Help People with Intellectual Disabilities -Serbia

KEC strives to draw out the best of each of our beneficiaries. We work to help them develop as many talents and skills as possible. Sometimes it takes time and other times it takes a minute. When Kosta first came to KEC 6 years ago it was definitely the latter. We knew right away how to connect to Kosta. Although he is severely deaf and has many other limitations as a result of his hearing impairment he is a master with a paintbrush. He came to KEC after he finished a special school for the hearing impaired where they recognized his talent. At KEC we continued to nurture this talent.

He lives at home with his mother father and brother who all appreciate that while he can’t speak with words he can express himself through his art. His father describes Kosta as a young artist “whose story is filled with perseverance, talent and a quiet but strong commitment to art. Although he is hearing impaired, his diligence and inner motivation made him speak most clearly through painting - with the colors, lines and emotions he transfers to the canvas.”

Kosta continued his artistic journey at the Creative and Educational Center in Belgrade, surrounded by assistants who work with him with dedication and understanding. “It was in this inspiring environment”, his mother says, “that many of his most authentic and expressive works of art were created. His story is proof that perseverance and love for creation are always recognized - and that art speaks best where words sometimes fail.” 

This time of year,  Kosta can be found in the KEC center with his paints and brushes painting Christmas tree decorations. Kosta’s unique creations make KEC’s decorations a highly sought after holiday gift.

KEC wishes all of you, our supporters, a happy and healthy holiday. KEC will be full with good cheer this time of year and we wish the same for all of you. 

Summer is here! For most of us this season evokes happy memories. Memories of time spent away from home, school, stress and the iconic family vacation! The family vacation means exploring new places, learning new skills, experiencing new cuisine and languages. Let’s be honest there are also the less romantic aspects like being stuck in the backseat of the car with annoying siblings on the long drive to that destination. But when we look back at the photos or recall the memories we remember the good things. How we learned to swim in that glistening cove with our dad bobbing up and down a few meters away encouraging us to go a bit further. Or, the first time we saw an ancient building that we had learned about in school. In hindsight even the long rides with the annoying siblings are remembered fondly. Maybe you are even reading this in one of these coves or in one of those small cobbled-stoned towns with an ancient building in the square.

As the summer progressed, the KEC center grew quieter. Beneficiaries with families left for holidays, while those without family remained behind. It was then we realized: some of our young people had never experienced a vacation. Not once. No long drives, no salty sea air, no ancient landmarks seen in person. So we set out to give them that experience.

We secured passports, obtained suitcases, recruited chaperones, and planned a trip. Djulja, Anica, Marija, and Zorka boarded a bus to a seaside town near Thessaloniki, Greece—for their first-ever family vacation. After the long hot bus ride (some parts of the family vacation can’t be spared) they entered the small rented apartment, opened the window to see a tiny dot of the sea in the distance and filled their lungs with their first breath of sea air. They spent the next ten days tasting new foods, exploring new sites, learning new skills and generally just taking in the pleasures of the family vacation. Marija learned to swim, Djulja used foreign currency for the first time, Zorka tried her first shellfish and Anica went to services in a Greek church.

Even while abroad, they stayed connected—calling into KEC programming each afternoon, sharing stories, and reminding us all that family is something we build together.

Your support to KEC helped make this possible. You didn't just fund a trip—you filled a lifelong gap. For these young women, it wasn’t a luxury. It was a moment of healing, joy, and belonging.

From all of us at KEC, thank you for helping us create a family that extends beyond the center's walls.

We hope your summer has been filled with the same warmth and connection you’ve helped bring to others.