It is a universal truth that children love nothing better than getting out of school at the start of a weekend to summer sunshine and be greeted by the sugary glory of a bake sale of cookies, candies and cakes. The lucky kids at London’s Hampstead Parochial School got their weekends off to a great start recently when, streaming out the doors at the end of a long day of lessons, there were all sorts of home-baked deliciousness awaiting them. They’d lucked out, too, because this was the second day in a row that Smiljana (Mika) Underwood””a parent of an 11 year-old student Oliver””had organized the sale, which included everything from chocolate chip cookies and glazed doughnuts to brownies and cupcakes with colorful sprinkles on top.

Community isn’t just confined to a geographical space. We are all part of a greater global village where every one of us, no matter how small, can contribute and make a difference.

A huge selection of delicious cakes donated by parents and friends. Copyright: Phil Underwood/Positive Design Works

But this sugar fest wasn’t just for the delight of Oliver’s classmates; it was a two-day fundraiser that Mika had put together to raise money for the Novak Djokovic Foundation’s special Serbian Flood Relief fund. My friend Mika, originally from Nis, Serbia, felt helpless to do anything when the horrendous and deadly floods hit her home country in May. Though her parents and family were fine in Nis (where she, Oliver, 9 year-old daughter Daisy and husband, Phil spend every summer holiday), Mika knew people in Svileuva who were personally affected. Schools destroyed, homes washed away, people killed and injured and personal effects of thousands of lifetimes sodden and ruined in the Biblical downpour.

Parents and helpers looking relaxed before the end-of-day bell goes off. Copyright: Phil Underwood/Positive Design Works

It was, she says, the least she could do, being too far away to be involved in any of the hands-on help. So she got on the phone, sent emails and went on Facebook to publicize the bake sale to her friends. Phil, a graphic designer, created signs and a letter to go home with each child, explaining what the fundraiser was for and asking if other parents were keen to do roll up their sleeves and get baking. Mika got me inspired too.

Organiser, Smiljana Underwood with her year-four daughter, Daisy, looking please that it’s a sunny day. Copyright: Phil Underwood/Positive Design Works

I have spent a lot of time over the last decade in the countries of former Yugoslavia: holidaying in Croatia, covering politics and social issues in Bosnia and writing about the fashion, film and contemporary art scenes in Serbia. I have many friends from across the region and it a part of the world that is very close to my heart. I was devastated to not only watch the destruction of these floods, but also to see that the news media (of which I am a part) were slow to take up the cause. Mika and I praised Novak Djokovic for pointing this out vocally during interviews at the Rome Open and were heartened by articles like Belgrade-born writer Tea  Obreht’s piece in the New Yorker, which touched on the hypocrisy of the sad situation.

I’m not great at making patisserie but I asked my mom to send me over her recipe for lemon bars (a favorite treat from the part of the Midwest where I grew up) and I baked a chocolate cake (from a box) and made vanilla icing (from scratch) for Mika to sell. Both turned out well and sold pretty quickly. One London-based Serbian friend made a traditional apple and cinnamon cake, while an Irish friend made strawberry and marshmallow sticks. Oliver and Daisy even got in on the action and helped out in the kitchen.

Frantic purchasing in the playground of Hampstead Parochial School. Copyright: Phil Underwood/Positive Design Works.

And the sale was a hit. “The first day, all these people kept bringing in cakes, I could not believe it,” Mika said. “It just really touched my heart that so many people took the time and energy to do something for a country most have never been to.” On Thursday June 5, the bake sale made £240 and on Friday, the total reached £400. While””in the big scheme of things””it’s not a lot of money, it’s enough to feed several families for a week or to buy some books for a school or pay for diapers and baby blankets for dozens of infants.

Left to right: Aileen Elliot, parent and helper; Smiljana Underwood, Organiser; Monika Cvetojevic, parent. Copyright: Phil Underwood/Positive Design Works.

As kids gathered around the long table, piled high with the yummy treats, kids and teachers alike talked about the reason behind the fundraiser.   “[tweet_quote]It’s good to help people in Serbia because lots of their stuff has been ruined by the floods,” said 11 year-old pupil Anna Cvetojevic .[/tweet_quote]

Meanwhile Stephanie Close, a teacher for the Year 6, said the sale was a good learning experience for the students:

It was a great opportunity to raise awareness on climate change and to discuss the impact of the floods in the Balkans.

So many donated cakes meant a day-two cake sale and Hampstead was again blessed with sunshine. Copyright: Phil Underwood/Positive Design Works

The kids also liked the idea that the money would be helping other kids out, children who were a thousand miles away both in physical distance and in terms of what they have recently had to go through. As they licked the frosting off the cupcakes, giggling from their sugar highs, they maybe also learned a lesson that isn’t taught in the classroom; community isn’t just confined to a geographical space. [tweet_quote]We are all part of a greater global village where every one of us, no matter how small, can contribute and make a difference.[/tweet_quote]

Oliver Underwood is happy with his choice of cakes. Copyright: Phil Underwood/Positive Design Works

By Ginanne Brownell

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It is important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Over the years this day has become a broad, global platform for public outreach and the ‘people’s day’ for doing something positive for the environment.

 UN Secretary General,  Ban Ki-moon:

Planet Earth is our shared island, let us join forces to protect it.

The idea is to galvanize individual actions into a collective power that will generate an exponential positive impact on our planet.

Don’t forget, even if you think that your actions don’t count, you are wrong.  EVERY ACTION COUNTS.

[tweet_quote]Your choices, no matter how insignificant they seem, still have a great impact on the global climate change.[/tweet_quote] Imagine what happens when all our  individual actions and choices get  multiplied by a global chorus?  We can either create a good lasting change and protect our “shared island” or we can doom it.

[tweet_quote]Natural disasters that befall us are only reminders of what  happens when a man forgets he is one with the nature.[/tweet_quote]

Here are some suggestions on what you can do to join the global  initiative and protect the environment:

EDUCATE:

1. You can teach your youngest that we are one with the nature. We face the same challenges and should be connected and united by our common goal of creating sustainable and prosperous life for all on this planet.
2. Remind everyone around you that when we lose the awareness of how important is to preserve our environment, nature sends us reminders that cost us more than we can bear (let us not forget the Balkan floods of 2014)

ORGANIZE:

1. clean up campaigns in your neighbourhoud
2. food waste reduction initiatives
3. walk-to-work days
4. plastic bans
5. art exhibits, concerts, dance recitals  honoring the nature
6. tree-planting drives
7. recycling drives,
8. and lastly, something all of us can, do – SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS: we can always spread messages of good doings of others. Show the world  positive examples from your own society. Spread  the #goodnews!

WED video on importance of preserving environment:

NDF video on #SerbiaFloods

Source

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[tweet_quote]The Balkan Flood Story is a reminder for humanity that the natural disaster can strike anytime and anywhere.[/tweet_quote]

One of the things I learned in America is preparedness, preparedness for whatever may come and having a family emergency plan handy for dealing with unexpected. [tweet_quote]Parents are almost always the best source of support for children in times of natural disasters.[/tweet_quote]  After the disaster, children are most afraid that the event will happen again, that someone close to them will be killed or injured, or they will be left alone or separated from their loved ones.

What do families need to know in order to create a reassuring environment for a child in the aftermath of a natural disaster?

Photo credit: VinothChandar / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

1. Children’s coping with disaster is directly related to the way parents cope.

Children can detect adults’ fears and sadness. By taking steps to manage their own feelings and plans for coping, parents can make disasters less traumatic for children. [tweet_quote]Parents are almost always the best source of support for children in disasters.[/tweet_quote] Personal contact is reassuring. Physiologists encourage parents to hug and touch their children.

2.   This too shall pass

For those that were directly exposed to the disaster, reminders of the disaster such as high winds, smoke, sirens, or other reminders of the disaster may cause upsetting feelings to return. Having a prior history of some type of traumatic event or severe stress may contribute to these feelings. In most cases, depending on the risk factors, [tweet_quote]distressing responses are temporary[/tweet_quote], they too shall pass. [tweet_quote]Parents should encourage children and adolescents to share their thoughts and feelings about the disaster.[/tweet_quote] However, if a child has difficulty expressing feelings, parents should allow the child to draw a picture or tell a story of what happened. Creative writing, essays and poetry can also be useful outlets for emotional relief.

3.   Listen to what the child is saying

[tweet_quote]Parents should aim to clarify misunderstandings about risk and danger by listening to children’s concerns and answering questions.[/tweet_quote]  The key is to listen carefully to what the child is saying. If a young child is asking questions about the event, parents should answer them in a brief and simple way. There is no need for going in too many details but it is necessary to talk to children in language they understand.   Parents should calmly provide factual information about the recent disaster and share their plan for insuring children’s safety.

4. Limit the exposure to media

News coverage related to a disaster may elicit fear and confusion and produce anxiety in children. This is particularly true for large-scale disasters where significant property damage and loss of life has occurred. Particularly for younger children, repeated images of an event may cause them to believe the event is recurring.

If parents allow children to watch television or use the Internet where images or news about the disaster are usually graphic, parents then should be with their children to encourage communication and provide explanations. This may also include parent’s monitoring and appropriately limiting their own exposure to anxiety-provoking information. One of the suggestions from the American Academy for Pediatrics is for parents to consider taping of the media coverage so they can preview it and watch it along the children to help them process the information.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected, as well as with the people working night and day with Novak Djokovic Foundation to restoring hope to the victims of the devastating floods in Serbia.

The post Help Children Cope with Natural Disasters appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Watch Novak’s interview:

Novak čoković za BBC 18.5. – Novak Djokovic for BBC 18.5. from Novak Djokovic Foundation on Vimeo.

The post Novak’s Interview with BBC appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Despite all the hardships, sufferings, tragedy and victims we have suffered, Serbia is not alone. Neighbouring countries: Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia were the first who offered and provided assistance in dealing with this natural disaster. When such things happen, our religion, nation and the language we speak become less important. There is no more division among us. We are all one, hoping that this unity and solidarity will last longer, not just now but in the following years as well.

Here are a few examples of fraternal solidarity and assistance that should be mentioned. Big thanks to all the countries in the region for helping us and supporting us. A contingent of the Army of Montenegro has headed this morning to Serbia from its base in Danilovgrad. They were followed by buses full of volunteers, organised by the Brotherhood of Orthodox Youth of Montenegro. Atlas company has sent 100,000 gallons of water, while the President of the Group personally donated EUR 50,000. Water plant Lipovo from Kolasin has organised an additional production in order to send urgent assistance to Serbia. Some municipalities also merged and sent financial aid, manpower, technology, food and blankets. Montenegro has opened a bank account for individual payments intended for those most affected by floods that have hit Serbia.

Croatia was among the first to respond to Serbia’s appeal to help. The Red Cross of the Republic of Croatia has launched the action to raise funds for the flood-endangered population in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Financial aid is being received by online donations on websites of Croatian Red Cross.   Croatia also provided two military transport helicopters with crews and personnel to help those affected by floods.

The Slovenian government sent an additional special civil protection unit to Serbia, together with 19 experts, military helicopter, eleven vehicles and two special pumps for water draining. The Macedonian government decided to send 75 special unit members as assistance to flood-hit Serbia.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations immediately sent an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft with 70 rescuers. The Russian rescue team also includes 20 divers with most up-to-date equipment. They took part in the rescue of citizens of Jagodina and surrounding villages, as well as in other flood-affected areas in our country. Two more planes of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations will deliver 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Serbia, including boats, equipment for water drainage and electricity supply, food and blankets.

The EU has sent to Serbia high-capacity drainage pumps and a team of experts tasked with providing assistance in the removal of consequences of the floods. Austria, Bulgaria and Germany were among the first to send assistance. The plan is to send helicopters. France has joined as well and sent 34 rescuers, ten motor boats and other equipment used in rescue operations. In addition, through its company in Serbia “Tigar Tyres” France has donated 1.2 million dinars to help the most vulnerable, and sent 5,000 pairs of rubber boots intended for residents of the flooded areas.

Israel has decided to help by sending medicines, blankets, raincoats, rubber boots and food.   Hungary granted five boats and helicopters for the rescue action and the Czech Republic granted assistance comprising a rescue team and a high-capacity drainage pump, as well as a boat and seven vehicles for various purposes. The United States donated $100,000 for the procurement of equipment and non-food items adequate for assistance to the flooded areas in Serbia. The Serbian people will never forget this!

We are and always will be inspired by good deeds and acts of kindness and respond in the same way whenever we are able to – whether it is to help a neighbour, friend, family, or a complete strange. Your little means so much to others and can change their lives.  

The post The Time When the Balkans Got United appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Roads and bridges are flooded, schools and kindergartens have been shut down, 100,000 homes in Serbia left without power, while rain-swollen rivers and surging water course through towns and villages, overflowing across streets into homes, causing landslides and other disasters.

The situation is so dramatic, that the entire families have lost their homes in the floods. Finding a shelter is a real adventure for many. In the city of Svilajnac more than 1.000 flood victims had to seek refuge on the roof tops, waiting for the rescuers to come and save them. In Veliko Polje near Obrenovac the dam broke, and the river flooded the whole area… Hundreds of cars and buses are stranded along the flooded roads.  The situation is the most dramatic in western Serbia, where more than 500 people were evacuated during the night.

These are the heaviest rains and floods ever recoded in 120 years. Entire towns are cut off and the slow-moving cyclone is said to last until the weekend. Serbia has already declared a nationwide flood emergency on Thursday. Several people have already drowned and the numbers are only growing.

Meteorologists say that more than double of Serbia’s average rainfall for the whole of May is expected to fall within just two and half days. Major traffic routes, such as the E-75 Belgrade-Skopje highway, are submerged. Serbia’s rail link to Montenegro is also severed.

Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina:

In Republika Srpska, they are still struggling with surging waters. Overflowing rivers have burst into towns and villages, cutting off whole communities, while landslides have buried houses.

The most critical area is near river Sava, so called Posavina. Conditions in Šamac are dire, the Brčko district mound is threatened by deluged water. It is said that the level of River Sava is over nine meters high and almost 1.35m higher than it was in 2010.

Yesterday because the dam near Batkovci fell, started the evacuation of 10.000 people. Army helicopters have been sent to evacuate stranded residents but bad weather is hampering the rescue efforts.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina the Sava broke the dam in the area Orasje and more than 1,000 people needed to be evacuated. The situation is  difficult in the area of Odzak and Bijeljina.

Water wave from Croatia is expected to arrive in Sabac and Sremska Mitrovica (Serbia). Still the situation is worst in Obrenovac and Baric (Serbia) which are completely submerged.

Croatian helicopters  are aiding in the  rescue operation, providing assistance to the flooded areas in BiH, especially the areas of Odzak, Orasje, Bijeljina, Bosanski Samac, and the wider area of Zenica. The exact number of deaths in the country is not known.

Floods that have affected Bosnia and Herzegovina have also caused massive landslides across the country. There are approximately 2000 active landslides forcing a large number of families to be evacuated.

Croatia:

Therefore, we have to turn to all of you for help! There is no time left. We have to act promptly. Let’s unite and confront this together!

We call on all people of good will who are able to help in any way to make donations in the form of food, clothing, and footwear.

Ways You Can Help In Serbia

“‹MONEY DONATIONS:”‹

Government of Serbia

BANK ACCOUNTS FOR HELP (dinar and foreign currency accounts of the Government of Serbia to help those in need):

• RSD account: 840-3546721-89. Purpose of payment: Removal of extraordinary circumstances – flooding.
  Foreign currency Account: 01-504619-100193230-000000-0000, special purpose account for funds for elimination of consequences of floodsFor donations from abroad: Money transfer instructions can be found here.

The Government of Serbia has succeeded in opening PAYPAL account. See the photo below.

TO DONATE MONEY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA VIA PAYPAL, follow this link.

SMS number for help (for all networks, price 100 RSD):1003

Current account for help (City of Belgrade):

• Special purpose account: 01-504103-100000300-000000-0000 – Grad Beograd – Sekretarijat za finansije.  IBAN: RS35908504103000030058.  Payment Instructions are on the website of the City of Belgrade, at www.beograd.rs.

RED CROSS SERBIA – PaymentS from abroad: All instructions can be found at this link.

Red Cross Serbia will announce in the media where they have directed their money.

NDF

Should you wish, you can also choose to donate to NDF via our paypall account. All the money we have received starting from yesterday, will be used for reconstruction of kindergartens and schools ruined in the floods.

After Monday, we will have a clearer picture where the help is most needed and we will announce it via our channels. Please follow us for more updates.

“‹CALL CENTERS”‹

The Ministry of the Interior Affairs has also established a call center through which all interested people willing to help, are able to obtain information in order to realise their contributions. The call center will be open 24 hours a week and will coordinate all actions with other governmental agencies.

The telephone numbers of the call center: + 381 11 312 0741 ,+ 381 11 312 0739, + 381 11 312 9939,+ 381 11 312 0742, + 381 11 312 0646, + 381 11 3148 474, + 381 11 3148 547, + 381 11 3613 321, + 381 11 3148 509, + 381 11 3148 517.

You can also get information emailing to: pomoc.vanrednasituacija@mup.gov.rs.

HUMANITARIAN ACTIONS”‹

For more  information and photos from all critical and flood-affected areas on Twitter, follow the hashtag  #poplave, as well as the hashtag  #SerbiaFloods  for information in English.”‹

All photos were taken from  twitter.  Foto 1,  Foto  2,  Foto 3,  Foto 4,  Foto 5

The post CALL FOR HELP: Help the People Suffering in Floods appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.