By Bjarke Nystrup Sørensen
80 Serbian children and young people aged five to 23 years had the opportunity to leave the children’s village of Sremska Kamenica for a while. They live there because they have problems with their parents or because they do not have parents at all. Ahead of them were five days full of experiences beyond the ordinary.
At a summer camp based out of a hotel in Grundfos’ Serbian hometown, Indjija, they could look forward to meeting up for various sports activities, excursions, visits at cafés, cinemas, theaters and restaurants, as well as several other forms of entertaining activities.
Supported by the Foundation
The children and young people can especially send their thanks to Miroslav and the Grundfos Foundation for the eventful week. Miroslav came into the picture as he has previously sent excess rain covers from Grundfos Olympics and several other donations to Serbia.
“The original idea was to arrange a football school because I have been the head of a Danish football school for the last eight years. But after contact with the head of the children’s village, we decided to arrange a summer camp which received DKK 260,000 in support from the Foundation’s Community Engagement Grant. With the money they were also able to buy shoes, shorts, tracksuits and sports bags for the participants,” says Miroslav.
Miroslav himself has participated in all activities at the camp, but he has not been alone in taking care of the children and young people. He got help from social educators, Country Director Veljko Todorovic, CBS Assistant Maja Rapaic and other Serbian colleagues who volunteered.
- Find out more about the Community Engagement Grant
Summer camp activities included tug of war, Serbia 2022. Photo: Miroslav Petrovic
Glad to make a difference
Miroslav has been with Grundfos for seven years and has lived in Denmark for 18 years. Therefore, he is very aware of how well the Danes are doing compared to many others. His own upbringing with an early loss of his father is another reason for his desire to help vulnerable children and young people.
“I’m glad I can make a difference by spicing up their everyday lives with good social activities. For me, it means everything that I can help others, and I will always find time for that. I am grateful that the Foundation will help, and I am proud to work for Grundfos”, he says.
Six of the participants at the summer camp celebrated their birthday on Saturday 9 July, which was marked with a soda disco. The following day, Miroslav could celebrate his birthday, which to him became an unforgettable experience.
“The best gift I could get was the song I got from the 80 kids and 20 social educators. They made it a day, I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he says.
Archery class, Serbia 2022, Miroslav on the right. Photo: Miroslav Petrovic