A story of solidarity and kindness has brought new hope to a family in need. Jelena Petrović, a single mother of four, has moved into a newly completed and furnished home, thanks to a humanitarian initiative launched by Nikola Tomić, a cyclist and activist from Valjevo.
The Petrović family, from the remote village of Donji Leskovici on the slopes of Mount Povlen, had been living in extremely difficult conditions. After the death of her husband three years ago, and the recent passing of her father-in-law, Jelena was left to care for her children Stefan, Vasa, Sara, and Nikolina on her own. With income limited to child benefits and a caregiver allowance for her diabetic son, finishing their unfinished home seemed impossible—until help arrived.
In February, Tomić launched a charity drive to help complete the construction and furnish the home. The response was overwhelming.
“They really went above and beyond to give us everything we needed. Thank God, and thank them,” said Jelena Petrović. “When the desks and chairs arrived, the kids were thrilled.”
The old house had long been uninhabitable for a large family. The new home now features beds, desks, chairs, a refrigerator, a bathroom, a furnished living area, and study spaces for the children.
“We got new desks, new beds, new chairs. The bathroom and the ground floor were finished. We now have a place to do our homework and put our things,” said Sara Petrović.
Nikola Tomić, who has spent the past six years cycling to raise awareness and encourage charitable acts for children in need, coordinated the effort with the help of generous donors and volunteers.
“Thanks to a large number of kind, compassionate people, we were able to complete the house and make it livable. After the holidays, I expect a few volunteers to step up and donate materials for the next step—paving the access paths around the house,” Tomić said.
He emphasized the importance of creating a solid, mud-free walkway to the house so the family can access their new home comfortably, even in bad weather. He also called on local construction companies to assist, noting that the cost of concrete paths would be minimal, but the impact on the family’s daily life would be tremendous.
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Source: RTS, Foto: Printscreen RTS