On 23 August 2023, minister without portfolio in charge of diaspora relations Đorđe Milićević opened in Surdulica a themed summer camp for children from the region and diaspora - Diaspora Meetings 2023.

‘This camp, same as the other 21 that we have funded as a ministry throughout Serbia, is a symbol of our commitment to youth and the diaspora, who are the key to our future as a nation and state. Camps like these have the potential to shape future leaders, artists, athletes and citizens of the world. That is why investing in young people is of vital importance’, Milićević said.

The project of summer camps for diaspora children is one of the projects implemented by this Ministry with the support of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the President of the State, and includes 22 camps throughout the country, divided into three thematic areas: cultural and artistic societies, sports camps, and scientific and educational or ECO camps.

Milićević said that Sjenica, Aranđelovac, Osečina, Knjaževac, Gornji Milanovac, Sokobanja, Sremska Mitrovica and Tutin were only some of the local self-governments to host the camps, that 5,000 children would be staying there, and added that the children would spend five to seven days in the camps, depending on the program provided by the local self-government hosting the camp.

He explained that the ultimate goal was to strengthen the existing ties and make them even stronger between Serbia and our compatriots living outside Serbia, to bring Serbia closer to the diaspora and diaspora to Serbia, and reminded that an important step towards this was the Vidovdan Assembly held this summer which had brought together representatives of 275 associations and organizations gathering Serbs outside of Serbia to the Assembly of Serbia.

Source and photo: Tanjug