As part of the project "Empowering Refugees in Serbia", implemented by the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) in cooperation with the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia (KIRS) and with the support of the Humanitarian Committee of the United Methodist Church (UMCOR), a group of 25 beneficiaries of the Vranje Asylum Center participated in a two-day visit to Vrbas and Novi Sad on June 7 and 8, 2025.

A warm welcome was given to them in Vrbas, where they attended the 21st Ukrainian Culture Festival "Kalina" as special guests, an event that has been nurturing the rich cultural heritage of the Ukrainian community in Serbia for more than two decades. The festival is organized by the Cultural and Educational Society "Karpati", under the auspices of the National Council of the Ukrainian National Minority, and brings together cultural and artistic societies from Kula, Novi Sad, Inđija, Sremska Mitrovica and Vrbas, as well as guests from Romania and Croatia.

As guests of the festival, the beneficiaries from Vranje experienced moments of pride and belonging, when a representative of the Ukrainian community from the center addressed the audience on behalf of the group, thanking the hosts for their openness, support and the opportunity to show a part of their culture and identity. The hearts of the audience were won by a young musician from the Vranje Asylum Center, Ilija Kornijko, who performed several traditional Ukrainian songs on the guitar, bringing emotion and warmth to those present.

In addition to attending the festival, the participants also visited the Petrovaradin Fortress, the Museum of the City of Novi Sad, as well as an exhibition dedicated to Mileva Marić Einstein during their trip. They spent their free time walking around the center of Novi Sad, enjoying the atmosphere of the city and having lunch together.

This visit left a strong impression on all participants. It was an opportunity to connect with local communities, the Ukrainian national minority, to feel accepted, and to forget for a moment the challenges of everyday life.