As part of our ongoing initiative to assistance to the population, we visited four households in Novo Brdo before the first snow. We went to homes in small hamlets, and the scenes we encountered were heartbreaking. The villages are neglected, roads are nonexistent, and people live on minimal income (around 200€), which hasn’t increased in years while prices have doubled. Agriculture is small-scale and underdeveloped.
No roads in the hamlets of Novo Brdo
In Jasenovik, as we walked toward the home of Milorad and his sons Žika and Slobodan, the host overheard us mentioning the mud since there is no road. Before welcoming us, he said: “Because of that road that doesn’t exist, my wife died she’s not here anymore.”
He couldn’t get her to a doctor in time when she suddenly suffered a medical emergency, nor was there any way to reach them by vehicle. Sadly, his younger son Slobodan is seriously ill and requires expensive therapy and care that he cannot imagine affording. They live off Milorad’s small pension and a bit of farming. The house they received isn’t fully completed, so the rooms are cold and damp, which is especially harmful for Slobodan’s health. They keep a few animals in the yard for personal use but cannot cut wood from the forest, and they cannot afford to buy their own.
Kamberi hamlet in Novo Brdo
Next, in the Kamberi hamlet, we visited the Stanković family, which has five members. The eldest son, Miloš, finished medical school but still has no job. His younger sister is also studying medicine, and the youngest, Mihajlo, is in elementary school. Parents Srđan and Nena try to provide a normal life for them, farming and doing odd jobs, hoping their children won’t have to leave their hometown. But the chances are slim they barely manage to support their education. Nena, says her greatest hope is that her daughter receives any kind of scholarship and feels secure while away from home.
Serbs in Novo Brdo need help to survive the winter
Next, in the Šumaci hamlet, surrounded by forest as its name suggests, it took us longer to reach the Stojanović family. Here we were greeted by Živojin, who tearfully shared that life is extremely hard, and young people cannot withstand this lifestyle. His son recently left for Belgrade in search of work.
These places are miles apart, even from the town itself. Without a personal vehicle which is rare among struggling families people cannot go shopping.
Aid in food and hygiene items may seem modest, but for these families, it means a great deal. It helps address their biggest worry: surviving the winter.
Of course, a single visit cannot solve everything. It is necessary to continue this initiative throughout the winter to support as many families in remote mountain enclaves as possible. Sadly, the crisis and inflation have shifted priorities, so now people focus only on basic needs, while long-term plans and stable income feel like a distant, uncertain future.
During this visit, we distributed food and hygiene packages to all families. We also brought wine for the local celebration, a gift from one of our donors aimed at helping both the producers in Hoča and the families in need in Pomoravlje.
We are grateful to all donors who support our work, making these initiatives possible. We hope that those who follow us and are in a position to help will recognize the importance of these actions and join the many generous donors who stand with Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.
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