We may not be sending volunteers here this summer - the related centre in Banoviči has closed due to financial problems. For the latest information, come to one of our meetings.

Jezevač is a refugee settlement 15 minutes’ drive from Banoviči. There are about two buses a day to Banoviči. Homes for the refugees have been built by a Norwegian NGO. There are 275 children living in the settlement, but only 141 are registered at the youth centre. This is partly due to pressure on space, but there are also many children who have shown no interest in the centre because they are still suffering from intense trauma. Counsellors visit these children in their homes to try to help these children and to generate an interest in taking part in the activities of the centre.

Opportunities for OXAB volunteers

The youth centre in Jezevac was set up three months ago as an experiment. The youth centre is tiny, and has hardly any facilities. They need funding to pay for the electricity and heating. There are two small rooms, one with a TV and video, and when we went about 30 boys were crammed in watching The Mummy. There is one more small room with two brand new PCs and a printer donated by Save the Children UK, and a computing teacher, with whom the children produce a news-sheet. Outside there is a basket ball court. The staff are also refugees, living in Jezavac.

It would be most appropriate for volunteers to live in Banovici and to take a bus to the settlement each day. Work here, as in any refugee settlement would be particularly rewarding because there is so little for the refugees, and the children have a boring life, apart from the activities in the youth centre. Apart from the problems of space, there is much potential for good work at this centre with art and craft and sports activities.

For trip reports in Jezevač see the Banoviči page since groups of volunteers tend to visit Jezevač as part of a trip to Banoviči.

Last updated: March 2nd, 2008