At the foot of Avala, in a school that has been bringing together generations of children from this area for decades, the most important lesson these days is not written in textbooks. It is learned with the heart. Students from the first two grades of the “Vuk Karadžić” Elementary School in Ripanj organized a performance to raise money for the purchase of an electric wheelchair for their friend Darija Veličković. A cheerful girl with a bright spirit and a big smile, who despite cerebral palsy shows every day what perseverance and courage mean.
While children’s laughter echoes from the classroom, Darija is at its center. Her classmates adore her, and she adores them. Together they draw, talk, laugh, and grow up. To them, she is not “the girl in a wheelchair.” She is simply Darija.
“We are organizing a performance for Darija so she can be more independent. We have a box where we collect money so we can buy her a wheelchair. We help her, we visit her… We will sing and dance for Darija,” says Helena Luković.
Her classmate Kalina Marković explains how it all started.
“Tadija suggested that we buy Darija a new wheelchair, the teacher agreed, and we started preparing the performance. We help her when something falls or when she doesn’t understand something. Then we come and help.”
There is no pity in their voices. Only a sincere children’s desire to help a friend. Because of Darija, the school hallways have also been arranged differently. Her class attends lessons on the ground floor so that moving around is easier for her. They will remain there until the fifth grade, until the school gets a ramp that will provide her with even greater freedom. The person who knows best how much the children have grown through this initiative is their teacher Vesna Petrović, who has worked in education for more than three decades.
“I am an ordinary village teacher in a beautiful village school beneath Avala. And the star of this day, previous days, and all future days in our class is Darija Veličković. Her classmates decided to organize a gentle initiative that would help her independence, her self-reliance, and her freedom to move around on her own, without the constant help of her father,” the teacher says.
She says that during the preparations for the performance, the entire class grew together.
“We want Darija to have wonderful school days and beautiful memories of her education. We may have learned the most important life lesson—that it is beautiful to help others and ask for nothing in return. That our little contribution can mean a lot to someone else. If there is success, then it is that over this past month we have become a stronger, more united group and learned a great deal about life,” says Petrović.
And Darija? She talks about everything simply, the way only children can.
“I am happy that I will be able to go through the hallway by myself, go outside, and play with my friends. I am happy that people will come to our performance and watch us,” she says.
While Darija speaks, beside her is her greatest support, together with her mother and brother—her father Aleksandar. Since the girl does not have a personal assistant, he is with her every day. Their day starts early and lasts until evening. Before school they go to therapy sessions, then attend classes. He tells us that she adores her younger brother Dušan, and he adores her as well. They are as close as twins.
“I am on leave from work so that I can be with her. We leave the house around seven in the morning and do not return until after 6 p.m. That is our rhythm of life,” says Aleksandar.
The new electric wheelchair costs around 1,800 euros and would mean much more to Darija than just an aid. To go through the school hallway on her own. To go out into the yard by herself. To reach her friends without anyone’s help. Perhaps that is why this story is not only about raising money. It is a story about children who have shown that humanity has no age. About a teacher who teaches them to be good people. About a father who never gives up. And about a girl who overcomes obstacles every day with a smile.
HERE IS HOW TO HELP
Behind Darija’s smile lies the daily struggle of the entire family. Around 180,000 dinars per month are needed just for therapy sessions. Her parents also pay for a special education teacher.
For everyone who wants to help Darija, the bank account is registered in her mother’s name – Danijela Veličković, account number 325-9300500168334-12. The address is Brđanska 80, 11232 Ripanj.
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Source: Novosti.rs, Foto: D. Milovanović