Serbia
The global financial and economic crisis has hit Serbia hard, placing even greater pressure on families and children living in poverty. Discrimination and a shortage of qualified teachers mean many don't get a good-quality education, while children continue to be at risk of mistreatment and exploitation.
Save the Children in Serbia
We began working in South East Europe after the First World War, providing food to people who were hungry. Since 2005, our work in Serbia has focused on ensuring children get a good quality education, regardless of their background. We've also been working to reduce poverty and keep children safe from abuse and exploitation, including trafficking.
We’re enabling children of all backgrounds to get a good-quality education
Many children in Serbia have been denied their right to education through a combination of discrimination, poverty and a lack of qualified teachers. ‘Road to the future’, the country’s national report on inclusive education, was prepared with significant input from Save the Children and included many examples of good practice based on our work over the years.
Our Index for Inclusion tool has allowed thousands of children to benefit from a more inclusive learning environment. The Ministry of Education has recommended that our model be replicated in kindergartens and schools across Serbia.
We’re enabling more children go to school
Children from ethnic minority backgrounds are among the least likely to benefit from a full education. Fewer than a third of Roma children go to school, for example.
In 2008—09, we helped thousands of children enroll in primary school for the first time, and we're continuing to work with schools, communities and local NGOs to tackle the reasons why children from Roma communities, as well as refugee children, are not in school. We're also enabling children with disabilities to get an education.
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We’re improving children’s care
Across Serbia, children with disabilities, Roma children, and those whose parents are not around or who cannot cope often end up in children's homes. We’re working to improve the quality of care these children receive.
At the same time, we're promoting family-based care as an alternative and providing support for foster carers and their families. More than 2,900 children have benefited from our activities.
Find out more about work protecting children.
To learn more about our work in South East Europe, download the South East Europe regional brief (PDF 92KB).
Latest news
- Wednesday 21 November 2007 Children in Serbia are being held in institutions
- 1,400 children with disabilities have been placed in five residential institutions in Serbia. None of these is exclusively for children. Find out what we're doing about it.
- Thursday 18 October 2007 Children demand better schools
- "All children should be able to go to school and finish it regardless of their nationality or religion, and no matter whether they are poor or not."
