With the aim of providing additional support to young people without parental care as they transition to independent living and social integration after leaving the "Mladost" Children's Home in Bijela, the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM) has opened a dedicated bank account. Everyone who is able is invited to make a donation, and all funds collected will be used exclusively to support this purpose.
This initiative will ensure the continuation of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro's project, which provides psychological and mentoring support to six young people leaving the Children's Home this year. In one case, it will also help secure housing by covering the cost of rented accommodation.
The funds secured so far, amounting to approximately €23,000, are sufficient to provide this support for only a few months—far from what is needed. By making a donation to the dedicated bank account 530-533471-03, you can help create the conditions that enable young people without parental care to successfully transition into independent, integrated, productive, and fulfilled members of our society.
Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities Mišela Manojlović he emphasized that through this project, they aim to establish a sustainable support system for this target group.
“Establishing a stronger system of care and support for children and young people without parental care, as one of the most vulnerable groups in society, is a complex undertaking that requires significant time and effort. It involves everything from reforming the legal framework and establishing new institutions to raising public awareness so that foster care—allowing children without parental care to grow up in foster families—becomes far more widespread than it is today. Until these long-term changes are achieved, we are doing what we can within the existing circumstances to help young people who were not able to grow up in a family, but instead spent their childhood at the Children's Home in Bijela, make the transition to independent living as smooth as possible. This is precisely why we launched this fundraising campaign: to ensure we can provide measures that address not only their basic needs, such as housing, education, and employment, but also psychological support, opportunities to develop their talents, and strengthen their social and life skills,” said Manojlović.
As part of the project “Social and Economic Inclusion of Children and Young People Without Parental Care – Strengthening Connections with Local Communities in Montenegro,” two comprehensive studies were produced, examining this important social issue from both legal and psychosocial perspectives. These documents present a comprehensive set of recommendations and measures to improve the support system for children and young people without parental care. The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro will continue to promote these recommendations and work on their implementation in the period ahead.
Manojlović concluded by emphasizing that support for young people without parental care must not end when they leave the "Mladost" Children's Home in Bijela. On the contrary, that is when the real work should begin—a responsible, coordinated, and systematic effort to promote their inclusion, independence, and empowerment.
- Bank account for donations supporting young people without parental care:
530-533471-03.
Union of Municipalities of Montenegro,
Avda Međedovića 138.
- For international donations:
Swift code MNBAMEPG
IBAN CODE: ME25530005130005002095
NAME: Zajednica opština Crne Gore
