The solemn 24th OSSIlacija, the traditional summer gathering of members of the Organization of Serbian Students Abroad confirmed once more the long-standing successful cooperation between the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and OSSI. This year’s OSSilacija, which included a two-day regional Ex-Yu Youth Leadership Conference, gathered a large number of students from Serbia and the region.

Stefan Morović, Assistant to the Director of the Administration Arnaud Gouillon, addressed the students on behalf of the Administration for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region. He explained details to the students of benefits of the recently signed cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and OSSI, and informed the audience about the opportunities that the Administration could offer them through competitive co-financing for the projects they implement.

‘Cooperation between the state bodies of the Republic of Serbia and our students abroad is improving every year. The encouraging fact is that lately an increasing number of young people studying or working abroad have a desire to return to their homeland. We are all aware that, unfortunately, the desire is not sufficient for the return, and that it is necessary to work on improving the conditions for their sustainable return. In that sense, our visions coincide, and the improvement of our joint cooperation is a good step towards achieving that goal which is not at all easy but is achievable,’ Morović pointed out.

Danica Grujičić, our famous neurosurgeon, professor at the Faculty of Medicine and founder of the humanitarian organization Together for Youth, Aleksandar Ljubomirović, former OSSI president and young EU ambassador to Serbia, and Anđela Janković, new president of the Organization of Serbian Students Abroad, addressed the audience in front of packed ceremonial hall of the Belgrade Assembly. The evening continued with a cocktail party and socializing of students from the entire region.

Source and photo: Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region