New playground in the backyard of SOS – Shelter for women and children victims of violence

Today, SOS Nikšić has opened new playground and hayloft in the backyard of the shelter for women and children victims of violence. The project was realized with the financial help of Polish Embassy in Montenegro, within the program of the polish development cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of work and social welfare and the Ministry for human and minority rights supported the promotion of our goals and results within this project.

On today’s gathering the speakers were the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Ms.  Irena Tatarzyinska, the Minister of work and social welfare, Mr. Boris Marić, the Minister for human and minority rights, Mr. Suad Numanović, and the executive coordinator of SOS Nikšić, Ms. Nataša Međedović.

Nataša Međedović, the coordinator of SOS Niksic, said that the Embassy of Poland in Montenegro had donated the total amount of 15.856 EUR with the aim to improve the conditions for quality environment for women and children in the shelter.

‘Now we have new contents within the shelter, and this will provide preschool and school age children conditions for playing, while women will have an opportunity to spend time together and rest’, the coordinator said.

Irena Tatarzynska, the Ambassador of Poland in Montenegro, said that shelters for domestic violence victims were highly important worldwide, and as she stated, the shelters helped women and children victims of domestic violence in the process of solving problems in an easier way.

Also, the Ambassador added that except from the playground a new backyard construction had been set up, and it included table and chairs.

Boris Marić, the Minister of work and social welfare, said that the intention of the department was a quality development of various types of services.

‘I believe this is an example of good practice which should be followed, and which will contribute to higher level of parental capacities and possibilities for mother victims of violence, and there at it will provide pleasant environment for children in this shelter; also this will enable an easier way to overcome complicated life situation, that has brough them to this place,’ Maric said.

Suad Numanović, the Minister for human and minority rights, said that violence was not the problem of a person, but of an entire society.

‘Children should always be our priority.  What would world be without bright smiles on children’s’ faces? There is a lot more to do to change collective and individual awareness, in order to achieve improvement in fighting this problem. It seems that this is a small but stabile step towards hat success’, Numanovic pointed out.

The construction of the hayloft provided conditions for outdoor activities and rest, the Minister added.