In Pirot, a region in southern Serbia, OlamAid's local team spent two days last week working alongside volunteers from Germany, local partners, and Roma families – and moved a lot more than just soil and wood.
Sustainable Work in the Villages
In the villages around Pirot, volunteers worked side by side with local families: together with the children, they planted vegetables and harvested produce from the nearby fields. Afterwards, everyone gathered at the local community centre, where children took part in hands-on workshops to learn where food comes from and what healthy eating looks like. To finish, each child planted a bean seed to take home and watch grow.
A Safe Entrance for Jovana and Her Family
One of the most meaningful parts of the mission took place at the home of Jovana and her family. Jovana is raising six children on her own. Despite the daily challenges she faces, education remains her top priority – her eldest daughter has just graduated from secondary school with honours.
During the mission, volunteers and local partners worked together with Jovana to build a new entrance to her home. It may sound like a small thing – but every time it rained heavily or snowed, Jovana and her children were faced with a deep mud puddle that sometimes blocked access to their home entirely. Now the family has a safe entrance, whatever the weather.
The project did more than improve the family's living situation. It also sent a message: Roma families still face widespread prejudice and discrimination, which makes accessing support much harder. That is why direct contact and genuine exchange with the community mattered so much to us.
We are grateful to everyone involved, and to the families in Pirot for their trust. Thank you!
