When we first organized the Kosovo Pomoravlje Summer School in 2023, our goal was simple: to give children from Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija what many of them need most during their school holidays friendship, play, learning, and freedom.

In many villages across Kosovo and Metohija, children grow up in very small classes, sometimes with only two or three peers. For them, summer often does not mean vacations, trips, and new experiences, but long days marked by isolation and limited opportunities for social interaction.

That is why the Summer School is much more than a camp. It is a place of connection, joy, and togetherness.

From Bratilovce to Štrpce

The first Summer School was held in Bratilovce and brought together 19 elementary school students from the areas of Vitina, Novo Brdo, and Kosovska Kamenica. Through workshops in Serbian language, religious education, sports, and creative activities, the children explored their homeland and learned more about their spiritual and cultural heritage.

The following year, the program grew. Thirty children from Serbian communities across Kosovo and Metohija joined the Summer School. In the monasteries of Draganac and Gračanica, they painted Kosovo peonies, learned about Serbian literature, faith, tradition, and cultural heritage.Yet the most valuable lessons were found elsewhere in sharing art supplies, cheering for a friend, patiently waiting for a turn, and in the question the children asked at the end: “When can we do this again?”

The Third Summer School: Freedom, Play, and Friendship

The third Kosovo Pomoravlje Summer School was held in 2025 in Štrpce, beneath the beautiful Šar Mountains. The program was based on the NTC learning system, combining education through play, sports, outdoor activities, and meaningful social interaction away from mobile phones.

“I expected children to be a bit reserved, but instead I met a group full of energy, eager to learn and excited to spend time together. The most important thing to them is simply being together,” says Ivana Otašević Veljin, an NTC educator.

What makes the Summer School truly special can often be seen in the smallest moments. During a game of dodgeball, children willingly sacrificed their own place in the game so that a friend could continue playing. During one meal, a young girl immediately suggested sharing the last piece of traditional fried dough with her friend.These moments reveal how quickly children, when given the opportunity, become a team, a community, and a small family.

“The freedom to play, speak, and express themselves—that is what they gain here and often do not have at home,” says Marina Vesić, a primary school teacher from Mogila.

One of the most memorable experiences was the excursion to Prizren and the visit to the Church of Our Lady of Ljeviš. When the children sang the song ‘We Are Children of Heaven’ together, their small group filled the church with both spiritual and emotional warmth.

These moments stay with them long after the program ends because they are not only learning about their heritage—they are experiencing it as a living part of their identity and connection to Kosovo and Metohija.

Summer School 2026: For the Children Who Stay

This year, for the fourth consecutive year, we are organizing the Kosovo Pomoravlje Summer School for children from Kosovo and Metohija.

The program will take place from July 31 to August 6 in Štrpce, beneath the Šar Mountains, and is expected to welcome between 40 and 45 children from Serbian communities throughout Kosovo and Metohija.

Over seven days, participants will learn through play, spend time in nature, take part in sports and creative workshops, nurture their faith, tradition, and culture, visit important spiritual sites, and create memories they will carry with them for years to come.

Supporting the Summer School means supporting children who live here, families who choose to stay, and the enduring life of Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija.

Support the Kosovo Pomoravlje Summer School

Help us provide children from Kosovo and Metohija with a summer filled with friendship, learning, games, music, and joy.

Let another summer be remembered not for loneliness, but for friendships, shared experiences, and unforgettable moments.

Support the Kosovo Pomoravlje Summer School 2026 and become part of a story that gives children a sense of freedom, belonging, and childhood.

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