In Zasavica near Sremska Mitrovica, Minister without portfolio in the Government of the Republic of Serbia in charge of coordinating activities and measures in the field of relations with the diaspora, Đorđe Milićević, opened the first in a series of themed summer camps for young people from the diaspora, which will be held again this summer in 20 cities and municipalities all over Serbia.

Milićević told the children of Serbian origin from five European countries that it was important to be the best ambassadors of their country and to preserve their language, culture and traditions.

He said that it was important for children to build bridges of friendship with their friends from the region and to respect the country they lived in, and after finishing schools and universities, to come to Serbia and use the knowledge and experience gained in the world in their motherland.

The Minister recalled that the previous year’s first diaspora youth camp had been opened precisely in Sremska Mitrovica, on 11 July, and expressed his gratitude to Mayor Svetlana Milovanović for her personal contribution to the materialization of the project of themed summer camps for youth from the region and the diaspora.

Milićević added that thousands of young people of Serbian origin from all over Europe had passed through these camps last year, and expressed the expectation that more than 5,000 children would come to Serbia this year and, by socializing with their peers, improve the knowledge of their mother tongue and also strengthen their cultural, ethnic and religious identity.

The goal, he emphasized, is to encourage young people from the diaspora to return to their motherland.

This year, 20 youth summer camps will be organized in three thematic units, namely scientific, educational and ecological camps, sports camps and cultural and artistic society camps.

This is one of the largest campaigns of gathering youth from the region and the diaspora in Serbia, reads the announcement of the office of the Minister without portfolio.

Source: Government of the Republic of Serbia

Photo: Dušan Veljović