Dear Project Supporter,
A school year end is approaching and Your support has made so much changes over the last nine months in the lives of the children who have spent their whole lives, or the biggest part of it in various collective centres around Serbia. Plana S. is a 15-year old girl living in a collective centre in Pozega since birth and is one of 10 children receiving scholarship from Your donations.
"Last year, when I was finishing the seventh grade, I thought I could never think of going to the secondary school. My parents can hardly earn any money for basic stuff for my brother and twin sisters, and I could not imagine asking them for expensive textbooks, bus ticket to Uzice to go to school or anything else. Then one day last October, I was told that I would be receiving scholarship this whole school-year. I couldn't believe it. I could continue going to school after all! It was then that I decided to save that money as much as possible this year, so that I could go to the secondary school when I graduate from the elementary school this May !"
Plana has spent little money from her stipend to buy a dress and new shoes for her elementary school Graduation Party and the rest she is keeping to buy books for a new school in September.
"I have improved my grades since I realised that I might be able to continue with education and now, I believe I will enrol into Technical School in Uzice without any problem. I can't thank enough my Sponsor for this support and money, but more than anything, for making me feel equally worth as my peers for the first time in my life! It is the most beautiful feeling in the world."
Soon you'll have the opportunity to help even more children just like Plana!
Join us June 25th for a Microsoft Youth Spark Bonus Day when Microsoft will give 100% matching to YOUR donation to children in collective centres in Serbia.
• Matching is applied at 100% for every donation from $10 up to $1,000 per donor until matching funds run out.
• The project that raises the most funds on Bonus Day will receive an additional $2,500.
• The project that has the most unique donors on Microsoft Youth Spark's Bonus Day will receive an additional $2,500.
We hope you will join us and help OUR children get the food, clothing, and education they need to be happy and healthy and to feel equal to other children!
Thank you very much for the interest and support for our project. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments or ideas at pomocdeci@eunet.rs
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Dear Project Supporter,
Over the last three months, with your support, our project "Give Refugee Children in Serbia Hope though Education" has raised additional 3,691 USD Dollars from 22 donors and thus raised a total of 10,208 US Dollars.
It is my pleasure to share with you the details about the progress we have made so far.
In addition to the initial six stipends, we have signed four more contracts supporting a total of 10 children to continue their education at this point. Since the Government has increased the amounts for monthly disbursements for the State stipends, we have adjusted the contracts, and now, each child receives 1,500 Dinars more - a total of 5,400 Dinars per month (64.5 USD).
"My parents always wanted to grant my wish to have a computer, but we thought we could never have enough money to buy one. They promised to buy me one at the end of the school year from the stipend from Pomoc deci. I am saving the stipend money and am sure I will have a computer in June!" - says Stefan G., a seventh-grade pupil from a Collective Center in Smederevo.
In each of the collective centers, three awards were given to the children with the best grades at the end of the winter semester. The Certificates with the prize money were distributed at the End-of-Semester Party at each of the Collective Centers in the presence of School Masters, parents and all the children living there. This has created a very positive atmosphere and has prompted many children to start planning to improve their grades and compete for the prizes at the end of the school year. "This is great, I want to be part of this competition, too!" - said a ten-year old younger brother of one of the winners in the Collective Center in Uzice.
We started planning additional tutoring for the children who need more support in order to improve their grades and the award system for the best pupils has prompted more children to be interested to participate in the prpogram. At the same time, some of the current winners have also offered peer support to their classmates, which was met by extremely positive reaction from other children.
In cooperation with the schools attended by the children living in the collective centers throughout Serbia, lists of children who would need financial support to participate in the annual school trips has been made, so that we can help these children join their classmates in these trips for the very first time. At the moment (the lists are still not completed), a total of 76 children from 31 collective center will be supported through the Give Refugee Children in Serbia Hope for Education project to join their classmates in these school trips.
None of this would be possible without your support. Please, spread the word and help us help these children, who in most cases have never had any other home but a collective centre. They need to start beliving that there is a way for their better future and that if they give their best, people will recognise their efforts and help them achieve more.
Thank you very much for the interest and support for our project. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments or ideas at pomocdeci@eunet.rs
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