NEWSLETTER No. 3

Civil society sector in Pomoravlje Region:

In spite of the fact that the work of about 20 non-governmental organisations (excluding associations of hunters, fishermen and the like) in Pomoravlje Region has been registered up to now, the non-profit sector in Pomoravlje exists and survives only owing to the work of members of a small number of NGOs. The main reasons for such a bad situation are, certainly, substantial financial problems that all associations of citizens are facing in this part of Serbia (most of them have no work premises, telephone lines and computers), although this is also the result of the absence of eagerness to work and inefficiency of the founders and members of certain NGOs in Pomoravlje. In consequence, almost half of the NGOs in this area exist only in paper, that is, the registry of the competent ministry and the Internet site of the Centre for the Development of Non-Profit Sector in Yugoslavia.

In September, representatives of the “Alternative Parliament of Citizens (APG)”-Paracin participated in the second phase of the training programme intended for the local NGOs from the territory of Serbia, held in Athens within the preparations for the beginning of implementing the project “Promotion of pluralism by strengthening NGOs and the civil society in Serbia”. On the occasion the APG representatives attended 60 hours of training, with distinguished members of international NGOs, scientific institutes and Athens University as lecturers. The lecturers and the seminar participants exchanged experience and practical knowledge, and a lot of time was devoted to discussions on what kind of projects are presently the most attractive for NGO partners from the territory of Serbia.

At the beginning of October, the members of “Alternative Parliament of Citizens” started implementing the mentioned project in the territory of of Pomoravlje Region. Accordingly, the president of APG, Milan Ilic, was guest at the municipal radio and the local TV in Paracin and he informed the public of Pomoravlje Region of the principal goals of the project and the future activities of this NGO. On 26 October in the APG premises, the first out of 12 awareness meetings was held, titled “Non-governmental organisations in Pomoravlje Region and the local media”. 

The NGO “Constructive Civil Engagement” from Paracin, was engaged throughout September and October on the realisation of the project “Centre for the development of the local community”, implemented in 7 countries of South-Eastern Europe, and in 3 municipalities in Serbia, one out of which is Paracin. This is a social and educational project in its character and focuses on the improvement of citizens’ lives in the local community.

On 22 October the American non-governmental organisation ACDI/VOCA had a presentation of its project “Community revitalization through democratic action” in Paracin Municipality. This project’s duration is 5 years. It will be implemented in12 municipalities in Serbia, and its goal is encouraging citizens to participate in the work and decision-making of the local self-management.

The members of the Peace Movement of writers, journalists and painters “We order peace” from Cuprija, according to the president of this organisation, Dimitrije Gvozdenovic, started preparing for the international children’s painting colony in Senjski Rudnik in September and October. “This project will hopefully be realised in cooperation with the Municipal Organisation of Red Cross and supported by UNESCO”, explains Mr Gvozdenovic.

The Cuprija Roma Society “Roma from the Morava” continued its activities in this period referring to education and emancipation of people belonging to the Roma national minority in Cuprija and the improvement of their living conditions. Around the middle of October, this society submitted a project to the organisation ACDI/VOCA on a building construction for the Roma Culture Centre in this Municipality of Pomoravlje.

An exhibition of flowers was organised by the NGO “Ecological Movement of Cuprija” from 17 to 19 October in Cuprija, and towards the end of month there was an exhibition of paintings by secondary and primary school pupils, with the theme of waste material and environmental protection. Both exhibitions are part of several years long project of this NGO, “Cuprija-green town”. The goal is rousing public awareness on ecological issues and problems in Cuprija Municipality. During this period, the “Ecological movement of Cuprija” worked on preparing the local ecological action plan, which Cuprija Municipal Assembly should adopt by February next year.

The NGO “Society for Cerebral and Infantile Paralysis of Pomoravlje”, from Jagodina continued the realisation of the project “Teacher at home”, throughout September and October, aimed at the education of children with special needs. “Apart from this project, our NGO organises psycho-social support workshops on a regular basis, with parents and children suffering from cerebral paralysis as participants”, explains the president of the society, Srbijanka Milutinovic.

The NGO “Jagodina Centre for Cooperation”, was included in the realisation of the project by the American Refugee Commitee in September and October, within which the lawyers from this NGO gathered documentation and conducted relevant procedures referring to refugees from Kosovo, currently living in the Republic of Macedonia. The second project being realised by this NGO is the project by CRS “Development of social entrepreneurship in the local community” implemented in 13 municipalities of Sumadija and Pomoravlje.

The International World Music Festival “Ethnomus VI” was organised by the NGO “World Music Association of Serbia” from Jagodina on 21 and 22 September, as well as scientific meetings, titled “World Music in the future of the Balkans”, attended by the president of the World Music Association of Denmark, Maria Carelse and distinguished local lecturers. This NGO has also published a newsletter for the World Music Culture “Etnomus”.

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