The Radović family from Šilovo, Kosovo and Metohija, live in very modest conditions.
They sleep in an unfinished house and spend their days in the old one, which is nearly collapsing. They have two young daughters who attend elementary school. The family survives on a single salary, with no land to farm.
Dejan and Jelena Radović, together with their children, are one of three families we are supporting through the campaign A Little Means a Lot
“I don’t have the means to fix this. With only one salary, we can barely cover the children’s needs. I keep a few chickens, just to provide what little I can for the kids in this small yard.”
Life Like a Zoo Without Fences
Šilovo is a Serbian village in the Kosovo Pomoravlje region, located right next to the city of Gnjilane. Until recently, it was home to some important Serbian institutions. But after the abolition of the dinar and the closing of banks, the post office, and social services, the village has been left quite empty. Its life now revolves mostly around the high school, medical school, elementary school, and kindergarten.
“We live like in a zoo, only without the fences. You’re not fenced in, but you’re not free either. You know how far you can go and when to come back. The children have no freedom at all. But still, for me, this is the most beautiful place.”
The Radović family
The Radović Family Chooses to Stay in Šilovo
Dejan’s father bought him a house in the 1980s. At that time, he could have moved to Belgrade for the same money. Yet Dejan feels his home is in the village where he was born, married, and had children — and he believes this is where he should stay.
Their old house, where they spend most of their time, was damaged by an earthquake 15 years ago. Although they received a new one, they haven’t been able to move in for over a decade. The house is too small for the family, lacks proper furniture, and its layout is impractical. For that reason, Dejan, his wife, and daughters only sleep there, while their days are spent under the crumbling roof of the old house.
Old House Falling Apart, New One Unlivable
“I can’t afford to fix the old house, nor to expand and arrange the new one. One salary isn’t enough. We need windows, insulation, and a bigger living room. There’s no space even to bring in furniture. The children have no room of their own; we all live in the living room. It just doesn’t work.”
Children
The Radović family is not alone. Many families were left without safe homes after the earthquake. More and more families are reaching out with similar problems. These types of houses are too small, and the layout requires major investment to expand. It is especially difficult for young couples who live in them with children and parents.
Help the Radović Family Get a Safe Home
Housing remains one of the biggest challenges for families in Kosovo Pomoravlje. While current programs support socially vulnerable families, many others who are just above that line still cannot solve their housing issues. Sadly, this is another reason why families with children are leaving the area of Kosovo and Metohija where the Serbian community is still holding on.
Support the campaign A Little Means a Lot here
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