Category: Serbia

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A Father’s Story

Determined to find a better life for my family

June 16, 2019 - Serbia

I’m Muhammad Aga Parwani, a 27-year-old field worker and father of a 14-month-old boy.  I come from Kandahar province in  Afghanistan, and this is my story. 

Muhammad Aga Parwani

Since there were no jobs available at my village, I  used to come to the city every day trying to earn some money in order to support my family. I haven’t finished school, so I was doing all sorts of jobs, but  I worked  mostly  in the fields as an agricultural  worker. However,  there were many days when I wasn’t so lucky, and I had to return…

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A Day with RMF Serbia

Serving Refugees

June 26, 2018 - Serbia

Dr. Mina Novaković

Background

According to the most recent data, the number of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants increased slightly in Serbia, with 4,273 counted on December 24, 2017. Of these, around 3,999 were accommodated in one of five asylum centers or thirteen reception centers, with Obrenovac Transit Centre being one of the largest and accomodating around 700 people.

RMF Serbia’s mobile clinic is stationed in this shelter, where our team operates 7 days of the week, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The RMF mobile medical team, consisting of two doctors, one cultural…

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World Refugee Day

Ebadat's Story

June 19, 2018 - Serbia

Dr. Mina Novaković

Our Friendship

Working Together

Ebadat Faiz Koche is an 18-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, residing in the Obrenovac refugee camp 30 km southwest of Belgrade, where RMF Serbia’s mobile clinic is stationed.

We first met Ebadat about eight months ago, when one of his friends got sick. He was accompanying him to our clinic and helping us with translation, since the boy didn’t speak any other language besides Pashto. Ebadat was always kind, and the smile never left his face. As his English-speaking skills were exceptional, Ebadat’s assistance really meant a…

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RMF Changed My Perception of the World

Dr. Mina Novaković's Story

April 13, 2018 - Serbia

Dr. Mina Novaković

I am a qualified doctor, and for the past six months I have been working for Real Medicine Foundation. I work in a team composed mostly of doctors and translators/cultural mediators, with the goal of providing holistic care to refugees arriving in Serbia from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and other countries riven by war and economic chaos.

I have always been interested in working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds, because I felt that this kind of encounter would enrich me and give me a different perspective of the world. Unfortunately, I couldn’t…

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Serbia: One Refugee’s Story

September 18, 2017 - Serbia

Dr. Jovana Milic

Background

According to the latest available data, the overall number of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Serbia is estimated to be around 7,600. Most of them are sheltered in 18 heated government facilities. Many are children (47) and women (16), with 37% being adult males.

RMF Serbia has recognized and anticipated that border closures across Europe will increase the number of refugees who will require medical help and psychosocial support, and we commenced this work in early March 2016. Since then, RMF Serbia has examined and helped over 14,000 refugees, escorting them to secondary and tertiary…

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#BeBoldForChange

An Interview with Serbia Country Director N'Deane Helajzen

March 08, 2017 - Serbia

bōld/ adjective 1. (of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous. "A bold attempt to solve the crisis."

The World Economic Forum predicts the gender gap won’t close until 2186. Fortunately, this fate is not set and RMF is working to empower women and girls to #BeBoldForChange.

In light of International Women’s Day, we asked some of our boldest female staff members about their vision for the women of their country.

N’Deane Helajzen is RMF’s Program Director, Serbia, and also supports the coordination of our global programs.…

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A Story from the Field

RMF Making a Difference in Serbia

October 07, 2016 - Serbia

Each Refugee, A Story

A Report from Belgrade

As we look more closely at Real Medicine Foundation’s work with refugees in Serbia, we recognize that each refugee has a story. A past. A special situation. A home that they have left behind. It’s easy to dismiss or generalize, until you remember that each of these refugees is more than a face. They are a neighbor. A friend. A face within a war.

An RMF team member on the ground in Serbia sent a story of one such person.

During a shift we…

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When a War Becomes Personal

Hidden Faces Inside a War

September 13, 2016 - Serbia

JL Wright

Trading Places

What if I was the Refugee?

A crowded train car.

Middle of the night.

I’m struggling to keep my kids, 2-year-old Jack and new baby Oliver, close to me as people are pushing, adjusting, trying to fit in this train car. I have to use the lone toilet at the other end, but there is no one to hold my boys and no way I can maintain my grip on them and still make it through the crowd. The baby is crying, but there is no food for him, and…

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