On April 25, 2024, the kick-off conference “Caring Communities—Towards Systemic Sustainability of Financing Services in Social Protection” took place in Belgrade. The Republic Institute for Social Protection and the Network of Organizations for Children of Serbia organised the event.
The “Caring Community” initiative aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals in need of care in the Danube region. The initiative focuses on capacity building for innovation, interregional cooperation among private and public actors, and collaboration with the academic community to address societal challenges across Europe.
During the introductory event, participants exchanged ideas within the “Caring Community” initiative and explored opportunities for active involvement of relevant partners. Marina Draskovic Simovic, director of the Republic Institute for Social Protection, highlighted the significance of the meeting in the context of improving social protection services in Serbia. Sasha Stefanovic, director of MODS, presented the “Caring Communities” project as a platform for transnational cooperation, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in addressing social challenges.
Prof. Dr Natalija Perišić from the Faculty of Political Sciences provided an overview of the social security system in the Republic of Serbia, while Jelena Pešić Zarić from the Republic Institute for Social Protection discussed the distribution of social protection services in the Republic of Serbia.
Sanja Miloradović from the Center for Social Policy, Gordana Milovanović from Helpnet, and Lidija Bukvić from CEPORA shared insights on support practices for continuous and long-term care, emphasizing the significance of assisting the most vulnerable members of society.
Moderator Slavica Milojević from the Republic Institute for Social Protection effectively facilitated the discussion, ensuring that key topics and perspectives were addressed.
The “Caring Communities — Transnational Approaches for Multiple Transformative Changes in the Homecare Sector and Community-based Development of the Danube Region.” project is supported within the transnational cooperation program for the Danube Region and involves 25 partners from 9 countries from January 2024 to June 2026.