A CONNECTION TO THEIR ROOTS: Serbian children from America spent the summer in their homeland thanks to the “Mileva Project”!

For 31 children of Serbian descent from America, the summer of 2026 was about much more than a school vacation. Thanks to the Mileva Project and the support of donors, they had the opportunity to visit Serbia, meet family members, explore places they had previously heard about only through their parents’ stories, and create memories that will forever connect them to their ancestral homeland.

From Chicago to Belgrade, from Oregon to Valjevo, thousands of miles were covered this summer to bring together families living on different continents. For some of the children, it was their first encounter with Serbia; for others, it was an opportunity to hug their loved ones again and spend the summer with relatives and friends.

Behind every trip was a unique story. Some were filled with visits to cities, mountains and landmarks, while others revolved around everyday moments: having breakfast with their grandmother, playing in the yard, going to the market or spending time with children from the neighborhood. For many families, these were the most precious parts of the summer — moments that cannot be found in travel guides.

From American cities to Serbia’s most beautiful regions

The children traveled to Serbia from ten U.S. states, including Illinois, Texas, Oregon, Florida and New York. Their summer journeys took them across different parts of Serbia, from Belgrade, Novi Sad and Sombor to Valjevo and Čačak, as well as Golubac, Kopaonik and other places where their families live.

Nana and Marta, who returned to Chicago after two months, visited Divčibare, Tara, Belgrade, Kraljevo, Vrnjačka Banja and Lopatnica. Among their many adventures, rafting on the Tara and Drina rivers was a particular highlight.

Iskra spent the summer taking part in a wide range of activities. She attended concerts, birthday parties, a basketball tournament and workshops at the library in Čačak, enjoyed swimming in a pool, made small homemade cornmeal muffins and took part in family preparations for making rakija. She also spent time with her aunt while she was preparing for the World Taekwondo Championships.

For Valentina and Angelina, the summer brought special joy at their grandparents’ home. Alongside enjoying homemade food, visiting monasteries and going to a fair in Obrenovac, Valentina expressed a wish to have two ducklings. Her grandparents made her wish come true, and Donald and Daisy became part of their summer adventures over the following month. Their favorite treats — pancakes and Plazma milkshakes — also showed how Serbia can be remembered through the little things.

Viktor enjoyed fishing at Lake Palić and visiting a horse-breeding farm, while Teona had the opportunity to meet her great-grandfather, get a haircut from the best hairdresser and spend time with children in her New Belgrade neighborhood. Over more than two months, Vukan visited Belgrade, Velika Plana, Kladovo and Srem, while Ana spent most of her time with her sisters, friends and family in Valjevo.

Every child had a different vacation, but they all returned with something that cannot be packed into a suitcase — love, closeness and memories that will connect them to Serbia wherever life takes them.

Serbia is no longer just a story told by their parents

For Luka and Kalina, this summer had a special meaning. They traveled to Serbia for the first time and met a large part of their family. In Belgrade, they hugged their grandfather and met their uncles, brothers, sisters, uncle and aunt, before continuing their journey through Novi Sad, Golubac and other parts of Serbia. A particularly emotional moment was their visit to Zaječar, where they met their paternal grandparents for the first time.

Their mother, Jelena, described how much the experience meant to the entire family:

“The most beautiful thing of all is that Serbia is no longer just their parents’ country; it is now part of their own personal story, too.”

This is precisely the essence of the Mileva Project. For children growing up thousands of miles away, these trips mean much more than getting to know their ancestral homeland. They give them the opportunity to grow closer to their families, create their own memories and build a deeper, stronger connection with Serbia through personal experience.

One summer, 31 children and countless reasons to return

The Mileva Project is a nonprofit organization founded in the U.S. state of Illinois, with the goal of enabling children of Serbian descent, aged 2 to 18 and living in America, to travel to Serbia.

Thanks to donor support, the project raised $133,322 through 92 donations during its first year of operation, providing 31 children with round-trip airline tickets to Serbia. The children traveled from ten U.S. states and visited at least 15 locations across Serbia.

These results mark the beginning of a longer-term mission. Future phases of the project are expected to expand the program through summer camps, language and educational workshops, cultural tours and social activities.

And perhaps nothing illustrates the significance of such a journey better than the heartwarming remark made by Iskra’s grandfather:

“I loved her a thousand percent before I even met her, and now I love her at least a million and a thousand percent.”

Perhaps that is the most beautiful result of the Mileva Project. It is not the miles traveled or the places visited, but the love that has been given the opportunity to shine through hugs, shared moments and memories that will last far longer than a single summer.

More information about the Mileva Project is available at: www.milevaproject.org.