Families and children

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.

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 to assist people who returned in 2020 and 2021:

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)

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

Help for families who have returned home

The Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation (EHO) has a number of active projects ongoing in the period from 2020 to 2022. Some of these projects are offered nationwide. Other projects are only available in Vojvodina province.

•    Nationwide projects in Serbia:
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
• Referral of returnees to partner institutions and associations

•    Projects in Vojvodina province:

1. Financial start-up packages for people in need as well as educational opportunities for children and young people
2. Mentors to provide individual care for children in partner primary schools, examples:

• Workshops for children in partner primary schools
• Provision of school supplies in partner primary schools
• Translation of school certificates and help with the recognition of school-leaving qualifications
• Start-up grants for people starting a business
• Help with setting up small businesses
• Advisory support for those who receive financial start-up assistance under the project
• Training courses for those starting a business

If you need any of these help packages, please contact the Information Centre.

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

Refuge for children

The Children’s Shelter in Belgrade helps children and young people who no longer have a family or whose family is not able to look after them.

It offers food and a place to sleep. The children and young people are looked after and can take part in various programmes:

• Help with homework
• Creative workshops
• Educational programmes
• Sports

The children and young people can also obtain psychological support.