Despite numerous challenges that affected most organizations engaged in humanitarian and development work this year, the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, with the support of donors, companies, and individuals, succeeded in providing assistance to more than 10,000 citizens across Serbia, through donations totaling USD 1 million.
At the beginning of the year, following the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Foundation was forced to discontinue its project supporting persons with disabilities and the agricultural development funds project aimed at supporting rural families. However, thanks to the support of numerous donors and partners, the Foundation managed to continue its long-standing assistance to agricultural communities. In 2025, a total of 196 agricultural households received support amounting to USD 386,500, improving living conditions in rural areas for approximately 1,000 people.
With the aim of improving living conditions in rural areas and reducing migration to cities, the Foundation, with the support of its partners, distributed 165 greenhouses to agricultural households in five municipalities during the year. In addition, 11 agricultural producers from Prijepolje received fruit and vegetable processing equipment. The Foundation also supported 20 final-year students of the Agricultural School with Boarding Facilities “Ljubo Mićić” in Požega, who received agricultural equipment worth RSD 4.98 million to establish or further develop their family farms.
Support for education was also continued in 2025, with 40 primary schools in rural areas across Serbia receiving donations of new school furniture, improving learning conditions for more than 7,000 students.
For the 2025/2026 school year, the Foundation awarded 114 scholarships to outstanding secondary school students from low-income or single-parent families. The non-profit IT retraining school “IT Bootcamp,” implemented for the seventh consecutive year in cooperation with a group of donors from the United States, was also continued. During 2025, 59 young participants enrolled in the retraining program, nine of whom secured employment or internships, along with 23 former participants.
Throughout 2025, the Foundation continued to support young people in becoming more actively involved in the social, economic, and political life of their communities, while helping identify areas where their position can be further improved. Special emphasis was placed on promoting gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and the Sustainable Development Goals and equality for all.
Work on the development and further improvement of the Youth Participation Index was also continued. Now in its eighth consecutive year, the Index serves as a regional tool for monitoring political, economic, and social participation of young people in Serbia, the Western Balkans, and Türkiye, providing relevant data for evidence-based policymaking.
In 2025, the Foundation actively participated in the work of the Platform “Sustainable Development for All”, contributing to the advocacy and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at both national and local levels. Particular focus was placed on strengthening cooperation with local governments and engaging diverse societal stakeholders in dialogue on Serbia’s development priorities.
As part of its long-standing cooperation with companies and efforts to continuously involve the private sector in initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens, as well as their employees and their families, the Foundation actively contributed to the implementation of the “Family-Friendly Workplace” project in 2025, through which companies were supported in introducing gender-responsive and family-friendly workplace policies.
Within the “Odvažna” project, 16 small businesses contributing to women’s economic stability and empowerment were supported. In addition, 17 civil society organizations received support through grants, mentoring, and capacity building, while regular monthly donations were provided to two animal shelters.
The Foundation continued to support vulnerable families, civil society organizations, animal shelters, and numerous individuals, with a particular focus on young people and women.
A house was reconstructed for a four-member family in Vlasotince, firewood was provided for a single mother with six children in Belgrade, and residents of the Toplica region, severely affected by wildfires during the summer, received firefighting equipment for hard-to-reach terrain to better prepare for the coming year.
Thirty families in Kosovo received donations of food, firewood, and basic necessities, while 500 beneficiaries in the Kuršumlija area received firewood, food packages, clothing, and footwear. Regular support also continued for the Soup Kitchen of the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Charitable Trust, providing 2,000 meals per month. In the Juvenile Correctional Facility in Kruševac, 20 young residents completed dog-training courses as part of their resocialization process.
For its achievements to date, as well as its contribution to preserving and promoting Nikola Tesla’s legacy, advancing culture and science, and strengthening ties between Serbia and the diaspora, the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation was awarded the prestigious Tesla Medal and a certificate of appreciation by the Tesla Science Foundation for 2025.
The Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to partners and donors from Serbia and the diaspora, as well as companies, civil society organizations, local governments, ministries, media representatives, and all individuals who were part of the broader Divac team throughout the year. Despite growing challenges, the Foundation continues to demonstrate resilience and determination in pursuing its mission of providing concrete support to citizens and improving quality of life across Serbia.
