DONORS WITH “BIG HEART” AND MUNICIPALITY OF PALILULA ARE HELPING CHILDREN
11.07.2013
In the Media Centre Nis, Palilula Municipality presented the first results of humanitarian action ''Let's help our children''. After several months of touring activities of families in the field of humanitarian action and organization of donor evening, president of Municipality of Palilula Boban Džunić with associates thanked the donors who paid first donation. This action is part of the socio-humanitarian programs of Municipality of Palilula which aims to support families faced with the problem of securing the conditions for the proper care of their children. The action "Donor Night" raised the funds in the amount of 150,000 dinars. The first contracts were signed on donations and their support for the action were given by director of the "Mediana", Dragan Radosavljevic, Nis company UNION PAC, Mill "Gornja Trnava" and the initiator of actions Municipality of Palilula. Donor funds were also collected by employees of Municipality of  Palilula and more than 25 individuals. The program that we prepared was supported by the deputy mayor, representatives of Municipality of Pantelej, Diocese of Nis and Nis culture creators Aleksandar Blatnik and Rusomir Arsic, broadcaster and TV Bellamy Copernicus and Narodne Novine.

“While visiting families in settlements of Municipality of Palilula and while receiving citizens we learned that there are families in which children are suffering from serious illnesses and need specific health care”- said President Džunić. Parents often can not provide the conditions that are necessary for treatment because of financial hardship. One of these children is a five-year old Vuk Jovanovic, who suffers from a rare disease and requires special care, treatment and specific diet. His colon and most of the small intestine is removed and his fight for life continues. Similar was the situation with a little three-year old Dorotea Mitic, who lives in Mramor. She has heart problems from birth and requires the intervention in the heart. And here is the need to find a solution to extend the life of the children and overcome administrative barriers. "As you know, said the president of Municipality of Palilula, we sent a invitation to socially responsible companies, enterprises and institutions, our fellow citizens, the media to show the part of goodwill, solidarity and support to vulnerable children and families in need. It's only been a few days since the release of information in the media and invitation to support the family Jovanovic for further medical treatment of their five year old son Vuk Jovanovic. The first to answer our invitation was our fellow citizen Velimir Stojanovic. He allocated money from his modest pension to continue treatment of little Vuk, which was followed by new donations. According to Zlatko Šemić, in the past year, the municipal government and the president addressed the requests for assistance for 580 people. Of the total number, there were 20 reported illnesses of children aged 3 to 7 years, with serious diseases like small Vuk, like Milos who is only 9 years old, and who is undergoing chemotherapy, and many others. We started this action with Vuk but we have found that there are children who are also at risk. In addition to requests to help the children we have 48 requests from elderly people suffering from serious illnesses (cancer, mental disorders, diabetes, various operations, and in need for medicines) for one-time financial assistance; regarding various debts to the state, for employment, for retraining – stressed the councilor Semic.

Thanks to the project from the "Exchange 3" programme "Strengthening of Municipal capacity to improve the lives of socially vulnerable groups", and the financial support of the EU,  Palilula increased the capacity of the municipality and had very meaningful cooperation with competent institutions of social protection of Nis. These activities markedly improved the quality of life for socially vulnerable groups and enhanced collaboration with citizens. We would like to take this invitation to help children and to people to hear about their problems outside of our community and be a model that will be accepted by other local government, says president Džunić. Many problems can be solved by the system, laws, decrees, but in this case, our intention was to encourage the humanity and solidarity of those who can help. There are our neighbors living next to us, children with problems that we often do not recognize. My fellow citizens, dear donors-people with a big heart, thank you for demonstrating humanity in action'' Let's help our children”. Grants can be paid the next day, by signing the donation, or by payment to the municipality dedicated account: 840-2879741-16 which we have already published. The action continues and new payments and donations are expected. Donor funds from dedicated accounts will be distributed to support families in the treatment of children, based on established criteria and received requests.

I think it is superfluous to talk about actions for this purpose, said Dragan Radosavljevic, JKP "Mediana". Besides the honor, there is nothing crucial. We are maintaining utility systems in the city and we have a social responsibility to be a socially-responsible company in order to respond to these humanitarian actions. We are sharing the hard life of our citizens and, when our citizens in difficult circumstances find the strength to allocate their funds to the payment of bills, I guess we are obliged and bound to let some of this money in aid to them. Radisavljević invited his colleagues to support this action in order to achieve the goals.