The program “Support to Roma Families in the Bangladeš Settlement – Safe Housing and Creative Workshops for Children” was implemented during March 2025 by the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization with the support of the City of Novi Sad – City Administration for Social and Child Protection and H.Stepic CEE Charity.

The aim of the program was to provide support to Roma families who were left homeless following a major fire in the Bangladeš settlement on April 12, 2024. Around 127 people, including 71 children, were affected by this event. After being accommodated in 33 housing containers provided by the Red Cross and the City of Novi Sad, there arose a need for additional support – in the form of housing monitoring, connecting families with system institutions, and community empowerment.

The program included regular field visits to families residing in the housing containers, during which field associates, supported by two volunteers from Turkey, provided advisory and informative support regarding the exercise of rights in the fields of social protection, education, and healthcare. Families were also informed about the safe and responsible use of the spaces they occupy.

As part of the program, three creative workshops were organized for children aged 4 to 14, conducted in cooperation with an artistic associate and volunteers. The workshops were designed to stimulate creativity, teamwork, and socialization, as well as to raise awareness among children about safe housing through play, drawing, and singing. At the conclusion of the program, hygiene packages were distributed to all families as a form of support and motivation.

Through an individualized approach, direct contact with families, and cooperation with the Social Welfare Center and the Red Cross, the program addressed the needs for safe housing, accessibility of services, and quality spending of children’s time, contributing to better integration and adjustment of beneficiaries.

Implementation period: March 1 – March 31, 2025

Partners: City Administration for Social and Child Protection of the City of Novi Sad, H.Stepic CEE Charity

Program coordinator: Miroslava Častvenova > miroslava@ehons.org