OXAB is a student-run organisation which has been helping disadvantaged children in the Balkans since 1993. The original trips to Bosnian refugee camps were a great success, and since then, OXAB has expanded to help children in orphanages and other institutions in Bosnia, Bulgaria, and Serbia (in 2005 only). We are hoping to move into Kosovo starting 2009. We also provide funding for an increasing number of projects in the region aimed at improving children's lives in the longer term.

Whilst we do provide aid directly to the institutions we visit, our trips focus especially on a personal contribution by the volunteers to the children's lives - in many cases, for children living in chronically understaffed institutions, care and attention can do far more than new equipment and toys, however desperately needed.

Trips can be as short as two weeks, and no experience is normally required, though for some of the orphanages it is advisable to get some experience in working with disabled children before leaving. The trips are surprisingly cheap, with flights to the region starting at £60, and are almost always great fun. See our Get Involved page for more details.

If you'd like more information on the centres we visit, select one of the countries, and then Destinations.

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If you're reading this from outside Oxford, you can also help us by donating funds to OXAB or, if you are involved in charity work or helping disadvantaged children in the region, please get in touch, as we always welcome new contacts. Full contact information is in the Get Involved section.