OUR FOUNDERS

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

FOUNDER

“‘Belief’ is the most universal word to me, even more than ‘hope’. For one to achieve his dreams, he needs to truly believe in them.”.

A tennis player of the decade, who has won 21 grand slams, 88 ATP titles, and so much more to date..

But what makes Novak truly special are not his titles, but his self-awareness. He saw a need to improve the quality of early education in his native country of Serbia, and through the Foundation, he sought to not only make an immediate change in children’s lives but also to drastically improve the future of Serbia and the world. .

Novak’s work with the Foundation has taken on more profound meaning and urgency as he raises his two children alongside Jelena and witnesses firsthand how crucial the window of time is during a child’s early years.

READ HIS LETTER

JELENA DJOKOVIC

CO-FOUNDER AND GLOBAL CEO

“Error cannot really threaten the truth, which can always withstand it. Only error is actually vulnerable.”

Jelena is an open-minded apprentice of life with never-satiating hunger for knowledge who would like to be remembered as a curious soul who loves life and lifelong learning. A mother of two with an incredible passion to help, she is someone who lives and breathes Early Childhood Education.

She lives by values of gratitude, honesty, respect, kindness, forgiveness, and love and tries to practice them through everything she does.

About hobbies, she doesn’t really read books, who would have thought? She devours them.

VISIT HER WEBSITE

Letter from the founder

I’m coming from a war torn country, a place where many kids do not dare to dream big. I was blessed to have the support of my whole family while growing up. They believed in me and dreamed with me. Because of their trust, love and support, and all the hard work invested, I made my biggest dream come true. I’ve become one of the best tennis players in the world.

I want to help other kids as well to learn from my example that many things are possible if we only believe in ourselves and work hard to fulfil our dreams.

While I’m still young and have a lot of people’s attention, I want to start building my philanthropic legacy. I want to share the focus that is on me with the work my foundation does and help as many kids in Serbia as possible. Through education, they too can be part of our collective effort to decrease poverty and social exclusion.

In order to help raise the awareness of the low enrollment rates in pre-school education in Serbia, I have been given a great honor to carry the role of the UNICEF’s ambassador for Serbia, which is among countries that have the lowest preschool coverage. Led by UNICEF’s example, my foundation too has embraced this initiative and will work together with UNICEF and other non-profit organizations to help the education system in Serbia and give kids a chance to have a better life.

Let us together believe in their dreams!

Novak Djokovic, Founder of the NDF

OUR CHANGEMAKERS

MAJA KREMIC

NATIONAL DIRECTOR

”Don’t just strive to make yourself better, but also the world that you leave behind.”

Read More >
MARIJA RISTIC

GLOBAL HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”

Read More >
SMILJANA GRUJIC

HEAD OF PROGRAMS

“You can postpone anything but love.”

Read More >
MILJAN LAZETIC

HEAD OF PROJECTS

“The soul is healed by being with children.””

Read More >
EMINA POTRIC

FUNDRAISING MANAGER

“Happiness returns double to those who give.”

Read More >
ALEKSANDAR GRUBIN

HEAD OF FUNDRAISING

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”

Read More >
ANA JOVANOVIC

PROGRAM MANAGER

“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”

Read More >
BOJANA RANGELOV

PROJECT MANAGER

“To make a difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care.”

Read More >
NIKOLA RADISAVLJEVIC

PROJECT MANAGER

“Each of us is carving a stone, erecting a column, or cutting a piece of stained glass in the construction of something much bigger than ourselves.”

Read More >
ANDJELKA GVOZDENOVIC

PROCUREMENT MANAGER

“Children are like mirrors, they reflect back to us all we say and do.”

Read More >
SANJA MILOSEVIC

ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER

“Great satisfaction comes from sharing with others.”

Read More >
DRAZEN BOGUNOVIC

LEGAL ASSOCIATE

“A child without education is like a bird without wings.”

Read More >
BOJAN POPOVIC

ONLINE SHOP AND BRAND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

Read More >
ALEKSA RŠUMOVIĆ

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

"Your mind possesses the intellect to lift the world, but your heart holds the wisdom to make the world a better place."

Read More >
ANDJELA BUCIC

ASSISTANT TO GLOBAL HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS

“Be the change you want to see in this world.”

Read More >
DUSAN PETROVIC

BLOG EDITOR

“If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.”

Read More >