Guide
How to help children in the Balkans
Many children in the Western Balkans grow up in orphanages, shelters and underfunded schools. Here is who needs support, how help reaches them, and the ways you can make a difference from Chicago, the US or anywhere in the world.
Who needs help
The children we support
Government funding usually covers the basics: a bed, meals and a roof. What is missing are the things that make childhood healthy and dignified, and the love and attention every child needs to grow.
Children in orphanages and children’s homes
Many children in institutional care still have living parents who cannot or will not care for them. Homes like Jefimija in Kruševac receive small subsidies that rarely stretch to quality hygiene products.
Our help for JefimijaChildren living or working on the streets
Drop-in shelters in Belgrade and Novi Sad offer a hot meal, a bath, clean clothes and a safe place. As the Novi Sad shelter puts it: an hour more in the shelter is an hour less on the street.
Shoes and clothes for Belgrade’s shelterChildren with disabilities
Inclusive classrooms and day-care centres often lack basic equipment. In Berane, five adjustable, wheelchair-accessible tables changed how students in the integrated class learn.
Accessible tables in BeraneKindergartens and schools
Worn-out chairs, wobbly tables and old beds are common. Our largest project so far furnished a whole kindergarten in Berane with 17 tables, 102 chairs and 102 beds.
Radmila Nedić KindergartenWhere we work
14 projects in four countries
How donations are used
From your donation to a child’s classroom
- We ask first
Every institution has different needs, so we contact the director or staff directly for a list of what is missing.
- We buy locally
We purchase from local suppliers, often choosing better-quality products than the institution could afford.
- We deliver in person
Our team and volunteers bring the donation themselves and meet the people who care for the children.
- We publish the proof
Photos, receipts and a signed confirmation go online for every project, including bank and transfer fees.
Example: Radmila Nedić Kindergarten, Berane
- Paid by the charity
- $16,316.00
- International banking and transfer fees
- −$734.05
- Delivered to the kindergarten
- $15,581.95
7 ways to help
Choose what fits you
Donate once
Any amount helps. Pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe.
DonateGive monthly
Regular gifts let us plan long-term support with the institutions we already know.
Start a monthly giftBuy The Balkan Voyage
100% of profits from our children’s book about friendship across the Balkans go to our projects.
Get the bookVolunteer your skills
Help at events and bake sales, with deliveries, translation, design or social media.
VolunteerPartner as a business
Fund a project, host a fundraiser, or turn customer actions into donations like Lucky Hunter does.
Become a partnerHost a fundraiser
A bake sale, a brunch or a dinner. We can help with planning and promotion.
Plan a fundraiserShare our work
Follow @balkan.children and share our projects. Every share reaches new supporters.
Follow on Instagram
Helping from Chicago
A Chicago charity with roots in the Balkans
Our founders live in Chicago, and so does a big part of our community. Bake sales at Little Legends Playground, the Women Who Rise brunch at Ambar and workshops like Parenting Metamorphosis bring the Balkan diaspora together for children back home.
Whether you live in Chicago, the suburbs or anywhere else, your gift connects you with real children in real classrooms in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia.
Questions
Common questions
How much of my donation goes to the children?
We are 100% volunteer-run, with no salaries and no office costs. Every dollar goes directly to the cause. The only deductions are unavoidable bank and transfer fees, which we list in our project reports.
How do I know my donation was really used?
Every project is published on our website with photos, the amounts spent, receipts and a signed confirmation from the institution that received the help. Browse our project reports.
Can I donate monthly?
Yes. On our donation page you can choose a one-time or monthly gift. Monthly gifts can be cancelled at any time.
Is online donation secure?
Yes. Payments are processed by Stripe, a secure payment provider used by millions of organizations. We never see or store your card details. You can pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.