By Ljiljana Vasic | Director
Sisters Asja and Jasmin, from Syria, went back to school after a year spent on different roads from their hometown to Belgrade in December last year.Classmates welcomed their first day at Scholl with flowers and drawings. Boys and girls showed them a school, school yard and offered help in learning. Finally little Syrian refugee girls were with their peers again, among cheerful children.
For a nine-year Asja and eight-year Jasmine, the first day at the second grade in school was the first day of joy and peace of mind after months’ long, heavy road from Syria which they undertook with their parents. The family wanted to reach the Germany, but they were stopped at the Croatian and forced back to Serbia. They are settled now in a refugee camp in Krnjaca.
“They are nice girls. After two months at school, they have already learnt a lot of words in Serbian. They are running around with their classmates. The girls are cheerful, very curious and have a lot of questions for the teacher. They are completely adjusted to the school and we see the joy on their faces, Gordana, school secretary has told us.
“In Krnjaca refugee camp, there are around a eleven hundred people. Half of them are children. They are mainly with families here, we also have more than sixty children who are alone. They fled various countries in Middle East - Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia. Since the borders to EU have been closed for them, they have been here, in Krnjaca, for a long time now. It is not certain how long they will stay; probably they will not be able to leave soon. Therefore, the organization of everyday life, especially for children, is now much more demanding”, says Diane, Coordinator in the refugee camp.
In addition to schooling, the Camp in Krnjaca organizes various workshops and courses – English language, different crafts, mainly for the older boys, as well as daily sports activities. In addition to Asja and Jasmine, twenty five other children also go to the elementary school in Zemun, Belgrade suburb at the other part of town.
“Every morning, volunteers accompany children on their way to school by school buses and wait for them to return to the camp”, says Coordinator Diane.
Refugee camp in Krnjaca and these children welcome any assistance: clothing and footwear, backpacks for school, the purchase of materials for the workshops.
Thanks to YOUR donations, Pomoc deci provides hygiene products and clothes: jackets, sweatshirts, underwear, socks and shoes. We also take toys for the youngest children and we acquire the material needed for drawing and painting workshops. We organize expert volunteers to work with refugee children as well.
We warmly appreciate any help. Please donate whatever you can and help us help as many refugee children as possible! Until March 21st, all your donations will be matched by 50% from GlobalGiving Foundation!
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