Minister of Family Care and Demography Jelena Žarić Kovačević and Minister of Sports Zoran Gajić visited yesterday the Serbia is Calling You sports and educational camp for children and youth from the diaspora, which is taking place in Belgrade for the sixth time.

In the Patrijarh Pavle student dormitory complex, this unique event brought together around 400 boys and girls of Serbian origin from 17 countries, including Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the USA, Canada, Australia, Hungary, Slovenia and countries of the region.

Žarić Kovačević said that this camp was a central gathering place for Serbian youth from almost the entire world and, owing to its long tradition, made a strong contribution to strengthening the youth’s bond with the motherland.

The Minister noted that Serbia was the state not only of those living on its territory, but also of all our people and families in the diaspora, and added that its strength lay precisely in its people.

This camp is a way to send a message to all Serbian families around the world that they are not alone, but also to invite them not only to be Serbian ambassadors abroad, but also to return and build their country together with us, said the Minister.

She noted that through the Serbia is Calling You camp, diaspora children connected with Serbian roots, tradition, history and customs.

Gajić said that such camps had a strong potential to bring Serbia closer to families in the diaspora, because children, enriched by the impression of their stay, often encouraged their parents to think about returning.

For the duration of this free camp, in addition to daily sports activities, the participants could also learn the Serbian language and become better acquainted with the history of Serbia and the sights of Belgrade.

The camp is organized by the Sport Stars sports association, under the patronage of the President of the Republic, in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, NIS company, and Pošta Srbije state-owned enterprise, while the co-organizer is the Office of the minister without portfolio in charge of monitoring the situation, proposing measures and participating in the coordination of activities in the field of relations between the Republic of Serbia and the diaspora.

Source: Government of the Republic of Serbia

Photo: Tanjug