C O M M U N I T Y   C E N T R E    B U S I J E

At the end of 2005 "Lastavica" NGO has established successful cooperation with the Refugee association "Busije" which was formed to respond to the various needs of the residents of this, still not legalized, settlement.  In partnership between the two organizations, the Community center in Busije was opened, to great extend thanks to the transfer of experience and skills from the functioning Community center in Surcin. 

Funding of these activities was provided by CAFOD and EAR.

COMMUNITY CENTRE BUSIJE

In order to decrease social exclusion of Busier residents, the citizens association (CA) "Busije" opened the Community Centre, in partnership with the humanitarian organization "Lastavica" from Surčin, and with the support of the British humanitarian organization CAFOD. It is an open centre, intended for various needs of residents. The Centre is opened daily on workdays, and occasionally on weekends.
The following activities have been going on for the last few months, based on the needs expressed in 300 social cards of the households:

• Training courses: computers, English language and weaving;

• Educational workshop for pre-school children;

• Monthly visits of medical doctors, lawyers and social workers;

• Each Wednesday, blood sugar level and blood pressure is checked;

• Each Thursdays, women gather at the textile workshop;

Community center Busije can be visited at the following address:
Treća Nova 29 , tel-fax +381 11 377 42 50 and +381 63 104 7542
E mail: busije@EUnet.yu

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 THE BUSIJE SETTLEMENT is a suburban Belgrade settlement, about 24 kilometers from the city centre. It was established in 1997, predominantly from the refugee population from Croatia and Bosnia. There are 750 households in the settlement, with only 10 % of houses completely finished. The population is around 3,000, with 180 pre-school children out of which 120 are junior elementary school children. There are 25 single parent families and 40 families with at least one member killed or missing during the latest war.
 

The settlement has not been legalized yet and is lacking planning and technical documentation, which is a limiting in building the necessary communal infrastructure and public buildings. Overall infrastructure is extremely poor: only 2.6 kilometers out of 20 km of road is asphalted. There is no sewage and drainage system. The settlement does not have a kindergarten, health centre, pharmacy, post office and telephone lines, facilities for cultural and sports activities nor a village cemetery. The public transport did not exist till December 2006. when the city bus line 702 was introduced (Busije-Batajnica).
 

Lastavica recognized the need for its involvement due to the fact that this, mostly refugee settlement, has not gained the status of the local community yet, and is without its representative in the local government organs. In order to respond to the needs of Busije residents, it was necessary to mobilize community resources and apply community based approach to local development.
 

The residents have founded the Refugee association (RA) “Busije”, which together with NGO Lastavica opened Community centre in Busije in December 2005
 

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CTIZENS ASSOCIATION BUSIJE

Since the Busije settlement does not have the status of the local community, on the grounds of 1,001 collected signatures, the Citizens Association “Busije” was established on March 7, 2004.
Members of the Management Board of the Association are representatives of all 37 streets. In the previous period, CA "Busije" has initiated the solution of various problems in the field of communal infrastructure, such as: the creation of Detailed Regulation Plan, asphalting streets and building the water system in the settlement, displaying house numbers. At the moment, they are working on solving the problems of health centre, kindergarten, school, post office, cemetery, as well as on gaining the status of the local community and the voting unit. CA “Busije” will make further efforts in providing a more efficient and faster solution to the problem of taxes to the construction land, better traffic communication with the city, reconstruction of public lights, finishing the water system, better transport to school.
 

Using the data from the social cards, CA “Busije” is working on forming various interest groups which would work as sections. They are planning to form a section for families whose members went missing during the 1991-1995 war, the section for the disabled, the section for pensioners, and many others which will be dealing with the organization of cultural and sports activities.
Representatives of the association are using all possible ways to realize the planned activities. They were members of the delegations received by: The President of the Republic of Serbia Boris Tadić, Commissioner for Refugees Dragiša Dabetić, Deputy Mayor of Belgrade Radmila Hrustanović, City Manager Bojan Stanojević and others. The media have also presented the problems of the settlement residents and CA “Busije” ("Pravi odgovor", RTV Studio "B", RTS, the local radio).
 

Apart from the aforementioned individuals and institutions, CA "Busije” has a successful cooperation with the Trustee for Refugees Office of the Zemun Municipality, CA "Lastavica" from Surčin, CA "Grmovac", NGO "IAN", the organization of the Serbian Orthodox Church “Čovekoljublje", the humanitarian organization "Bread of life", and many others.
The rich archive for 2004 and 2005, with approximately 500 documents is a testimony of intensive activities of the Citizens Association “Busije”.
Results of their work are visible, but many other issues require tremendous engagement, enthusiasm and, of course, financial means – such as donations, self contributions or the contributions of the Municipality or governmental institutions. The financial income and expenditures are made transparent, at the Association Assembly sessions.
 

CONTACT:
Address: CA "Busije, B u s i j e, III Nova 29
Phone/fax: +381 11 377 42 50
Phone: +381 63 704 69 80 (Vezmar Ilija);
  +381 63 104 7542 (Vučenović Jovan)

E mail: busije@EUnet.yu

WWW.lastavica.org.yu

Association bank account number:
UG "Busije"
245-0168492701210-91, "Agrobanka", Beograd

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CHURCH COMMUNITY BUSIJE

With the increased number of households in the community, the inhabitants felt the need to build a church. Under the supervision of the Parson Spomenko Grujic and the most active residents, elected by the other inhabitants to run the Church Board (President of the Board, Bradanović Dragoslav, Vice President - Šarić Dragana and members: Klipić Đura, Urukalo Jovan, Resanović Draga/o?, Kisin Mladenko, Zagorac Filip and Živković Sreta) in the year of 2000 an action was initiated to collect voluntary contributions to buy the land and build the church and the parson home. Soon, the construction work started. At the end of 2004, Parson Milorad Niskic replaced Parson Spomenko Grujic, and successfully continued the action. The church was built in 2005. It was consecrated in 2006, on May 24, St. Cirilo and Metodije Day, and it was devoted to those two saints. It is the Saint Patron’s Day of the Busije settlement, and also the day when people from Krajina gather from all parts of Serbia and even the world.

The construction of the parson home is going as planned. With the capacity of 200 people, it will serve as a venue for various ceremonies (weddings, baptizing, etc.).
 

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SPORTS ACTIVITIES IN THE BUSIJE COMMUNITY

Sports, cultural and other social activities certainly represent the basic need of people in every settlement. Various clubs and sections are usually formed according to the requirements of the settlement. The situation is the same in the newly formed settlement of Busije, where many unsolved, existential problems are much more easily handled through social activities which instigate enthusiasm and positive energy.

A group of sport enthusiasts recognised the potential and talents of the youth from Busije. This is how the “Busije” Football Club was formed (in the local buffet “Bradonic Dragoslav”, in 10 Nova Street, on November 29, 2003). The Management Board was established, comprised of President: Haranbašić Dragan (Vojnić), Vice Presidents: Bradonić Dragoslav (Podravska Slatina), Jorgić Milenko (Slavonska Požega), Director: Bolić Ilija (Voćin), Trainer: Jovanović Mile (Osijek), Treasurer: Šarić Damir (Kistanje), Secretary: Vučenović Jovan (Knin), Member: Ćosić Milan (Pakrac). The Supervisory Board is comprised of President: Radojčić Nikola (Vukovar), Members: Marunić Petar (Benkovac), Todorović Perica (Sanski Most).

FC "Busije” is competing in the Inter-Municipal League of Belgrade City, and is hosting games at FC “Sindjelic” stadium in Ugrinovci, because FC “Busije” does not have its own stadium nor its premises.

Club colors: red shirts, blue shorts, white socks.

On the occasion of St. Kirilo and Metodije Day (May 24), FC “Busije” successfully organizes small football tournaments with 20 and more teams participating. The matches are played on the local field.

Although facing numerous problems, FC “Busije” is the only sport association in settlement and as such, it gathers a number of the youth, trying to guide them in the right direction and keep them away from negative influences (alcohol, drugs). Unfortunately, the club’s future depends on financial contributions of others.

The biggest credits for the functioning of the club go to the President, Saric Damir.
We are thankful to all those who have helped, as well as those who are willing to contribute and help our club.
 

Contact:

Šarić Damir Phone: +381 63 8434 754
Vučenović Jovan Phone: +381 63 7460 166
Club bank account number:
145-0233112701210-88, Privredna banka "Agrobanka", Beograd
 

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