“Where there is joy and happiness, there is greater love” – the Novak Djokovic Foundation delighted 523 children aged 3 to 7, whose families are recipients of financial social assistance, just before the holidays.
The caravan of happiness set out to the north! On Thursday, December 21, the Novak Djokovic Foundation traveled through Banat from municipality to municipality, sharing New Year’s joy with children in Bela Crkva, Plandište, Sečanj, Žitište, and Nova Crnja. Last year, the same initiative was carried out in six major cities of Eastern Serbia – Kladovo, Negotin, Bor, Majdanpek, Zaječar, and Boljevac, covering the entire region (402 children) and continuing the action that began in 2021. Two years ago, the Foundation, together with its partners, distributed 300 presents in the following 12 cities in Southern and Southeastern Serbia: Niš, Vranje, Pirot, Leskovac, Prokuplje, Kuršumlija, Vlasotince, Vladičin Han, Bujanovac, Dimitrovgrad, Bela Palanka, and Doljevac.
In collaboration with preschool institutions, local governments, and social welfare centers, this noble idea brought together a total of 18 socially responsible companies – friends of the Foundation, which contributed various donations: toys, board games, books, cosmetics and hygiene products, clothing, van vehicles, accommodation, premises for packing, food, consumables, and package transportation. The Foundation expresses special gratitude to local cultural centers that provided their facilities and greatly assisted in the realization of this humanitarian event: the Cultural Center in Bela Crkva, the Cultural and Educational Center “Vuk Karadžić” in Plandište, the Education and Culture Center in Sečanj, the Cultural Center in Žitište, and the Cultural Center in Nova Crnja.
“Our Foundation is active in all parts of Serbia; we are often on the road and sometimes don’t spend much time together. This journey served as a great opportunity for our entire team to enjoy the camaraderie and wonderful atmosphere, which we shared with people across the beautiful Banat region. We were warmly welcomed everywhere, and we are pleased to have brought smiles to the faces of many children. Inspired by our traditional action, we are guided by the belief that every good deed remains recorded in time, and we will continue to strive to bring joy to children throughout Serbia, like those today who have realized that there are people outside their small world who love them and are ready to help. We hope that this gathering with numerous peers will give them additional strength in their further growth. In this way, we are concluding another successful year in which we have implemented significant local and regional projects. We thank all our friends and extend our heartfelt wishes for the New Year and Christmas. Special shoutout to our devoted volunteers, without whom this project would not have been possible,” said Maja Kremić, the national director of the Foundation.
The companies supporting the project are: LPP Serbia d.o.o. – SinSay brand, Raspberry Plum Ltd., TC BIG, Eurocom international d.o.o., Pertini Toys d.o.o., Lomax Company d.o.o. – Kosili, Orbico d.o.o., JRJ d.o.o., Oralent d.o.o., B23 Office, Transfera d.o.o., Pepsico inc., Knjaz Miloš a.d., Swisslion-Takovo d. o. o., Foundever SBA d. o. o., Delicious Food d. o. o., Endava d.o.o., Jumbo Travel d.o.o.
The Novak Djokovic Foundation traditionally supports children from vulnerable social groups during the New Year and Christmas holidays – children from foster families and children’s hospitals, members of the Roma minority, recipients of financial social assistance, children in shelters, etc.
In parallel with this project, the Novak Djokovic Foundation is implementing the “Season of Giving 2023” campaign, aiming to raise funds for the adaptation and furnishing of a new preschool in Rvati in the municipality of Raška, with a capacity of 60 places. You can support the campaign by donating on the website fundraise.novakdjokovicfoundation.org or by sending an SMS with the text “Rvati” to 2205 (the cost of the message is 200 dinars and is valid for all networks in Serbia).