Music in the migration context

Local news, 03.10.2018

The Swiss delegation visited the Social Café in reception center for migrants in Obrenovac that is supported through „Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation“.

Noraiz Javed, from Pakistan, a member of the Social Café band
Noraiz Javed, from Pakistan, a member of the Social Café band © Divac Foundation

During the visit, the Swiss visitors had a chance to see the performance of the Social Café band and spoke to migrants and migrant assistants in the center.

On that occasion, the Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office, Ursula Läubli, stressed that: “Switzerland supports Serbia to find its own model in managing migration through the Migration partnership program. Looking back to our support in migration crisis to nowadays, Swiss support to Social Café project of Divac Foundation is a logical step. We see there is a need for systematization of the programs available in the reception centers in Serbia and Social Café program could be one of these successful models.”

„Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation“ project Social Café is supported until the end of 2018 by the Swiss Government, Norwegian Embassy and the International Rescue Committee. The Social Café band consists of five men from four different countries (Pakistan, Cuba, Afghanistan and Serbia). On their repertoire are songs from Pakistan and Cuba, but also popular Serbian song “Ružo Rumena”.

You may find out more about these talented guys and the importance of Social Café in this video.

Switzerland has a Migration partnership agreement signed with Serbia in 2009. So far Switzerland dedicated 11 million EUR for migration projects in Serbia.