For over a decade, Center Zvezda has been a beacon of hope for young people without parental care, guiding them toward independence and success.
Last month, we had the opportunity to learn about and get acquainted with the work of the “Zvezda” Center – a place where young people leaving the social welfare system receive support, empowerment, and a chance for a fresh start. Their dedication and warmth left a deep impression on us, and their stories are proof that, with the right help, every step toward independence becomes easier.
For more than a decade, the “Zvezda” Center has been giving hope to young people without parental care, guiding them toward independence and success. Programs such as “House of Opportunities” and “Independent, but Not Alone” provide them with a safe haven and a chance for a better future. We spoke with the founder, Tanja Drazilovic, who shared with us the challenges they face, as well as inspiring stories of young people who, with the support of the center, have turned their lives around.
What is the heart and mission of Center Zvezda?
Our main goal is to provide comprehensive support to young people without adequate parental care who have left alternative care institutions or foster families and are in the process of becoming independent. Our vision is that every young person without parental or family support should receive the help they need for successful independence, according to their needs and potential.
How does Center Zvezda support young people stepping into independence?
Our support includes housing with assistance, life skills training, completing formal education, reskilling or additional qualification, non-formal education aimed at increasing employability, medical and psychological support, assistance, legal aid, as well as everything else a young person needs to develop their potential, enhance their competencies, and prepare for a successful independent life.
Can you share a story of a young person who found their path with Center Zvezda?
In the past 10 years of implementing the “House of Opportunities” program in Serbia, we have had more than 100 users or household members. There are many successful stories we have written together—a girl who was about to give up on her studies in her first year of university became one of the best students and continued with her master’s degree, a girl who started her own business and is now independent, successful, and very satisfied because she fulfilled her dream. There is the story of a young man who, during his stay in the program, found his relatives he thought were lost, inherited property, found a job, and is now preparing to start his own family. We have been part of many interesting and successful life stories, motivating, helping, and advising. This is invaluable experience and motivation to continue our work.
What are the biggest challenges in supporting young people without parental care?
When it comes to the functioning of the association, the main challenges are the lack of human resources and finances to secure them. At this moment, the number of activities we are implementing is increasing, we are carrying them out in multiple cities simultaneously, and the needs of children and young people without adequate parental support are growing. We can respond to a significant portion of these needs only if we have enough people who will work as a team and professionally toward the set goals. We also lack visibility in society, which is partly related to our team’s staff shortage.
How can the community support Center Zvezda and change lives?
We need support through monthly scholarships for our users, volunteer help in various activities, donations of products and services that could enhance the services we provide to young people, and support for the development of social entrepreneurship, which we plan to incorporate more intensively into each of the Houses of Opportunities as work therapy and a basis for sustainability. Yes, we also need support and visibility in the community as a recommendation and encouragement for further work and improving services and activities.
Tanja, the woman behind Center Zvezda
What are the key programs and activities currently shaping the future at Center Zvezda?
The core of our work is the “House of Opportunities” program—housing with comprehensive support for young people who have left the alternative care system. We have been running this program for 10 years in Belgrade, and later we opened Houses in Niš and Kragujevac. The “Independent, but not alone” program is for younger individuals under 18 who are still in homes or foster families, preparing them for independence. We also have the “Info-Corner”, a place where young people with very different needs can turn to our team, and we will strive to help solve their difficulties and problems. We are working on the prevention of gender-based violence among girls without adequate parental support, but also among the broader population of young people. We are in the process of building the capacity of a rural farm for the needs of a new and different House of Opportunities.
How does Center Zvezda continue to support young people after they start living independently?
The “House of Opportunities” program lasts for 2 years for each young person (we adjust the duration based on individual needs), and after that, we continue to monitor the process of our young users’ independence for an additional 2 years. We stay in contact with everyone who wants it, as long as they want, which means we are there even after they start their own families, have children, move to another city, and so on. We believe it is extremely important for these young people to have permanent support as a safe place where they can always return for help or advice. We make an effort to nurture these relationships as long as possible.
What’s next for Center Zvezda? Future plans and growth…
Since we have been working with children and young people without adequate parental care for 12 years, we have a lot of experience in this field, but over time, we have also realized what more needs to be done in terms of activities and programs to improve the situation of this target group and ensure that every child gets the chance to grow into an independent and successful young person. In this regard, we are working on launching a rural farm for this purpose and need the broader community’s help. We will continue expanding our network of houses to cover as much of our country’s territory geographically as possible. We plan to intensify work on social entrepreneurship, which goes hand-in-hand with the program, and we would like to launch some activities for the youngest members of this target group. For all of this, we need significant support from the wider community, including media, companies, and individuals. Together, we can achieve much more.
Photo: Dalibor Danilović
