SERBIA: APPLICATION FOR 2007 PRM AMBASSADOR'S FUND TO

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000763

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM/OLSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA: APPLICATION FOR 2007 PRM AMBASSADOR'S FUND TO
ASSIST AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH FACILITY

REF: STATE: 027884


1. SUMMARY: Embassy Belgrade proposes granting 12,000 dollars of
the FY 2007 Ambassador's Fund for Refugees toward the purchase of
basic household equipment and educational material to enable a
short-term protection facility in Belgrade, Serbia, to improve its
care of IDP, refugee, and other at-risk children and adolescents.
Post developed this project in consultation with the Office of the
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Serbia and the
Educational Institute for Children and at-risk Adolescents, and has
the authority and capacity to award the grant to the intended
implementer, Catholic Relief Services-CRS Belgrade, by or before the
end of the current fiscal year.

BENEFICIARIES
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2. Under the aegis of Serbia's Ministry of Labor and Social Policy,
the Educational Institute for Children and Adolescents in Belgrade
provides accommodation and assistance to at-risk children and
adolescents, age 7 to 18. The Institute separately shelters three
groups of children in its facilities:

--- Serbian children with behavioral and social disorders;
--- at-risk children and youth, including abandoned
children, runaways, and others previously living in
extreme adversity, generally on the streets of Belgrade; and
--- child victims of trafficking.

The latter two categories consistently include IDP, refugee, and
other immigrant children and are the focus of our project proposal.
The Institute provides these minors short-term protection in
unlocked or closed facilities (depending on the legal status and age
of the residents). It is so poorly equipped, however, that it does
little to raise the children from adversity or to provide basic
education.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
--------------


3. Post proposes to assist the Institute to care for the, on
average, 90 vulnerable children whom it accommodates annually, by
providing the short-term protection facility with basic household's
appliances, including washing machines and driers, water heaters,
refrigerators, stoves, kitchen and bathroom equipment, and some
items of furniture, classroom, and teaching materials. We propose
also to explore the possibility of donating retired computers and
will approach the National Office of the President of Republic of
Serbia and other potential donors, using our contribution to
leverage additional assistance. PRM will implement this project
through Catholic Relief Services.


4. The proposed project demonstrates USG commitment to protect
vulnerable IDP, refugee, and other youth of concern. It is
consistent with our proposals in previous funding years, which have
aimed to fill gaps in protections afforded to children of IDP,
refugee, and other populations of concern and with our MSP goal of
securing durable solutions for vulnerable populations. Therefore,
Post submits a request for $12,000 from the FY 2007 Ambassador's
Fund to implement this proposal.


POLT