Families and children

Shelter for victims of violence

There is a safe place for victims of abuse: safe houses.

They protect people exposed to acute violence, such as women suffering abuse at home, victims of traffickers and targets of gender or sexual orientation maltreatment.

Safe houses provide security, safe and free accommodation and food, psychosocial support, counselling, psychotherapy and legal assistance.

There are many safe houses in cities all over Serbia, often run by local municipalities. If you cannot find one quickly, you can call the DIMAK centre for advice. You can find the contact data here: https://www.startfinder.de/en/advisory-centre/serbia.

For foster and adoptive parents

You would like to take in a foster child? You can prepare yourself for this.

The Centre for Birth and Development Novi Sad (Centar za porodični smeštaj i usvojenje Novi Sad) trains people who want to become foster parents.

It helps children find safe homes with them. It also mediates in adoption.

The centre was founded by the government of Vojvodina.

You can find more information under: https://www.cpsuns.rs/lat/145/kontakt-145

Advice relevant to your situation

You’re looking for advice that provides a good overview. You’re living in Serbia or have returned to Serbia from abroad. Are you finding it difficult to integrate? Or do you have a business idea that you’d like to turn into reality? Would you like further training? Or are you looking for a job?
 
Then you can get help from the German Information Centre on Migration, Vocational Training and Employment (DIMAK). In addition to its 2 main centres in Belgrade, there are 6 hotspot offices in Novi Pazar, Kraljevo, Bor, Novi Sad, Kruševac and Niš.
You can go to these to find out, for example:

• How and where you can ask for emergency accommodation
• How and where you can get an identity card or health insurance
• Your rights and the services to which you are entitled
• How to find a job or a suitable training course
• How to submit the best job application

Your current situation may be very difficult. Perhaps you or a member of your family feels unable to cope. Here, too, DIMAK can provide support. It can refer you to people who will listen to you and help you. These people are trained in psychosocial work. Their goal is to help you rediscover your potential, build your self-confidence and set you on the path to a new improved situation.

Here you can learn more about this and how the centre can support you.

You are welcome to contact DIMAK on site, by phone or online for further information.
 

Contact details for the centres:

Belgrade
Opening hours: weekdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +38162204258
+38163415294 (New Belgrade)

Novi Pazar
Opening hours: Mondays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381695518891

Kraljevo
Opening hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381638557494

Bor
Opening hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381695518893

Novi Sad
Opening hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381631117019

Kruševac
Opening hours: Thursdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381631117024

Niš
Opening hours: Fridays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381695518892

Help for children

The Centre for Children's Rights (CPD) helps children in need. It organises summer camps and lessons during the holidays, for example.

The centre in Belgrade will provide you with more information on children's rights in Serbia.

The CPD also provides courses and training sessions for people who want to campaign for children's rights.

You can find more information here: https://cpd.org.rs/

Grants for young Roma

The Roma Education Fund (REF) awards grants to young Roma.

The foundation’s programme offers you mentoring and help at your school. The aim is for you to complete your schooling and have better opportunities in the job market.

Help for children and young people

The “Centre for Youth Integration” helps children and young people in everyday life and with training.

Its services include:

• Help with starting a career
• Vocational training programmes for young people
• Psychosocial support

It also has two places in Belgrade where children can eat and wash themselves.

New opportunities after returning

The NGO Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. and the League of Roma – Standing Conference of the Roma Associations of Citizens (SKRUG) are offering help to people who have returned to Serbia under the readmission agreement. They use their network of local information centres to do this.

The NGO Help offers various services:

1. Information and help for returnees and those who are socially vulnerable
2. Restoring, adapting and equipping the homes of returnees and the socially vulnerable with basic furniture and appliances
3. Equipment relating to self-employment and employment to help individual micro-businesses started by Roma, returnees and the socially vulnerable
4. Business and vocational training to improve the knowledge, skills and qualifications of the unemployed, Roma, returnees and those who are socially vulnerable
5. The provision of school supplies to help children and socially disadvantaged families to integrate into the formal education system
6. Emergency aid in cooperation with DIMAK (if required)
7. Referral system for examination for the purpose of mental health protection

There are no specific conditions regarding this help. More information will be provided in a personal conversation.

For more information please contact the German Information Centre on Migration, Training and Employment (DIMAK) in person, via telephone or online.

Help for Help for returnees

The Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation (EHO) has a number of active projects ongoing in the period from 2021 to 2023.

There are lots of projects for people who have come back from Germany to Serbia. These projects are offered by 32 local and/or district governments:

• Housing improvements and subsidies for restoring dwellings
• Help with a new economic start, such as starting a business
• Urgent help
• Referral of returnees to partner institutions and associations

Children’s centre

This centre provides accommodation and care for children and young people. The centre helps children and young people until a suitable family environment can be found, for example with their biological family or with an adoptive or foster family.

The children and young people can otherwise stay at the centre until adulthood.

The “Centre for the Protection of Infants, Children and Young People” has seven facilities in Belgrade.

Advice on all aspects of reintegration

You can get information and advice from the German Information Centre for Migration, Training and Employment (DIMAK). Each consultation is designed exclusively to meet your needs.

This offer is aimed at:

• Returnees from Germany and other countries
• Locals who are interested in emigrating to Germany

DIMAK helps you with your return and reintegration and can refer you to the appropriate agencies. These can be governmental and non-governmental institutions dealing with areas like:

• Job hunting in Serbia
• How to start your own business in Serbia
• How to assert your rights
• The opportunities that may be available
• “Social protection” as a key concept
• Improving your qualifications

DIMAK's contacts can be found here.

Refuge for children

The “Children’s Shelter” in Belgrade provides help in duration of 6 months for children and young people who no longer have a family or whose family is not able to look after them.

Besides accommodation, activities provided are:

• Determining the user’s identity
• Hygienic care and health care
• Provision of meals for users
• Providing conditions for maintaining personal hygiene
• Procurement of clothing and footwear
• Provision of accommodation for users
• Mediation in ensuring the availability of services in the community (social, legal, educational, health, etc.)
• Education and support of users
• Provision of psycho-social assistance and support to users