“I stayed silent out of fear—where would I go with eight children?”The Mijin family are survivors of domestic abuse, now huddled together in a single room!

“The abuse lasted 14 years—against both the children and me. I stayed silent because I was terrified; I had no idea where I’d go with them. I had no phone, no internet, nothing… Since we left, we’ve been drifting from house to house. Who would take in a family this size? They took my youngest, Ljubica; she’s in foster care now. They told me I’ll get her back once I have a home of my own. They didn’t care to ask how I’m supposed to make that happen,” shares Linda Mijin, a single mother of eight.

A mother

In the village of Iđoš, near Kikinda, we encountered a truly heartbreaking scene. In a crumbling little house, gathered around a wood stove in their only habitable (yet barely functional) room, we were met by a “little army”: Leonora (4), Matija (5), Leontina (7), Leo (8), Dragana (9), Siniša (12), and Nena (15). The trauma they’ve endured is etched on their faces, but their deepest wound is the absence of their youngest sister, who hasn’t lived with them for nearly three years.

“After leaving my husband, we lived in terrible conditions. Social Services took not only Ljubica, who was just seven months old at the time, but also Leonora and Matija. With help from the school and some kind people, we fixed up the bathroom and made necessary repairs to the place we were staying, so they returned two of the children after three months. But because of health issues, Ljubica was placed in foster care. I didn’t see her for a long time, and when I finally did, she ran away from me. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, to have your own child refuse to let you hug or kiss them. To be fair, the foster mother is a wonderful woman; she cares for her as if she were her own and has explained everything to her. We talk via video calls now, and she’s started calling me ‘Mom.’ So, things are getting better…” says this MOTHER who has truly been through the wringer.

When a window is no longer the only source of light

The Mijin children are well-behaved, tidy, and incredibly bright. It’s clear that Linda cares for them deeply despite their circumstances. They were given use of this old house, but they are confined to a single room because a wall in the other room has completely collapsed, meaning the window is no longer the only thing letting light in. With drafts coming from every direction, they patch the doors and windows with blankets, rags, and cardboard. They have no chairs, only two wardrobes, and they all sleep in just three beds.

“I’m okay here; I just wish we had electricity and water so we didn’t have to bathe in a tub. At night, we power a single lightbulb using a car battery. My mom is always chopping wood, and since last year, I’ve been helping her” says young Siniša modestly, adding through tears that his only wish is for his sister to come home.

Eight people on 300 € a month

The family survives on just over 300 euros in state aid, supplemented by occasional day labor and seasonal jobs. Only they know how they make it through the month. Despite a court order, Linda hasn’t received a cent of child support in over three years.

“We manage for food and the basics, I’ll go without eating if I have to, as long as they don’t suffer. Kind people help out, and my family does what they can, though sometimes we fall short on school supplies. I’d love to work in a factory so we wouldn’t have to depend on anyone. We always celebrate the kids’ birthdays with a cake, but I dream of one day giving them a real party at a play center like other kids. The hardest part is at night; I look at them and they’re all here, except for Ljubica,” Linda continues.

A cup of yogurt for the sisters

Near the end of our conversation, we witnessed a moment that was routine for them but devastating for us. Eight-year-old Leo returned from school, carrying a single cup of yogurt he had saved to share with his sisters. While many of us worry about vacations, designer clothes, and the “necessities” of modern life, these humble children are splitting one yogurt. After twenty years of humanitarian work, it is still hard to accept that such extreme poverty exists among our people.

“When I grow up, I’m buying mom a house!”

Another moment involving Leo gripped our hearts. He quickly bonded with one of our team members, staying by his side and looking up at him with longing eyes. It was painfully clear how much he misses having a father figure in his life.

“When I grow up, I’m going to buy my mom a house,” the noble little boy said firmly.

Bringing little Ljubica home!

A real house, separate rooms for the boys and girls, beds, electricity, running water, toys—these were all secondary wishes that the children only mentioned after we pressed them. Every single one of them repeated that they miss their sister Ljubica most of all. Their only real dream is to have her back. The path to her return runs through Charity organization Serbs for Serbs project to solve their housing crisis. We invite you to join us with your donations, let’s bring the Mijin family back together!

YOU CAN DONATE THROUGH THE DONATION PLATFORM: www.srbizasrbe.org/donacije

SERBIA
1. SMS to 7763 (200 RSD)2. Account: 160-0000000279491-71, Banka Intesa
2. Pay Pal
3. Foreign currency account

REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA
1. Call 17763 (3 КМ)
2. Account: 56201281300241-58 (NLB bank)
3. Pay Pal

MONTENEGRO
1. Account: 510-91548-03 (CKG bank)
2. Pay Pal

USA
1. Donation platform (credit card, bank account)
2. Pay Pal
3. ZELLE: szsamerika@gmail.com
4.Check to: Serbs for Serbs, Po Box 34206 Chicago, IL 60634
*all donors exercise the right to tax deductions

CANADA
1. Pay Pal
2. Check to: Serbs for Serbs Canada, 635 The Queensway, Lower Level, Toronto, ON, M8Y 3B3
3. Е-transfer to: donate@serbsforserbs.ca
*all donors exercise the right to tax deductions

GERMANY
1. IBAN: DE87 7605 0101 0015 8913 36
2. Pay Pal
*all donors exercise the right to tax deductions

SWITZERLAND
1. Konto: 61-335679-5
IBAN:CH57 0900 0000 6133 5679 5
Hedwigstrasse 3, 8032 Zurich
2. Twint: donate.raisenow.io/stbdh
3. Pay Pal
*all donors exercise the right to tax deductions

AUSTRIA
1. IBAN:AT97 3200 0000 1036 4339
SWIFT/BIC: RLNWATWW
Customer: Organisation fuer humanitaere Hilfe in serbisch Srbi za Srbe
Kalvariengürtel 39/6, 8020 Graz Austria
2. Pay Pal
3. Call 0901 300 201 (3 Euro)

SWEDEN
1. SWISH: 1230 133 900
2. Pay Pal
3. Bank Giro: 5302-1077
4. Account: 5226 1060 858

NORWAY
1. VIPPS: 104 414
2. Pay Pal
3. Account: 1503 83 80483

AUSTRALIA
1. Donations via Bank Account:
BSB: 032-278
Account No: 878615
Bank: Westpac
2. Pay Pal
3. Donations via PayID
PayID Type: ABN
PayID: 57472783829
4. Donations via Cheque:
Check to Serbs for Serbs Inc, 18 Mantle Ave, North Richmond NSW 2754, Australia

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