serbs for serbs report october 2011

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Monthly

Report No. 13

October, 2011

Charity organization Serbs for Serbs

www.serbsforserbs.org

PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634

Phone: +1-312-85-SERBS

Website: www.serbsforserbs.org

E-Mail: [email protected]

Monthly Report www.serbsforserbs.org

Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org

Dear friends and donors, Charity organization Serbs for Serbsin the state of Illinois in United States by the group of the Serbian youth. organization Serbs for Serbs are a 501(c)(3)for-profit charitable organization. Donation is tax-deductible to the extent followed by the law. On 30th September, 2011 we finally got from department of the treasury (IRS) with tax exempt 501(c)3 approval. All donations to our organization donated from June 16, 2010 are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code.also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers of gifts under section 2055, 2or 2522 of the Code.

About Us The mission of Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is to affect on consciousness of Americans, Serbs and their friends through planned projects, social and humanitarian activities in order to develop and foster better society for future generations and provide aid for underprivileged families in need. Although there are many humanitarian organizations and associations, help often doesn't reach the most jeopardized. Due to unnecessary administration, missing information and slow decision making, the delivery of aid arrives too late to the final consumers, or not at all. It is a sad and embarrassing, but true fact that more than 18.000 children daily die around the world because of starvation and malnutrition. There, amblind and deaf. We are witnesses of the bad demographic situation of our nation, decreasing natality, increasing number of singles, abortions, accelerated aging of


Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org PO Box 34206, Chicago, IL 60634


Charity organization Serbs for Serbs registered in the state of Illinois in United States in Jun 2010

the group of the Serbian youth. Charity 501(c)(3) not-

Donation is deductible to the extent followed by the law.

got the letter RS) with tax

All donations to our organization donated from June 16, 2010 are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code. We are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers of gifts under section 2055, 2106

of Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is to affect on consciousness of Americans, Serbs and their friends through planned projects, social and humanitarian activities in

r society for future generations and provide aid for

Although there are many humanitarian organizations and associations, help often doesn't reach the most jeopardized. Due to unnecessary

on and slow decision making, the delivery of aid arrives too late

or not at all. It is a sad and embarrassing, but true fact that more than 18.000 children daily die around the world because of

ion. There, among us, the

We are witnesses of the bad demographic situation of our nation, decreasing natality, increasing number of singles, abortions, accelerated aging of

the population and generally bad economic condition of the households inSrpska and other countries in the Balkan. An average couple has "fallen" on one child. Analysts warn that Serbs will become a minority in its own country in the following century if the nation, individuals and government don't wake up from the nescient in which they've fallen! On the other hand, nobody is talking about the families with many children which grieve by living in bitter poverty. Occupied by their everyday struggle for survival, they are being humbly in their desire for implementing rights which belong to them. Their life stories, fears and problems are identical, but almost invisible and unheard in order to gain the attention of the public, media and even state. That's why the idea of the organization Serbs for Serbsorganization was formed by a group of young and trustful people, who are united by the common vision of helping families blessed by many children and who are aware of the fact that even a small help means a lot for those who don't live in a material excess. We are united by the humane idea to help the poorest part of the Serbian nation. Charity organization Serbs for Serbsrevive the spiritless energy of the Serbian Diaspora which would be able to reinforce people of Serbian heritage as well as all good people throughout the world with minimal, budonations. We hope and believe that there is also a grain of doing good and that you will join us in the estruggle against poverty. God bless and save all Serbian familchildren and our honored donors who participate in the noble effort to return smile on children faces.

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE! www.serbsforserbs.org

Monthly Report www.serbsforserbs.org 2011

the population and generally bad economic condition of the households in Serbia, Republic of

and other countries in the Balkan.

An average couple has "fallen" on one child. Analysts warn that Serbs will become a minority in its own country in the following century if the nation, individuals and government don't wake up

the nescient in which they've fallen!

On the other hand, nobody is talking about the families with many children which grieve by living in bitter poverty. Occupied by their everyday struggle for survival, they are being humbly in their

nting rights which belong to them. Their life stories, fears and problems are identical, but almost invisible and unheard in order to gain the attention of the public, media and even state. That's why the idea of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs arose. The

rganization was formed by a group of young and trustful people, who are united by the common vision of helping families blessed by many children and who are aware of the fact that even a small help means a lot for those who don't live in a

We are united by the humane idea to help the poorest part of the Serbian nation.

Charity organization Serbs for Serbs try to revive the spiritless energy of the Serbian Diaspora which would be able to reinforce people of Serbian

ll as all good people throughout the world with minimal, but constant monthly

We hope and believe that there is also a grain of doing good and that you will join us in the endless

God bless and save all Serbian families with many children and our honored donors who participate in the noble effort to return smile on children faces.

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE! www.serbsforserbs.org




Ambitions

Our mission The mission of Charity organization Serbs for Serbs is to affect on consciousness of Serbian people through our projects and humanitarian activities, in order to develop better society for future generations. Why Serbs for Serbs? We wanted to alleviate impaired spirit of Serbian people in togetherness and brotherhood help through humanitarian work and social aid. Who do we help? We help Serbian families who live in the Balkans, have five or more children and live in terrible poverty. How do we define “terrible poverty”? Under terrible poverty we define absence of one or more basic factors required for living: food, clothes, shoes, and safe space for living. Why do we help? We believe that there is a basic need for one human (or a group) to help others in distress. A help is not only human virtue but also a Christian responsibility. By focusing our help on families with many children, we directly affect on their stirring toward becoming independent from social-dependable government programs. Indirectly, we want to affect on birth rate of Serbian people that has been in great decline in last 20 years. What are our long term goals? • family is ready to support itself daily and

manage to pay all required expenses and bills;

• their children are encouraged to continue with school and raising their own family;

• our donors are satisfied with the activities and they are ready to help other families;

• our organization is satisfied with the results; • family is ready in the future to become our

donor and if necessary help other families that are in need of help.

Who do we need in organization? We need members and donors that will secure financial stability through supporting our programs and activities in the future. Donors may join our daily activities within the organization in order to coordinate our work better. We also need volunteers ready to donate several hours per week for actual work within the organization. Activities of volunteers and their specific tasks would be determined by the required projects and their personal interest. From that group of volunteers we would look for future leaders of organization.

How to donate? 1. PayPal email: [email protected]

One time donation to SFS 2. Monthly donation 3. Donate by Mail

Serbs for Serbs PO Box 34206 Chicago, IL 60634 Make all checks payable to: Serbs for Serbs




NO SURRENDER IN SRPSKA KRAJINA!

The representatives of the Charity organization Serbs from Serbs from Belgrade conducted the 7th in a row big charity action in Krajina, from 14th until 16th October 2011. We provided help for seven Serbian families in the amount of 3.000 EUR, in the Lika area (Korenica, Gospić, Donji Lapac, Srb and Gračac). We used the money to buy: 15 sheep, 1 cow, 2 stoves and the material for the bathroom. We had the chance to visit the birth house of one of the most important Serbs – Nikola Tesla. We wouldn't be able to achieve everything without the help of great friends of our organization – fathers Dalibor, Predrag and Jugoslav. The families we visited and helped were: Karan – Korenica, Serdar – Široka Kula near Gospić, Dotlić – Donji Lapac, ðilas – Krčko Brdo near Srb, Trbojević – Gračac and Jelača – Gračac. The help we provided: 15 sheep – 1.090 EUR 1 cow – 1.070 EUR 2 stoves – 620 EUR bathroom equiping – 200 EUR travel costs – 200 EUR The action commenced in Korenica, where we visited father Dalibor on Saturday morning, and after a short break, visited the first family. It is the Karan family. Predrag and Tamara returned to Lika after being refugees for 15 years in Serbia. Predrag's parents live with them. Predrag is having difficulties in finding a job,

because his father was convicted for the war crime he never commited. Therefore, Predrag is working for a season wage. He plans to grow sheep, so we decided to buy him 7 sheep to start a business, bearing in mind that he and his wife are young and plan to have children and stay there. With the help from God, we could start buying sheep from him the next time we visit Krajina.

We then went to the nearby village to buy sheep and try excellent plums from Lika. We used the opportunity to visit the Prica family. We visited them the last time we went to Krajina, and bought them a cow which has calved. They insisted in giving us the cheese, which they started producing. Father Dalibor accompanied us to Gospić, where we visited the Serdar family – the only Serbian family in the village Široka Kula. The village is full of ustashi graphiti. The family consists of grandfather Dane, his son Milan, Milan's wife Svetlana and two children, Jovana (5) and Jovan (2). They are literally isolated, because the neighbors don't communicate with them, except abusively. Nonetheless, they have no intention in leaving, and they are working hard. They have several sheep and poultry. We decided to get them a cow. They




have also returned recently from Serbia, except for Dane, who has been unfairly sentenced to 16 years of prison, but was released after 4.

We used the opportunity to visit the birth house of Nikola Tesla in Smiljane near Gospić, together with father Dalibor.

The complex consists of the home birth, the Temple of saint apostles Peter and Paul, where Tesla's father Milutin served as a priest, and several objects with some of Tesla's findings. We continued our journey towards father Predrag in Donji Lapac.

Since it was already late, we hurried to visit two Serbian families, Dotlić and Ovuka. Family Dotlić consists of parents Damir and Mira and children Dragan (4) and Slañana (2). The parents are unemployed, and they receive a monthly children allowance in the amount of 600 kunas (80 EUR). Since they have some poultry and sheep, we bought them another 4 sheep.

The second family we visited in Donji Lapac is the Ovuka family, whom we already helped in May, when we bought 2 sheep, 2 lambs and 10 laying hens. We also bought 4 sheep for them. They are also returnees, and the parents live with their three children in a rented house. The mother has problems with her citizenship, since she is a stranger, which requires additional costs. She could gain Croatian citizenship after 5 years of residence, and in the meantime, she must pay for the




visa, health insurance etc. They receive a monthly children allowance in the amount of 1.400 kunas.

We bought 8 sheep in the village Doljane and went back to Lapac to spend the night. In the morning we attended the liturgy in the church in Donji Lapac, and the breakfast at father Predrag's, to whom we thanked for his help, and continued towards Srb.

Father Jugoslav welcomed us in Srb, and led us to the village Krčko Brdo near the frontier with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Part of the road to the village must be passed of foot.

At last, we arrived to the nine-memeber family ðilas whom we helped twice, and we were welcomed by an army of children. Since our last visit, they received another child.




The ðilas family lives in its house, but during the school year they are entitled to use the municipality's apartment in Srb. It is very expensive for them, so they think of staying in their house, where they also have some land. Unfortunately, the house is not in a good condition. They are using water from the well, the roof is leaking, etc. We decided to get them a bathroom.

When we arrived in Gračac, we visited two families, Trbojević, whom we helped before, and Jelača. We bought two wooden stoves, one for each family. The Trbojević family has twins Stefan and Marija who are soon 11 years old. They live from a monthly children allowance in the amount of 690 kunas, and their grandmother's pension.

Family Jelača has undergone a tragic year. The host died in a car accident several months ago, and left two children, Nikolina (2) and Tamara (1), who are living with their mother Ivana. Ivana's sister in law Milanka, whose family we helped several times before, lives with them, and she is going to highschool. Milanka's

grandfather and grandmother died recently on the same day. For some time the family was in a terrible situation, they didn't have anything to eat, but Ivana has found a job, so they are getting on their feet. They thanked for our help, and we headed towards Korenica to see father Dalibor again.

Father Dalibor told us about the difficulties and temptations that this area has went through. The most terrible is the fact that the Serbs have fought against the Serbs, which made us realize how important is our common struggle „Serbs FOR Serbs“!

Despite the everyday threats, the Serbian people manages to survive on their homes. Some of the expelled families are returning, despite the opposition of the official authorities. It was our honor to help those brave families within this charity action. Report: Stefan Jecmenica, Serbia




SFS IN RAŠKA AREA AGAIN

On Friday, 30th of September 2011, a two-member team of Charity organization Serbs for Serbs, Bojan Ilić and Miloš Golić, headed the sanctuary, a monastery of ðurñevi Stupovi in Old Ras, and with the help of our member Boško Timotijević and other people of good will, succesfully finished another big charity action in Raška area. We provided help for three families, and spent 223.960 dinars. The fund for the action was 265.500 dinars (Charity organization SfS 236.500 dinars, Charity organization Stara Raška 20.000 dinars, t-shirts No Surrender and Vojvodstvo 9.000 dinars). In this action we provided: 1 cow – 90.000 dinars hay for the cow – 13.000 dinars 1.100 kg of flour – 38.500 dinars hygiene and food – 20.500 dinars equipment for the bathroom and a worker – 43.460 dinars a pair of sneаkers – 2.500 dinars a volleyball net – 6.500 dinars 2 packages of hygiene and wardrobe Costs of the action – 9.500 dinars Total: 223.960 dinars We were left with 41.540 dinars, but the activists from Novi Pazar will soon buy the animals for the families to grow, and also the part of that money will be used in next Kosovo action. On Saturday, 1st of October, after the liturgy in monastery ðurñevi Stupovi, the activist of SfS visited family Radomirović from the village Miščiće (Deževa). Mother Zorica lives with five children in a

ruined house without a bathroom. Tijana (1988), ðorñe (1991), Nikola (1994), Miloš (1997) and Andrijana (1999) have to bathе outside the house, or in the kitchen. We agreed with the family that they need a long-term assistance, so we decided to donate a cow for them. Our friend Mikota Radević from Sjenica helped us to get a cow Žujka.




We also provided 140 bales of hay, and 500 kg of flour for the family. The family also received a package of hygiene and a pair of sneakers.

About 30 km from Novi Pazar, in the mountain Golija, we visited the village Radaljica. Family Komatina (old friends of ours) live in the village. The family consists of mother Radmila, father Vukosav and their six children (four pupils), a grandmother and a grandfather, a cow and three pigs.

The children are: Nemanja (1996), Miladin (1998), Aleksandar (1999), Anñela (2004), Danijela (2006) and Marko (2009). Until 2005 they had 4 cows, 4 calves, 2 oxen and 80 sheep. They sold everything in order to live in a better place, so they built a new house next to the old one. Now they own 1 cow, 1 calf, 3 pigs (80-90 kg) and a horse. They need elementary hygiene conditions, so we decided to get them an equipment for the bathroom, and we paid the worker as well. The children don't have certified health care cards. At first we thought they need to pay 250-300 EUR of taxes on property in order to receive social benefit, it turned out they have to pay 78.000 dinars (which the organization

currently doesn't have), so we decided to think about their case and get them the animals, and thus help them to expand their animal fund and help themselves.

We bought 600 kg of flour for the winter, and a package of hygiene and wardrobe. We would like to thank Mr. Bojan Tomović, a friend of the organization, who provided us special conditions while buying the flour, its transportation, and the transportation of the equipment for the bathroom.




On Sunday, after the liturgy, and by the blessing of the father Gerasim, we donated a new valleyball net to the girls from Stari Ras, so that the youth could play this sport. A valleyball club Stari Ras could be founded soon.

The members from Belgrade couldn't stay longer, but our members from Novi Pazar and Mrs. Goca from the organization Rasanka visited the Balović family. We bought food and hygiene for them in the amount of 20.500 dinars.

The family lives in the mountain Rogozna, near Kosovo and Novi Pazar, in the village Rajetiće. There are six members of the family – children Verica (1998), Veljko (1999), Sara (2003) and Kristina (2005), with father Tihomir who is suffering from brain tumor, and mother Milica, who has epilepsy. The children are witnessing the suffering of their parents, and they don't have a childhood. The house in which they live is practicaly ruined. They own some cattle, a barn, a small garden and 18 hectares of land. No one in the family is capable of work. We provided some help for the family, and we

agreed with the activists from the organization Rasanka to arrange further help.

We want to say special thank to father Gerasim, the prior of the monastery ðurñevi Stupovi, and the whole brotherhood, Mrs. Goca and Dušica from the organization Rasanka, the family of Boško Timotijević, Mrs. Milica Radulović for the donation of the hygiene for 2 families and others who were with us with all their hearts. We want to tell them that we won't stop, and that our people will not be alone as long as we are here!

With the faith in God Bojan Ilić, Miloš Golić, Boško Timotijević




NEW ACTION IN VIENNA

On Sunday, 9th of October, during the feast of St. John the Theologian, the members and friends of the Austrian branch of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs gathered in theTemple of the Resurrection of Christ in Vienna. After the holy liturgy, young humanitarians signed the contracts of the automatic donation payments in the amount of 10-20 EUR per month. They signed the contract in the church library. These contracts imply that our organization will be able to use 165 EUR per month in addition to other donations.

It means that we can buy a bed to a child in Kosovo, the firewood to the family in Krajina, or provide a package of food and hygiene for a family in the Republic of Srpska. We would like to encourage other Serbian brothers and sisters at home and abroad to organize on similar or identical principles, and show the love towards our nation and country. No surrender!

DONORS:

Danijel V. Marko G. Stefan N. Milan S. Igor M. Danijel M. Petar P. Miodrag N. Miloš J. Rafaela T. Tao J.

If you want to join the action or organize a similar one between your friends, contact one of our representatives in Austria on e-mail: [email protected].




SERBS FOR SERBS AT THE CONCERT IN BUCHS

On Saturday, 1st of October, the representatives of the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs from Switzerland visited the concert of Miljan Miljanić and Vera Matović in the border town of Buchs in Switzerland. We used this opportunity to present the work of our organization and inform our friends and potential donors about the past work, and also organization the selling of the t-shirts No surrender.

We sold 34 t-shirts, and raised the sum of 560 franks and 90 EUR, and the buyers received a present – a chaplet as a sign of thank from our organization. We use the opportunity to thank the organizer of the concert, who enabled us to participate in it, and our donors, who recognized the need to help our brothers in Kosovo and Metohija together.

With the faith in God, Charity organization Serbs for Serbs – Switzerland

EVENING OF THE DONOR PANCAKES IN TUN

On Sunday, 16th of October 2011, in the apartment of the ðaković family in Tun, the friends and members of SfS Switzerland organized a traditional „Evening of the donor pancakes“. The members of the „Youth of the Serbian Orthodox church municipality Bern“ joined the SfS team. We spent the evening in the pleasent atmosphere and socializing, and it was an opportunity to present further plans of our branch in Switzerland. To our great pleasure, the participants of the „evening of donor pancakes“ raised a sum of 410 franks, that will be used for building the house of the Ćetković family from Majevica.

Until the next meeting...

With faith in God, Dušan ðaković




WE CONTINUE HELPING THE NIKOLIĆ FAMILY

As it has been planned, the Charity organization Serbs for Serbs has continued with its big action of helping the Nikolić family from Bojnik in building the house. Just to remind you, the Nikolić family (village ðaci near Bojnik) has twelve children: Milenka (28, married), Miodrag (26), Nenad (25), Srñan (23), Biljana (19), Bojana (18), Mirjana (17), Zorica (16), Granica (14), Jovica (13), Ružica (12) and Goran (11). They live on agriculture and on welfare in the amount of 11 000 dinars, but the family isn't receiving children's allowance. Father Stojan was dismissed as redundant from the construction company a few years ago, so he is working now for a wage. They manage to survive thanks to agriculture and Stojan's wages. The Nikolić family lives in a very small house. Six children are sleeping in a small room in three beds, and the rest of them sleep in the kitchen, or at their cousin's who lives nearby. Stojan had the idea of expanding the house, but the difficult financial situation prevents him from buying the construction material. Charity organization Serbs for Serbs made the first payment for the necessary help for the family Nikolić on September 21. The Nikolić family received the material to finish the floor on the house, in the value of 160.000 dinars. After finishing with the first part of the help, the members of the SfS from Niš went and gave the money for the beginning of the second phase. It costs 127.560 dinars, which makes approximately 2.800 EUR for this project. The Nikolić family is ready to realize the

second part of the action, i.e. setting the roof construction and tiles.

Report: Serbs for Serbs – Niš, Serbia




WE RECEIVED LETTER FROM FAIMLY KINGSLY

We received this wonderful letter of support from Kingsley family. They also included a donation for the charity. We want to express our gratitude and solidarity with Kingsley family. We hope that this is just a begining of our growing support base here in United States. Read full letter below.

LAZAR'S GIFTS TO SERBIAN CHILDREN

Yesterday Lazar and his family celebrated his first birthday. Lazar raised $360 for children in Serbia! His mother had nice idea how to help and support SFS and help Serbian children.

Dear friends,

As we all are aware there are many Serbian children who go to bed hungry, and who do not have the basic living conditions, they are practically forced to live below the minimum of human dignity. These children are in needed of food, toys and clothing more than our son Lazar, so we decided to donate Lazar’s birthday gifts to Serbian children from Krajina and Kosovo. If you were planning to bring a gift, instead of gifts bring a modest donation which will be delivered to unfortunate multi-member Serbian families. You can check out web site www.srbizasrbe.us to find out how much we collected and to whom assistance was delivered.

Thank you our dear friend.

We are looking forward to seeing you all and together celebrating happiest day of our lives.

Sinisa and Zeljka


Charity organization Serbs for Serbs www.serbsforserbs.org

Donors in October: 1. Dragisa Stanimirovic - $50

2. Bozana Jocson (CA) - $100

3. Milos Mladenovic - $25

4. Sasa Savic - $40

5. Nenad Lukic - $30

6. Zelimir Lucic - $50

7. Zeljka Bucalo - $50

8. Dan Kovacevic (IL) - $15

9. Milan Dobras (AZ) - $15

10. Dejan Petrovic (IL) - $15

11. Sasa Duvnjak (AU) - $9.45

12. Zeljko Cosovic - $50

13. Petko Petrovich (IL) - $30

14. SZS Krajiska Braca (IN) - $100

15. Magdalena Markovic - $100

16. Ivan Radulovic (NY) - $25

17. Ivan Vujovic (IL) - $15

18. Mladen Simic (TX) - $40

19. Alexandar Coralic - $10

20. Ljiljana Trkulja - $100

21. Alma Vujasinovic (PA) - $15

22. Christopher Petrovic (CAN) - $25

23. Mihajlo Pavlovic (NY) - $100

24. Aleksandar Jaksic (WA) - $50

25. Family Kingsley (PA) - $30

26. Aleksandar Krsmanovic (NY) - $50

27. www.cikaskisrbi.com - $40

28. Ankica D. - $25

29. Dragana W. - $30

30. Nebojsa Madzarevic - $20




31. A.S. (CA) - $100

32. Serbos Kanada - $350

33. Jovika Gavric - $20

34. Dusan Stojkovic(IL) - $30

35. Lazar Krsmanovic(IL) - $360

36. Milan Titin - $15 TOTAL IN OCTOBER: $2129,45

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$360

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Donations in 2011.




CHARITY ORGANIZATION

SERBS FOR SERBS

www.serbsforserbs.org

[email protected]

serbs for serbs report october 2011

Documents

serbs website

charity 501c3

tax deductible bequests

humanitarian activities

delivery of aid

humanitarian organizations

tax exempt 501c3 approval

dear friends