A VOLUNTEER FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE STREETS

“A FEW DECADES AGO, MY WIFE NATASHA AND I AGREED THAT WE CANNOT MAKE A BETTER PLANET FOR OUR CHILDREN, BUT WE CAN MAKE BETTER CHILDREN FOR OUR PLANET.”

“A few decades ago, my wife Natasha and I agreed that we cannot make a better Planet for our children, but we can make better children for our Planet. After the birth of our third child, that ‘child raising’ project had one main goal; ‘lead by example’.“ – Duško Milošević – Duca explains his motivation and world view.

Duca is a volunteer at Svratište (Drop In Shelter), an institution run by the non-profit Center for Youth Integration.

Svratište is a licensed service, recognized in Law on social protection, with the aim to improve life quality of the street involved children. Their beneficiaries are children between 5 and 15 years of age who live or work on the streets of Belgrade and who are exposed to numerous risks due to a way of life.

The children are supplied with regular, nutritionally balanced meals, clean clothes and footwear adjusted to the weather conditions; with the support during their education and during involvement in the educational system. Drop in shelter represents the safe environment which meets their needs and nourishes proper psychosocial development of a child. Beneficiaries can also take part in different creative, educative, cultural and sports activities.

Not only the Drop in shelter related activities are available to the beneficiaries and their families, but also a team of outreach work experts who regularly visit places where the children live, work or spend their time. Outreach work enables strengthening the relation of trust with the beneficiaries and their families. The Drop in shelter team of professionals consists of social workers, special pedagogues, a nurse, psychologists and a lawyer. This team has a joint mission to provide support and protection to all beneficiaries of the Drop in shelter, respecting best interest of a child.

They currently work on two locations in Belgrade.

Whenever Duca is asked about why he volunteers or puts effort to solidarity work, he usually says: ask the people who don’t. Because, according to his views, people like him are not the exception. The ones who don’t contribute are.

“Let random acts of kindness fulfill your day, and never ask for anything in return because it will come. It will be returned to you in most beautiful way. You will find it in a silent look of child you have helped, in a smile on the mothers face and in one worry less for a father. Speaking of philanthropy the only right measurement is not the amount of money you`ve gathered, or how many shoes you`ve gave to a charity.

It is in the way and number of people you’ve motivated to be and do better. Knowing that my attitude motivated others to help those in need is making me proud. My name is Duško Milošević a simple man from the Danube coast.“