In a small village, 90km from Serbian Novi Sad, Branko’s* destiny seemed to be heading for the worst. His mother left the family soon after giving birth to the boy, while his father abused him physically and psychologically and was sent to prison because of murder after Branko’s sixth birthday. After various stays in several state institutions, Branko was forced to live with his father again following his release. Being very much afraid of his dad because of all his former abuse, he fled to Novi Sad to escape him and was forced to spend his life on the streets, at the age of 17.
Living in an abandoned railway wagon at the railway station for quite a while, he soon met other street children who taught him how to survive. He searched for food in containers or begged for a little money, and when he could not stand his own smell any longer, he washed in the river Danube – even during winter.
In May 2010, aged 18, Branko found his way to the shelter of the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation. The H. Stepic CEE Charity has been supporting the shelter for many years in their work with street children. The shelter’s staff quickly noticed Branko’s will to live, his intelligence and good intentions. Volunteers assisted him in reobtaining a health insurance and supported him in his job search. Branko was lucky to meet a radio journalist, who was so impressed by his fate and will to live that she joined Branko’s job hunt.
And so it came that with joined forces and the journalist’s personal contacts, an employment for Branko was found in the city’s public sanitation department. The shelter kept supporting him further in his search for an apartment. Since 2011, he has been living in his own room, his first own proper roof over his head. Branko has grown to be a self-confident and cheerful young man, who proudly lives in his own four walls and likes his job. With just a little support, he was able to pull himself out of misery and change his perspectives dramatically.
*Name changed due to data privacy reasons.
