This past Easter 28. Jun began our ‘Right To Play’ project to help overcome financial obstacles preventing some Serbian children from participating in organized sport. We are happy to announce that we have successfully concluded the project for 2018 with 3 successful deliveries to Dubica, Gracanica and Bor. In May we delivered new training equipment to Karate Club ‘Knespolje’ in Kozarska Dubica. In June our volunteers delivered 40 Nike Jerseys to the ‘FK 28. Jun’ youth soccer team from Gracanica. Finally, in August we delivered new uniforms and water bottles to the girls’ Handball Club ‘Bor-RTB’ in Bor. In the last 20 years Serbia’s athletes have been its most visible ambassadors to the world. What if our next generation of stars is too poor to even begin playing? Thank you to our supporters for helping us give ALL children the opportunity to play.

After being recommended by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) NGO Committee’s 19 member states, 28. Jun has officially been granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. 28. Jun is the first humanitarian organization from the Western Balkans to be granted the honor, with an estimated 10 million NGOs in the world, less than .0005%, or 4500, have achieved Consultative Status.

To celebrate this achievement 28. Jun will send a container with approximately $1 mil worth of medical equipment from the US to be distributed to hospitals throughout the Western Balkans. Some of the equipment will include anesthesia machines, portable X-ray units, ultrasound machines, EKG/ECG machines and several tons of medical supplies.

Founded in 2012, to date 28. Jun delivered 184 tons of humanitarian, medical and disaster relief aid worth over $6.1 mil to the Western Balkans.

28. Jun is the first humanitarian organization from the Western Balkans to be granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. With an estimated 10 million NGOs in the world, less than .0005%, or 4500, have achieved Consultative Status.

After an 18-month long application process, 28. Jun was formally granted the status by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) NGO Committee’s 19 member states during its May 25, 2018 Coordination and Management meeting in New York.

The ECOSOC serves as the central platform of the UN for addressing global economic, social and related issues. The selection of 28. Jun comes as an acknowledgement of its outstanding humanitarian, social and philanthropic work in the Western Balkans.

The designation will allow 28. Jun to deliver oral statements and submit written statements on areas of expertise to the United Nations to be circulated by the Secretary-General. Other privileges include:

• Provide expert analysis on issues directly from experience in the field;
• Attend international conferences and events;
• Organise and attend parallel events that take place during the session;
• Meet official government delegations and other NGO representatives;
• Participate in debates, interactive dialogues, panel discussions and official meetings;
• Play a major role in advancing United Nations goals and objectives;
• Serve as an early warning agent;
• Help monitor and implement international agreements;
• Help raise public awareness of relevant issues;
• Have opportunities to network and lobby.

Representatives from 28. Jun will hold up to seven United Nations grounds passes; at the New York headquarters as well as in Geneva for the Human Rights Council.

The application process was lengthy and vigorous as noted by 28. Jun President Filip Filipi Jankovic, “The NGO Committee’s UN member state representatives have been thoroughly vetting our application which contains detailed reports of our work in the field, governance and financial regime, since early 2016.”

28. Jun Executive Director for Balkans, Aleksandra Trifunovic, who also attended the session noted that “28. Jun members are doing a tremendous amount of valuable work and our new UN-accredited status will allow us to be involved in UN processes and share our expertise on the regions we operate in.”

The UN Charter established the ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations. It is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as for implementation of internationally agreed development goals.

The 28. Jun Team in Australia met with Ambassador Miroljub Petrovic on two occasions in Canberra and in Perth as our activities broaden on the continent. Several events were successfully held in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne with events scheduled in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. Please contact our Australia Coordinator nikolinamilosevic@28jun.org

28. Jun Vice President Milo Dubak & 28. Jun Treasurer – LP Corbett were honored to represent our organization at the United Nations in New York to attend the ‘ECOSOC; Committee on NGO’s, Regular Session 2018.’ We look forward to continuing to work with the UN on humanitarian initatitives in the Western Balkans.

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With your support we successfully delivered Christmas presents to every Serbian child living in the enclaves of Kosovo & Metohija! Our members along with our partners, humanitarian organization 038, made deliveries to Gracanica, Badovac, Susica, Velika Hoca, Orahovac, Osojane, Brestovik, Gorazdevac, Staro Gracko, Suvi Do, Rabovce, Novo Naselje, Kuzmin, Ugljare, Kosovo Polje, Livadje, Laplje Selo, Preoce, Caglavica, Donja Gusterica, Gornja Gusterica, Dobrotin, Partes, Pasjane and Budriga.

Around 2000 children received the gift packages, which were handed out by volunteers dressed as Santa and various cartoon characters. We are extremely satisfied with the results considering the short amount of time we had to realize our ambitious goal. The reaction to the project was so positive that we pledge to make it an annual event. All photos and video of the children receiving the gifts can be viewed on our Facebook page.

If you are happy with our work and wish to continue your support please consider becoming a monthly donor.

Kicking off their holiday humanitarian projects, 28. Jun volunteers delivered urgent relief to two families in Kosovo today. The Stojanovic family from Gracanica received a stove, a washing machine, clothing for their six children, groceries and materials to renovate the facade and insulation in their house. While the Aleksic family from Zvecan received all the materials needed to complete the insulation and facade of their entire home. A big contribution to the realization of the project was made by Rada and Ranko Ristic from the US, the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation and all our friends and supporters.

28. Jun Serbian coordinator Aleksandra Trifunovic was touched by the experience and stated:
“When you first see the genuine happiness and surprise of people who thought their existence was forgotten, when you devote time to them, when you talk to them, in a time when Serbs in Kosovo have been forgotten and abandoned by all, you want to never leave them. When you first call a family that does not have electricity or water in the 21st century, to ask them what they need and get the answer that they have all they need, and to help someone who needs it more, it’s impossible not to be touched by such modesty. At the end, when you realize that only $20 is necessary for the feet of little children not to freeze during winter which is around the corner, you can not help but wonder why you do not help more often. Or help every day. That is why I am filled with happiness and sorrow every time I bring a donation to wonderful people on behalf of 28. Jun.”

Our youth team, ‘FK 28. Jun’, won the championship in their debut appearance at Srbijada last weekend in Chicago. We have previously partnered with the Ministry of Youth and Sport on our ‘Their Future, Our Responsibility’ project to aid vulnerable children in Serbia in 2014.