21.11.2018.

Minister Vulin: The Serbian Armed Forces is made up of humane people who love their fellow citizens

Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin has visited today the adapted house of Dragana and Nedeljko Jovanović from Osečina, brother and sister who remained without parents, where Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces participated in its construction and adaptation, together with the local government and numerous donors.

Thanks to humanity of the Serbian Armed Forces, the defence industry and the local community, schoolchildren Nedeljko and Dragana have marked today the Patron Saint's Day of their family – Saint Archangel in their new home, which provides them safety and hope for a better future after the difficult moments they have experienced.

After conversation and visit to the renovated house, Minister Vulin pointed out that the Serbian Armed Forces is always there when it is necessary, to defend the country, but also to offer help.

- The Serbian Armed Forces is made up of humane people who love their fellow citizens and who want to help. Belgrade Military Construction Establishment donated a house for brother and sister Jovanović, from its own money, from its own revenue, so thanks to the Belgrade Military Establishment, the Serbian Armed Forces and thanks to the Defence Industry of Serbia and the Krušik factory, the two children can say that their future is safe and certain, and their obligation is only to learn – Minister Vulin said.

According to him, there are things that we cannot change, such as the death of those we love, a disease that we cannot cure, but humanity and the attitude towards children and the attitude towards people who need help is something we can always influence and this is where we can always change things for the better.

- Wherever the Serbian Armed Forces is, there will always be law and order and humanity; wherever the Serbian Armed Forces is our citizens will always know that they will be able to count on full assistance. These two little ones did not have easy life, they were left without parents, but they did not remain without attention or without love. The Serbian Armed Forces, Krušik and the defence industry are there to help and we will always be there to help our fellow citizens. Nobody should be alone, no one should be abandoned by their country, no one should go through hard times alone – Minister Vulin said.

Speaking about the significance of the initiative for assistance to Dragana and Nedeljko Jovanović, Mladen Petković, director of Valjevo based “Krušik”, pointed out that this factory of defence industry, as a socially responsible company, supported the initiative of Minister Vulin and the Serbian Armed Forces by the decision to grant Dragana and Nedeljko a monthly scholarship of RSD 15,000 each, for their education.

- Once they become adult, they can, if they want to, be employed in the “Krušik” Holding Corporation – Petković said, adding that in this way, with their wishes and ambitions, they will have safety and existence provided for the future.

Dragan Aleksić, Mayor of Osečina, emphasized that the Serbian Armed Forces helped with finishing the house that was started, for which Dragan and Nedeljko did not have the funds after the death of their parents, with whom they lived as subtenants.

- We are immensely grateful to the Serbian Armed Forces and Minister Vulin, as well as “Krušik” of Valjevo that provided scholarships for their education. Now these children can continue their normal life in their house, which was their greatest wish – Aleksić said, adding that the companies from Osečina also provided assistance for furnishing the house.

Jovana Milanović, Director of the Osečina Centre for Social Welfare, expressed gratitude to the Serbian Armed Forces as well for allowing Dragana and Nedeljko to continue their life as they deserve, and the entire local community has come to their aid.

Today, the refurbished house of Dragana and Nedeljko Jovanović seemed too small to receive all those who came to wish them a happy move into their new home, which they have always dreamed of. This winter they will be in a warm home, with new furniture and separate rooms in which they will be able to devote themselves to school obligations, but also to everything that makes daily life of schoolchildren. Nedeljko is a pupil of the 7th grade of elementary school, and Dragana, who is attending the 2nd class of the School of Economics in Osečina, says that after all the unpleasant moments they experienced in their lives, a house they can call their home is something that means most to them.

- It will mean a lot to us in the future. We are grateful to the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces for helping us, as well as to the Osečina Centre for Social Welfare, as well as to all the wonderful people who were there to help us when it was the hardest - Dragana points out, saying that drama is a her favourite hobby and that she has been actively participating in the drama classes in her school for several years now.