Under Construction

Employment, or rather un-employment, is as universal as stress.

For refugees, there is the added obstruction of unfamiliarity. Even if they manage to reach their 'final' destinations, all sorts of prejudice stand in the way.

The Ana & Vlade Divac Foundation (I have repeatedly mentioned them because they are so instrumental in the lives of these refugees) has invested in the Krnjača Asylum Centre in a rather interesting way...

The Foundation is funding new barracks to be built in the centre, and paying the resident refugees within the camp to build it.

The new barracks from outside, with some prospective residents milling about in front.

This money, although not extravagant, is fundamental to these refugees as a means of establishing roots. Whether that will be in Serbia, or not, isn't considered for one second. Ghassem, a relief worker with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) who fled Syria as a refugee in 2015, explained it to me in simple terms: "They want to build a camp, but we are investing our their future."

This new addition to the Krnjača Centre is expected to be complete in early May. It is a "point of pride" within the camp, to both the refugees and aid workers.

Everything in these pictures, from the tiles and bunk beds to the toilets and windows, was constructed and installed by refugees.

Most full refugee families consist of 6+ people.

There are almost 20 rooms, at least 16 are residential.

This room acts as temporary storage room until the barracks are complete,
at which point it will act as a part-time community room and open prayer hall.

Our guide, Jelena, shows us the state-of-the-art
air conditioning unit that was installed the day before.

Jelena is showing us the boiler for the barrack I
was in. As before, the quality is astounding.

This is one of the newly built toilets created for
the refugees with disabilities.

There are stations like this where mothers can change
their children's diapers and general child care.