The documentary film "Urban Desert" created as part of the EHO project "Support for children who are at risk of being involved in life and/or work on the street", was the inspiration and motto of the meeting held on the International Day of Tolerance, November 16, at the Cultural Center Novi Sad.

The event, within the EHO Support Program for children and youth, promoted the ideas and importance of volunteerism and peer support, gathered representatives of city institutions and associations that provide support to children and youth in various ways. Volunteers and peer educators within the EHO Support Program for children and youth had the opportunity to share their experiences in working with peers. Vojislav Prkosovački presented the idea and significance of volunteerism on behalf of the Novi Sad Voluntary Service (n<s).

The gathering was opened by Danijela Vimić, a longtime associate of the Novi Sad Cultural Center (KCNS), the director of the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) Anna Brtka Valent and the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Serbia (UNHCR) Junaid Chakerzei.

The event brought together, in addition to representatives of the Association of Policemen and Citizens "Safe Community", students of the first, second and third grades of Novi Sad elementary schools "Sveti Kirilo i Metodije", "Dositej Obradović" and "Branko Radičević".

Art and creative workshops for students were held by academic painters and art group professors Danijela Vimić and Jelena Dopuđ. Students drew motifs of Novi Sad and, using specialized publications, created stories on the topic of tolerance and understanding.

At the end of the work, the documentary film "Urban Desert" was shown as part of the project "Support for children who are at risk of being involved in life and/or work on the street", which EHO has been realizing since 2009 with the support of the H. Stepic Foundation from Vienna.

The event was accompanied by an exhibition of paintings created during 2023 under the title "Art gives us wings".

Echo thanks everyone who was part of our urban desert and showed openness to embrace the wings of art that weaves threads of understanding and respect.

Sanja Grahovac, EHO

Photo: Marija Stojković, KCNS