courses for the older persons, as well as excursions were organized. Older persons visited Soko grad near Ljubovija, Tršić and the natural beauty of the Drina river. All these activities are part of the project „ASSIST – Action to Strengthen Solidarity in Serbia and Moldova in Times of COVID 19 to Protect Older People’s Health and Wellbeing“, implemented in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection of the Republic of Austria and the organisation Brot für die Welt.