Spreading charity together: Our holiday markets in Niš and Novi Sad

About the associations:

• Centar zvezda is a support center dedicated to children and young people with developmental disabilities. The organization focuses on improving their quality of life through educational, therapeutic, and social inclusion programs, while also providing support to their families.
• Anđeli Severa is a humanitarian organization that supports children and families from socially vulnerable backgrounds in northern Serbia. Their work includes providing humanitarian aid, organizing support programs, and creating opportunities for a safer and more dignified life for children in need.
• Dečije selo is a childcare organization that provides a safe, family-like environment for children without parental care. Its mission is to support children’s development, education, and emotional well-being, helping them grow up in a stable and nurturing community.

What the markets looked like

Our office spaces in Niš and Novi Sad were transformed into vibrant holiday markets, filled with the warmth, creativity, and enthusiasm of our colleagues. In Niš, seven stands offered a variety of homemade sweets, festive decorations, traditional pastries, cakes, and barbecue specialties. While in Novi Sad, fourteen stands featured an equally rich selection – from sweets and grilled food to pancakes, mulled gin, mulled wine, and rakija.

Behind each stand were teams of colleagues who dedicated their time and skills to preparing handmade products and holiday treats, turning the markets into a true community experience. Colleagues and their families were invited to stop by, explore the stands, choose something unique, and enjoy the festive atmosphere, all while knowing that every purchase contributed to a meaningful cause.

Here’s what our colleagues think:

Ana Mirkov: "A wonderful experience that combined positive energy, teamwork, and humanity. I was happy that we had the opportunity to sweeten our colleagues’ day, while also doing a good deed and making the holidays brighter for the children."

Uroš Milovanović: "The experience was extremely positive. I think that with good company, the scents and magic of the holidays, we accomplished something truly humane and meaningful. It was truly beautiful."

The atmosphere reflected everything our colleagues spoke about: warm and colorful, filled with positive energy, and driven by people who genuinely wanted to help. Together, we raised a total of 400,000 dinars, which was donated to support those who need it most.

In addition, our colleagues from Novi Sad took the initiative to organize a separate fundraising effort for holiday gift packages for children from Dečije Selo. This initiative is especially meaningful to us and fills us with pride and gratitude, as it demonstrates once again the deep solidarity, empathy, and personal initiative within our team. They personally collected donations, purchased the gifts, and delivered them directly to the children, spreading joy and making the season truly special for the little ones. Their dedication and energy serve as an inspiration to all of us and remind us how even small actions can make a big difference.

Why we do this

For us, community support isn’t a once-a-year activity – it’s something we build throughout the year. Still, the holiday season gives us a special opportunity to add an extra layer of joy, especially for the children who need it most.

Thanks to our colleagues: Saša Popović, Boban Mikšin, Aleksandar Mudrić, Miloš Sečanski, Stanislav Perinović, Slavica Egeljić, Luka Crnomarković, Katarina Vurdelja, Milica Đisalov, Jelena Stojković, Ana Radovanović, Isidora Savić, Nikola Miholjčić, Radivoje Simić, Dušanka Rodić, Milica Vojnović, Dragana Stanković, Dušica Đisalov, Kristina Nikolić, Ksenija Latinović, Radmila Radojčić, Ana Mirkov, Marija Milidragović, Andrea Mišković, Biljana Golijanin, Bojan Vujić, Milan Lisica, Nataša Džambić, Nemanja Jocanović, Andrea Rakić, Aleksandra Enjaković, Dušica Vasić, Marija Petrović, Mila Bogdanović, Jovana Janošević, Pavle Radivojević, Jovana Cukić, Marija Cekić, Dimitrije Randjelović, Miljana Marjanović, Ivana Golubović, Sofija Petrović, Miljana Pejović, Natalija Jovanović, Uroš Milovanović, Nenad Pavlović, Anđela Andrijević, Tijana Paunović, as well as their families and friends who came and visited us.

We collected enough funds to prepare gift packages that will brighten the holidays for these kids and remind them that they are not alone.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year, united by the same purpose, with even more colleagues joining in.