The second part of IT training, within the project 'Promotion, Development and Improvement of Capacities for Non-Formal Youth Education' starts on April 7, 2008. The best 48 trainees from the first part of the training, including activists of youth NGOs, are going to attend the following modules of IT training in April and May: Information and Communication (Internet Explorer, Outlook Express), Presentation (Power Point) and data Bases (Access).  For the same group three trainings on life skills will be organized: Personal Potential Analysis, Career Planning and Communication Skills. The project is being financed by the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia.

With the support from Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) and in partnership with Roma Student Union, NSHC has started a new project 'Education Against Poverty - Advocacy Initiative for Roma Inclusion in Educational System'. The aim of the project is to contribute to inclusion of Roma in educational system and to poverty reduction among this vulnerable population. In five Vojvodinian municipalities - Zrenjanin, Opovo, Titel, Bac and Secanj - local action plans for improvement of Roma educational status will be drafted and finalized. Local authorities and other stakeholders will take active participation in the process. The project will last for 12 months.

In the period from 3 to 12 March 2008, associates of NS Telecentar had visited six lifelong learning centers in Austria, Czeck Republic and Switzerland. All of these centers are providing IT trainings for persons with hearing impairment, and our associates had the opportunity to see modern and innovative training methods that are in use there. The visit was organized within the project 'Regional Network for Lifelong Learning', which NSHC implements in partnership with Telecentars from B&H, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia. The project is financially supported by Fund for an Open Society through the program 'East-East: Partnership Beyond Borders'. Within this project NSHC will develop and provide IT training courses to persons with hearing impairment in Novi Sad.

From November 2007 to March 2008 NSHC has implemented a project 'Improvement of Youth Reproductive Health in Vojvodina', within the Youth Action Plan implementation activities, and with the support from the Provincial Secretariat for Sport and Youth. Trainings were organized for 172 peer educators in 11 Vojvodinian municipalities: Novi Sad, Apatin, Stara Pazova, Sombor, Srbobran, Ruma, Zrenjanin, Beocin, Sid, Odzaci and Vrbas. A Reproductive Health Manual for Peer Educators was prepared and distributed throughout Vojvodina.

During February 2008 NSHC has conducted a research with aim to determine the needs of teachers and other professionals from elementary schools for improvement of knowledge in work with children who have specific educational needs. There were 187 participants in the research from 17 elementary schools in Novi Sad. The research was conducted within the project 'Our School', which NSHC implements in partnership with Special School 'Milan Petrovic' from Novi Sad. Based on the research results, a series of trainings will be organized for teachers and other professionals.

Results of the research (download, Serbian language only)

Within NSHC's Life Long Learning Programme - NS Telecentar, a new  training programme has started. It is aimed for future web designers, both beginners and advanced users. Classes are organized in 7 modules, from web design theory and HTML, to Dreamweaver and PHP. Classes are going to be held in a new IT classroom opened recently in NSHC's new premises, Trg mladenaca 6. If you are interested to attend this training, please contact us.

Since the beginning of December last year, NSHC in cooperation with the school ''Milan Petrovic'' has been implementing a new project ''Our School''. The aim of the project is to contribute to development of inclusive model in education. It will done through capacity building of teachers and other professional staff in Novi Sad for work with children with special needs. The project is financed by Save the Children within the Programme ''Decreasing the Effects of Poverty on Children with Special Needs in Serbia and Montenegro''. A research is going to be implemented on the training needs of teachers for work with this children. A Manual will also be prepared and printed out. The project will last until May 2008.

Thanks to the contributions of volunteers, many citizens, students from elementary school ''Ivan Gundulic'' and ''Stoteks'' company, within the action '''Show Your Heart!'', we were able to gather books, school stationary, toys and sweets for Roma children, beneficiaries of NSHC's learning assistance programme. On 29 December a party was organized in NSHC premises; on that occasion Mala srećna kolonija performed a show ''Ai Romale!'', after which Santa Claus with his assistants gave the parcels to children. Once again we thank all those who had shown their heart and participated in this action.

Starting from 1st of December NSHC starts with implementation of a new nine-month project: ''Promotion, Development and Improvement of Capacities for Non Formal Education of Youth''. The project is being financed by the Serbian Ministry of Youth and Sport, within the programme ''Improving Youth Associations Capacities'', and it will be implemented in partnership with Roma Students Association. With this project 156 young people from marginalized groups, rural areas of Vojvodina, and from youth NGOs, will be directly supported. They will be given free trainings from IT skills and life skills, in order to gain qualifications needed for employment.

November 5, 2007 >>> The Second Issue of “A Word More”

The first of three round tables dedicated to the issue of unemployment of vulnerable groups in Serbia - refugees, internally displaced persons, Roma and other socially vulnerable populations - was held in Belgrade. The title of this round table was ''Identifying the Employment Gap: Vulnerable Groups in the Labour Market''. It gathered more than 40 representatives of public, non-profit and business sector. Results of recent researches on vulnerable groups in the labour market, their capacities and incentives needed for access to sustainable income, were presented. Representatives of the Serbian government spoke about the current support programmes and employment and poverty reduction policies. In the following round table, in October, participants are going to discuss niches to build up sustainable livelihoods among vulnerable groups.

The round table was organized as part of the 'Employed, Empowered' project, funded by EU and implemented by CDRSEE, CPDD and NSHC.

August 15, 2007 >>> Roma Humanitarian Assistance Project

July 12-15, 2007 >>> NSHC on EXIT Festival

During this year's EXIT Festival NSHC has presented its programmes of education, entrepreneurship & employment promotion, volunteerism development and youth reproductive health improvement. Leaflets, posters, brochures and NS Telecentar's  baloons were distributed to numerous visitors of this famous music event. Those who were most interested in our work were provided with additional information on our projects and opportunities for volunteer work in NSHC.

July 4, 2007 >>> The First Issue of “A Word More” Bulletin

June 20, 2007 >>> World Refugee Day

On the occasion of 20 June, the World Refugee Day, NSHC presented an award for creative expressions of refugees and displaced people to Cedomir Sunjevic, writer and internally displaced person from Pristina. Mr. Sunjevic received numerous awards for literary work, and his poems were translated and published in anthologies of poetry. Since 1999, he lives in Novi Sad as an internally displaced person from Kosovo and Metohija. With this award NSHC wishes to acknowledge creativity of refugees and internally displaced persons as an important quality and asset which they brought with themselves. ''I am excited and honored because of this award. I have received awards before, but I never felt like this. It is because the award comes from the local Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre, which had accepted us as displaced persons, which fed us and provided us with clothes and shoes, together with the Red Cross, and therefore turned our hopelessness into a possibility of survival'', said Mr. Sunjevic after  the presentation of the award.

May 31, 2007 >>> 'Manual for Entrepreneurs' Promotion

May 28, 2007 >>> Press Conference on the occasion of starting the 'Employed, Empowered' project

Press conference was held in the Media Center Belgrade, on the occasion of a new project 'Employed, Empowered'. Participants were: Mr. Nenad Sebek from CDRSEE (Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in South East Europe) from Thesaloniki, Greece, Ms. Esmeralda Hernandez-Aragones, Political Department of European Commission Delegation in Serbia; Ms. Aleksandra Jovic, Government Team for Implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy; Prof. Mihail Arandarenko, Center for Peace and Democracy Development, and Ms. Danijela Korac-Mandic, NSHC. Project goals and research activities were presented, and also activities of help desks established within this project in 10 locations in Serbia. Participants spoke about EU programmes and priorities, and about initiatives of the Serbian  Government Team for poverty reduction. More information about 'Employed, Empowered' project >>>

May 22, 2007 >>> Conference ''Roma Education in Vojvodina''

Together with the Provincial Secretariat for Education and Culture, and Roma Student Union, NSHC has organized a one-day conference 'Roma Education in Vojvodina'. Director of the Office for Roma Inclusion, Mr. Dusko Jovanovic, spoke about integration of Roma in Vojvodina. Dr. Tunde Kovacs-Cerovic presented the work of 'Roma Education Fund' programme. Coordinator for education and health in the government's team for implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy, Tanja Rankovic, spoke about significance of education in poverty reduction process. The programme and scope of work of the Provincial Secretariat for Education and Health were presented by Svetlana Vujovic, deputy secretary for health and education. Representatives of Roma Student Union and NSHC presented the project 'Participatory Research on Needs, Main Problems and Potentials in Roma Education in Vojvodina', which was supported by Roma Education Fund. As an illustration of this project's long-term impact, representatives of municipalities Apatin, Beocin and Senta presented local action plans for improvement of Roma education in their municipalities. The process of making these plans was facilitated by NSHC in cooperation with local community representatives. These plans will be implemented in the following three years in order to improve Roma education.

May 22, 2007 >>> Ambassadors of Slovakia, Austria and Slovenia visited Novi Sad

Ambassadors of EU member countries accredited in Serbia have been visiting cities and municipalities in Serbia for several months now. They are meeting with representatives of local authorities, media, non-governmental sector, representatives of minorities and religious groups, visiting projects financed by EU, etc. During their visit to Novi Sad, ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Miroslav Luci, ambassador of the Republic of Austria, Mr.Gerhard Jandl  and ambassador of the Republic of Slovakia, Mr. Igor Furdik, met with representatives of NGOs in Novi Sad: Center for Regionalism, Charity Association 'Panonija', Consumers' Association, EXIT, Novi Sad Journalist School, Citizens' Pact for Southeast Europe, and Novi Sad Humanitarian Center. NGO representatives briefly presented their work and accomplished result. In the discussion which followed, distinguished guests expressed their appreciation for the efforts of NGOs in the areas of poverty reduction, improvement of minority groups' position in Vojvodina, improvement of media work and other areas in which NGOs are active.

April 27, 2007 >>> International Conference ''Towards an Enabling Framework for Volunteerism: What Needs to be Done?''

Organized by NSHC and IZVoR Initiative, International Conference  'Towards an Enabling Framework for Volunteerism: What Needs to be Done?'' took place in Novi Sad, on April 26 and 27, 2007. The Conference gathered 112 representatives of governmental and non-governmental sector from Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, respectively. Distinguished guests presented their experiences in creating a legal framework for volunteer work in the neighboring countries. Group work was an opportunity for discussion on volunteerism role in the context of legislation, education, social welfare, employment and cross-sector cooperation. Participants agreed that the civil society participation and cross-sector cooperation are essential for successful creation of an enabling framework for volunteerism. The Conference results will be published in the Final Report that is going to be distributed to the Conference participants, and to decision makers who can directly assist in the development of volunteerism in the region.

More information + Photos from the Conference >>>

April 5, 2007 >>> Presentation of the Active Communities Programme

Balkan Fund for Local Initiatives (BCIF), in cooperation with NSHC, organizes presentation of the Active Communities Programme, supported by the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC). Presentation will be held on April 18th 2007 starting at 12 hrs in NSHC's premises. All NGOs, citizens' associations and non-formal groups from Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Beocin, Irig, Indjija, Backa Palanka, Backi Petrovac, Vrbas, Temerin, Zabalj and Titel are invited to participate.

April 2, 2007 >>> International Conference 'Toward and Enabling Framework for Volunteerism: What Needs to be Done?'

IZVoR Initiative organizes this Conference which will convene governmental officals, academics, and NGO representatives from Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, respectively. Its goal is to provide a platform for creating an enabling environment for volunteersim, which will nurture the volunteer culture in the region. To that end, the conference will discuss issues and share best practices pertinent to volunteerism in the region. The Conference will take place in Novi Sad, on April 26-27, 2007.

February 1, 2007 >>> Support to Refugees in Finding Durable Solutions

At the beginning of this year NSHC started a new regional project, in cooperation with NGOs from Serbia (IAN - International Aid Network) and Croatia (Telecentar Slavonski Brod, CRTA and Youth Peace Group Danube). This project will provide:

• assistance in access to rights and information, and removing of administrative obstacles, with special emphasis on procurement of documents for beneficiaries;

• support for successful social and economic integration of beneficiaries through non-formal education.

In Novi Sad during February and March, 132 beneficiaries (present and former refugees) are going to attend trainings free of charge in Computer School. Afterwards, they will continue with educations within the School of English, Entrepreneurship and Life Skills, according to the achieved results. We hereby invite all interested candidates for participation in this project to apply. The project is financed by European Union through CARDS programme.

January 30, 2007 >>> The First Entrepreneurship Training Cycle Completed 

Within the Entrepreneurship Center project, the first group of 22 beneficiaries completed their two months training (92 hours). Beneficiaries are in the phase of making their business plans and they will continue using services of the Entrepreneurship Club in order to implement their business ideas. NSHC is starting the second cycle of this training on February 9, 2007 after which another two cycles will be organized starting in April and June.

More information >>>

January 15, 2007 >>> Call for Entrepreneurship Training 

NSHC is starting the second cycle of Entrepreneurship training on February 9, 2007. All interested candidates can apply to attend this training every working day from 9 to 5 in NSHC (phone numbers: 422 969, 423 021, 423 024), Vojvodjanskih brigada street No.28. The training is intended for all future entrepreneurs, to those who wish to develop their existing business and all those who see their professional future in entrepreneurship. Trainers are experts in the fields of economy, law, marketing, adult education and pedagogy. The training lasts for 92 hours, and it is held in NSHC's premises. This project is implemented within the ''Support to Enterprise Development and Entrepreneurship Programme'', financed by EU and implemented by European Agency for Reconstruction.

More information about the project >>>

January 15, 2007 >>> Second Part of the HIV/AIDS Education Programme for Refugees, IDPs and Roma in Vojvodina Completed

During the past 10 months, NSHC implemented second phase of the project "HIV/AIDS Education for Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons and Roma in Vojvodina". The project was implemented in 14 municipalities:: Apatin, Bac, Beocin, Sombor, Srbobran, Novi Sad, Stara Pazova, Vrbas, Plandiste, Ruma, Zabalj, Odzaci, Sid and Zrenjanin. From March to December 2006 there were 30 educative workshops implemented with target groups. More than 450 beneficiaries participated in the workshops  (Roma-51.4%, refugees-14.2%, IDPs-0.7% and local vulnerable population-33.7%). In all municipalities local teams for HIV prevention were formed. They remain as a local resource in fighting HIV on a local level. Members of these teams are individuals from institutions and organizations (schools, centers for social welfare, media, NGOs...).

For evaluation purposes 9 focus groups were held with youth, parents, representatives of local institutions, organizations, media... in order to evaluate results and impact of project activities to target group. Also, useful ideals and recommendations for future work were given. The project was financed by "Fondation PH Suisse - Partnerships in Health".

January 8, 2007 >>> Proposal of the Law on Volunteerism submitted to the Vojvodinian government

After months of public discussion about the contents of the Draft Law on Volunteerism, a group of experts prepared a final version of the Law on Voluntary Work. The value of this proposal is in the fact that many Serbian stakeholders, including representatives of public and non-governmental sector and volunteers themselves, participated in finalizing the text of the Law. The document was submitted to the Provincial Secretariat for Labour, Employment and Gender Equality and to the Provincial Secretariat for Youth and Sport on January 8, 2007.

November 7, 2006 >>> NSHC Starts a Home Care Service for the Elderly in Novi Sad: From mid-November a team of home care nurses is going to provide home care services to immobile and semi-mobile elderly persons, and a team of home makers is going to provide help in a house services (cleaning, grocery shopping, meal preparation etc.). Services will be offered to those elderly persons who are in need, and who have difficulties with independent living. Professional team consisting of experienced nurses, medical doctors, social workers and a psychologist is going to organize and supervise service provision. The aim of the Service is to keep an elderly person in her/his own home. NSHC implements this project in coordination with other agencies and institutions which provide services for the elderly in the city, in the first place Center for Social Welfare and Gerontology Center. Home Care Service is financially supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the programme Support to the Social Policy Reform in Serbia. All services for the elderly will be free of charge. Elderly people in need for this kind of assistance can contact us.

December 1, 2006 >>> Grand Opening of NSHC's School for Entrepreneurs

The first cycle of NSHC's School for Entrepreneurs, which is a part of the Entrepreneurship Center project, has started with presentation of the project goals and activities. Guests were welcomed by Mr. Milan Vemic, expert for small and medium sized enterprises (Ecorys, Research and Consulting) who presented the ''Enterprise Development and Entrepreneurship Programme'', Ms. Sonja Buncic, PhD, law expert, and Mr. Miroslav Vasin, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Secretariat for Labour, Employment and Gender Equality. (photos from the event) The media - TV Novi Sad and Radio 021 - informed the public about this event.

The first training cycle for 22 beneficiaries has started on December 1st and it will last until the end of January 2007.

Training curriculum >>>

October 17, 2006 >>> World Poverty Day: Poverty reduction through support and empowerment of vulnerable groups is one of  priorities in NSHC's work. We believe that the main way out of poverty is education, on all levels and during entire life. That is why we have worked, during the past five years, on development of a non-formal educational programme aiming at marginalized groups. More that 6,000 children and adults were trained and educated within NSHC: from alphabetisation and vocational trainings to IT trainings, English language courses, entrepre-neurship trainings and life skills trainings which are now countinuously implemented in NS Telecentar.

It is of enormous importance to provide access to a right to education for all vulnerable and poor people, as well as an equal access to both formal and non-formal education. That is the only way to break the vicious circle of poverty and ensure better life for future generations.

A regional meeting of the projects supported by the Fund for Social Innovations and implemented in Vojvodina was held in NSHC. The subject of the meeting was 'Connecting Local Initiatives and their Sustainability iwithin the Social Protection Projects'.  After the introduction given by 'Hi Neighbour' and Fund for Social Innovations, representatives of centers for social welfare and NGOs represented their projects. Special emhapsis was made on the issue of sustainability and connections with local sources of funding. The event was organized by 'Hi Neighbour' and NSHC.

NSHC is one of ten NGOs in Serbia which was chosen by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy of the Republic of Serbia to be a unit for monitoring and support to the projects financed by the Ministry. In the following 11 months, NSHC will monitor and support 17 projects in Novi Sad, Backa Palanka and Backi Petrovac. All the projects are aimed to help persons with disability. They are being implemented by 11 citizens' associations. During the fourth Call for Proposals published by the Ministry (Department for Protection of Persons with Dissability), a total of 159 projects have been approved.

During the past 15 years, more than 700,000 refugees and internally displaced persons came to Serbia. Most of them decided to stay here, and chose local integration as their durable solution. Today, there are 106, 931 officially registered refugees from Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina,  and 208,391 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Kosovo and Metohija. On the occasion of the World Refugee Day, June 20, NSHC is going to organize several events in Novi Sad, Apatin, Vrsac, Stara Pazova and Backa Palanka. All the events are part of the broader campaign conducted by the Serbian Refugee Council, whose member and a founder is NSHC. Also, part of the activities is supported by UNHCR. On Tuesday, June 20, NSHC will host a round table on the subject 'Intergration of Refugees in Serbia'. Representatives of organizations and institutions working with refugees are invited, and also representatives of refugees and IDPs. During the same day, our volunteers will distribute info material in the center of the city (Spens) and promote NS Telecentar as NSHC's educational programme for employment and self-employment. During the following couple of days, our field associates are going to mark the World Refugee Day in Apatin, Vrsac, Stara Pazova and Backa Palanka, by organizing various events such as poetry readings, book promootions, art exhibitions, etc.

The manifestation „Women make wonders“ was organized by Radio 021 in the hall of the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad from 6. to 8. april 2006. The third day of the manifestation was dedicated to the economic strengthening of women and their education. The activities which NS Telecentar conducts with aim to promote and develop entreperenership and reduce unemployment through education have been represented on this manifestation. On the NS Telecentar stand all the information, as well as the info leaflets on the concept of lifelong learning and the courses, were given. Also, all interested visitors could get advices and written materials concerning the writing of the Curriculum Vitae (CV).

The World Roma Day, April the 8th, was marked in NSHC by several events. Representatives of NGOs and public institutions which work on Roma issues were gathered at a coordination meeting. This was a useful opportunity for information exchange and making cooperation agreements. NSHC presented its new research project approved by the Roma Education Fund (as part of the Decade of Roma Inclusion). Within this research, in the following 9 months, NSHC and Roma Students Union are going to conduct participatory research on the problems, needs and potentials needed for improvement of Roma education status in Vojvodina. A photo exhibition was opened in NSHC Club, and all the exhibited photos were made during NSHC Roma programmes from 1999 to 2006. A street distribution of promotional material was also organized, with messages of solidarity and anti-discrimination.

National Employment Service, Branch Office Novi Sad, organized Career Days in Novi Sad on 15 March 2006, were the unemployed, employers and educational organizations for unemployed had an opportunity to make direct contact with each other. NS Telecentar presented its educational program for unemployed.  NS Telecentar's stand was visited by more than 700 unemployed persons who were given information and informative material about our lifelong learning program. Career Days, as a successful form of mediation in the process of employing, was created according to the new model of working with employers, which includes daily communication with them, individual approach to clients, orientation on their needs, etc.

We are proud to announce that the first 14 ECDL Skill Cards were

issued in NS Telecentar. Among them was the 2000^th ECDL Skill Card issued in Serbia and Montenegro! The first ECDL exams in NS Telecentar have been passed on the 27 ^th and 28 ^th of February. During the past five months, 352 people went through different NS Telecentar courses, out of which 201 participated in IT trainings and 151 in English language trainings. A total of 1.550 school hours were held. We have a waiting list of more than 200 people who are going to be enrolled in future IT, English language and Life Skills courses.

After a successful completion of a 12-month project 'HIV/AIDS Education Programme for Refugees, IDPs and Roma in Vojvodina', which ended in June 2005, NSHC continues with education and advocacy activities in 15 munici-palities in Vojvodina. 30 mobile field educators and 150 peer educators from the target groups will be engaged on comprehensive and quality outreach activities and advocacy work with local key stakeholders. The project will be implemented from March to December 2006 with the support of Fondation PH Suisse - Partnerships in Health.

As part of promotional and educational activities based on HAP-I  reccommendations(Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International), a workshop was held in NSHC with field associates, psychologists and social workers, engaged on a project 'Network of Mobile Teams for Support of the Most Vulnerable Individuals'. The Network project was analysed and suggestions were given in order to make the project activities more accountable towards project beneficiaries - most vulnerable refugees and IDPs in Vojvodina. Workshops have been also held with members of NSHC's Programme Team, and with a group of beneficiaries. These activities are part of the efforts to introduce HAP-I standards to members of the Serbian Refugee Council.

NSHC has become one of the partner organizations of the Provincial Secretariat for Sport and Youth in promotion of the Policy Action Plan for Youth in Vojvodina. As part of the promotion activities organized in all areas of Vojvodina, NSHC will conduct various activities in municipalities of Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Beocin, Vrbas, Backa Palanka and Backi Petrovac. The second meeting of all organizations engaged in this action was held in NSHC on February 11th. The aim was to present the Policy Action Plan by the Secretariat and also by coordinators who have been involved in creation of the Plan.

A theatre play for children ''The Magic Potion Quest" was given on Friday, in NSHC's premises, for more than 80 children from refugee families who live in Novi Sad. Actors from the theatre group "Mini Club" made their audience very happy with singing and dancing, but most of the joy was brought by Santa Claus and colorfull Christmas packages. This is a sixth year in a row since NSHC, in cooperation with humanitarian organization "Rainbow", distributes Christmas gifts to poor children in Novi Sad. The gifts are sent from all over the world, by the people of good will, within the project 'Operation Christmas Child' organized by Samaritan's Purse. Distribution of Christmas packages will be continued in the following days. Other photos from the event  >>>

Almost a quarter of the entire number of the poor in Serbia are elderly people over 65. In order to recognize and better understand their problems and problems of their families, Philanthropy, Caritas and Novi Sad Humanitarian Center (NSHC), with the support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS), conducted a participatory research of needs and potentials of the elderly  in Serbia, along with comparative analysis of best models of protection of elderly persons. The results of this research are published as part of our activities for marking the October 1st, International Day of the Elderly, in a publication ''At this age...'', which can be downoloaded here (.pdf, 460KB).  Apart from that, NSHC in cooperation with NGOs Amity from Belgrade, Sunce from Kragujevac and Horizonti from Cacak is one of organizers and participants of a round table «Living in Collective Refugee Centers – problems and prospects for the tenants», with a special emphasis on self-supporting elderly refugees. The round table will be held on September 30, 2005 in Belgrade, Serbian Red Cross office, Simina 19, from 9AM to 1PM.

Prospective candidates for the new three-month cycle of NSHC's School for Entrepreneurs, that is going to start on September 23, should apply to NSHC every working day from 9AM to 5PM. This education is aimed for unemployed people from Novi Sad who want to start and successfully develop their small business; to entrepreneurs who want to improve their work; to agriculture producers and to all other people who see their professional future in entrepreneurship. Education is held by eminent experts from the areas of economy, law, psychology and ICT. Education will last for 80 classes and it will be realized in the premises of NSHC. This year's project is supported by USAID and America's Development Foundation (ADF).

Jaša Tomić village, with 1200 houses in middle Banat county, Serbia, has been destroyed by the river Tamiš. Flood has destroyed over 200 houses., while 600 houses are under water. More than 2000 people has been evacuated and they are situated in the neighbouring villages Krajišnik, Sečanj, Sutjeska and Boka. Hospital for lung diseases situated in the village has also been evacuated, and 100 patients have been accomodated in Zrenjanin hospital. More than 3500 pigs and other animals have been drowned.  There is no electricity and gas. Water  is not drinkable. Emergency aid is needed in drinkable water, food, clothes, blankets, hygienic products, medicines, sanitary material, waterproof clothes and shoes, underwear, money... NSHC has been collecting humanita-rian aid since April 24th in the premises of Psychosocial Counselling Center in Novi Sad, Temerinska 54. On May 1st we sent the first shipment of clothes, shoes, toys and hygienic products to village Boka, where a number of people from the flooded areas are situated. This action is still ongoing, and we are inviting all citizens to help out the most vulnerable.