Although the air distance between Serbia and Canada is more than nine thousand kilometers, that does not prevent the local Serbs from collecting aid for children’s hospitals in Serbia for the past 25 years in Vancouver. This year, the humanitarian organization “Sabor Srbije” collected 15,000 euros at a donor evening, and the money will be used to purchase equipment for pediatrics in Loznica.
A quarter of a century ago, in 2001, choreographer Dragan Paunović registered a nonprofit organization in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The goal, both then and today, is to help smaller towns in Serbia, specifically children’s departments in health institutions, where the shortage of medical equipment is most pronounced.
Dragan Paunović from the humanitarian organization “Sabor Srbije” explains that they have a map of Serbia and that they do not operate in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš.
“We work in smaller cities across Serbia — from north to south, from east to west. We have a map and we visit all those districts. Folklore gave me great motivation. I have been involved in folklore for 50 years, and I also performed in Sombor before I came here,” said Paunović.
Humanitarian evening dedicated to Loznica
This year, more than 230 guests gathered at the humanitarian evening where, along with Serbian music and a rich table, they learned about Loznica, the city to which the collected funds will go.
Ljiljana Jakšić, a member of the Board of Directors of “Sabor Srbije” in Vancouver, explains that the name of the city probably comes from the word “lozica”, due to the large number of vineyards.
“In the 19th century Loznica recorded significant development. A boys’ primary school operated in the town, with interruptions, as early as 1795. In 1858 Loznica received a girls’ primary school, and later a gymnasium in 1871. As early as 1888, Loznica opened a Monetary Institute, a savings bank, a court and a hospital,” Jakšić stated.
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Doctors choose the medical equipment themselves
The humanitarian organization “Sabor Srbije” has a specific way of operating; doctors themselves choose what will be purchased with the donated money arriving from Canada.
Doctor Đorđe Kljajić, a donor from Vancouver, emphasizes that it is very important to help colleagues in Serbia overcome material problems.
“I worked at the hospital in Zrenjanin and at the clinic in Novi Sad for about 20 years, and it is very important to help the people there overcome the material problems they face in their everyday work,” said Kljajić.
Support of the Serbian community in Canada
The costs of this year’s humanitarian evening of “Sabor Srbije” were donated by architect Predrag Vladiković, first among equals in the local Serbian diaspora. Thanks to their donations, and with the Serbian diaspora numbering around 10,000 members in British Columbia, the Temple of Saint Archangel Michael was built in Vancouver two decades ago.
Predrag Vladiković, honorary consul of Serbia in Vancouver, says that he designed the temple in 2002 and that, with great help from the Serbian community, a significant spiritual center was built.
“With the great help of the Serbian community we managed to build that wonderful temple, which truly represents a huge success of the Serbian community in distant Canada. I am proud that I can represent a healthy, good and respected community in British Columbia,” Vladiković emphasized.
More than 250,000 euros in aid over a quarter of a century
Over 25 years, “Sabor Srbije” has collected more than 250,000 euros for the procurement of medical equipment for children’s departments in health institutions in Serbia, from Subotica, Sombor and Vrbas, through Kragujevac, Smederevo and Kruševac, to Zaječar, Leskovac, Vranje and, this year, Loznica.
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Source: RTS; Foto: Printscreen RTS