Reaching out to Roma children in Serbia

offering new hope and faith to children living on the margins

supporting a vital ministry to families of Roma children

A project to reach out to 200 Roma children in Serbia is helping to offer new hope, peace and security to these young ones living on the margins of society.

Scripture Union Serbia started ministry with the Roma children and their parents in the town of Deliblato, where they are already seeing an impact. One of the Roma parents told Scripture Union staff that crime had decreased in the area since they started visiting and talking with the children.

Children in the Roma population are often left to take care of themselves as their parents have to work long hours for very little money. Due to irregular school attendance, their literacy skills are very low and so they don’t achieve good school results. These children know very little about Jesus and the Christian faith. They are neglected, do not have a right self-image, and don’t know how to care for themselves and others. Violence and conflict are widespread among the children because they do not respect each other. There is a definite need to minister the love of God in this community.

SUI is supporting the project focused on reaching out to the children through weekly events, helping them to learn reading and writing while they hear about God’s Big Story. The strategy includes ministering to their parents through these events and inviting them to join in worship and discussions.

A Christian Roma couple is working with these children and their families, supported by SU Serbia. The project aims to raise funds to enable them develop the work further as SU Children’s ministry workers, rather than volunteers.

Investing in this project will help SU Serbia ensure many more children grow in their faith in God and learn to love others; the volunteer couple who have a deep desire to serve the children, influence them for Christ, will be able to meet them on a regular basis. Being from Roma themselves, the couple's connection with the children is natural and easy, and the children who know them, already love them a lot.

Funds donated here will support the growth of this program, enabling SU Serbia leaders and volunteers to dedicate more time, energy and resources into reaching these children and their families.