The Golden Autumn of Life in the Homeland

For all of us scattered across the world, life in diaspora presents the same singular, powerful experience. Various circumstances lead people to abandon their native land, to go out into the wide world, to leave everything behind and build a new life. Like seeds sown on fresh soil, people have various ways of accepting changes, developing themselves, and different experiences of the customs, culture, and mentality of their new social milieu. Yet what unifies everyone is the memory of their roots, a memory which never disappears.

It was this deep connection with one’s roots that led the representatives of the “Heritage Organization of Newcomers and Returning Residents to Serbia” to visit North America. Their visit was a part of a mission aimed at introducing Serbs in diaspora with the organization’s work and its newest project: “the Golden Autumn of Life in the Homeland.”

It is good to know that the diaspora has not been forgotten and that there is a community which deals with the issues of Serbs who wish to return to Serbia after a period of time spent far away from their homes. The “Heritage Organization of Newcomers and Returning Residents to Serbia” is a non-profit organization, founded with the intention of addressing all existential questions that might spring up in the lives of newcomers and return residents of Serbia. Originally, the “Heritage Organization of Newcomers to Yugoslavia” was founded in 1994, only to change its name after the dissolution of the nation to the “Heritage Organization of Newcomers and Returning Residents to Serbia.” This organization was formed by a group of returning residents from Canada, Germany, and the United States who, after returning to their homeland, encountered many obstacles and hardships in attempting to actively rejoin society. The goals of the organization are to offer all citizens who are temporarily working abroad, as well as newcomers, the quickest integration into Serbia, to introduce them to the touristic services offered, and to acquaint them with the available nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Additionally, they provide contacts and useful information regarding investing in the development of society through private companies and public-private partnerships. The Organization is also involved in returning our seniors living abroad on all continents, so that they might spend the “golden autumn of their life” in Serbia. The organization is based out of Palić, but their work is done all throughout Serbia. The president, Blaško Gabrić, is a returning resident from Canada, and is also the founder of the Fourth Mini-Yugoslavia – a historical park and outdoor museum in Subotica. The secretary and technical coordinator of the “Golden Autumn of Life in the Homeland” project is Goran Gabrić. The work of these leading figures is voluntary, but the organization itself is financed by various sponsors.

The “Golden Autumn” project primarily offers our seniors, scattered around the world, access to tourist resorts, hospitality services, and nursing facilities in Serbia. The benefits afforded to members of the “Heritage Organization” are many and varied. They include organized trips to cultural and historical monuments under the guidance of local tourist agency representatives, an introduction into their rich historical and cultural heritage, spiritual refreshment in medieval churches and monasteries, excursions to festivals, concerts, and plays, accommodations in high-quality hotels for accessible prices, standardized medical, dental, and “wellness” benefits, and a rich social and community life, all of which positively influences one’s wellbeing.

Apart from assisting in touristic arrangements, the “Heritage Organization’s” involvement with the senior community is oriented towards offering assistance in adapting to a new/old life situation, resolving bureaucratic problems, compiling necessary documentation, finding an adequate, licenced nursing home, organizing and booking medical appointments, as well as booking operations and other treatments in both private and government-operated institutions… The “Heritage Organization” also presents Serbia’s economic potential to its members, informing them of government grants which present the opportunity to invest in local communities, small businesses, and organic agriculture. The organization’s motto is “see everything, but end up at home.” Its motive is to create a “win-win” situation for residents returning to the Republic of Serbia, drawing inspiration from the very people who, with every visit, change their minds for the better in regards to their people and homeland. Returning residents enjoy the highest services at the most reasonable prices, simultaneously helping Serbia’s businesses and economic recovery in the best possible way. Indeed, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department for Cooperation between Diaspora and Regional Serbs, as well as the provincial secretaries of economic affairs, employment, and tourism, and the town of Subotica have all financed the project. Serbia’s President, Tomislav Nikolic, and His Holiness, Patriarch Irinej, have also extended their support for the project. Membership with the “Heritage Organization” is free for Serbs in diaspora and guarantees them touristic and hospitality accommodations in Serbia at the marked prices. The idea for the “Golden Autumn of Life in the Homeland” project was realized thanks to many of our people who emigrated from Serbia to Canada and the U.S., who are or will soon be retired. Since they no longer have daily work obligations, and their pensions do not offer them the same standard of life that they have been used to during their active employment, perhaps it is time they considered a temporary or permanent return to Serbia. With Canada’s monthly allowance (for example, $1200), they would be hard-pressed to last a month in Canada or the U.S., and would have to abandon certain pleasures, but in Serbia they would easily be able to live and enjoy daily hospitality services at the highest quality. The disparity is especially felt in the cost of accommodations in nursing and retirement homes. Such homes, which are of the highest quality, licensed according to European standards, cost about 450 to 600 euros ($750-1000) a month, whereas in Canada the same standards would run up to 4-5 thousand dollars.

Throughout June and July 2016, delegates from the “Heritage Organization of Newcomers and Returning Residents of Serbia” visited many Orthodox churches, Serbian organizations, clubs, and individuals across Ontario, as well as some in Chicago. Among these were the Church of Sveta Trojica in Kitchener, the church of St. Nicholas in Hamilton, the Nova Gračanica monastery in Chicago, the church of St. Peter and Paul in Oakville, the church of St. George in Niagara Falls, the Gračanica church in Windsor, SKUD “Oplenac” in Mississauga, KUD “Bata Marčetić” in Toronto, the Fellowship of Serbian Students in Toronto, the Nikola Tesla Education Corporation, and they were also present at the opening of Nikola Tesla boulevard in Hamilton. They left valuable gifts and donations of books at every church, as well as their associated libraries, and Sunday schools. The representatives of the Organization were present at summer picnics which were held at Niagra Falls, Oakville, Kitchener, Windsor, and Chicago, where they held over a thousand one-on-one conversations, presenting their project to citizens, and demonstrating the many benefits which await them in Serbia. Apart from presenting their project, they also prepared a book for the members of the diaspora, a specially published edition of “the Four Pillars of Serbian Culture” – a bilingual edition with Serbian (Cyrillic) and English, so that our children in diaspora might not forget their language and its alphabet. The response was excellent, and the reaction to the project was especially positive. After a number of years during which Serbian officials have not addressed the diaspora in this way, people were glad that they have not been forgotten, and that they too were taken into account. They were interested in visiting the monasteries and historical monuments, as well as returning to their birthplaces and seeing their relatives. More information about this organization and their projects can be found on their Facebook page, “matici useljenika srbije,” as well as on their website, www.maticauseljenika.org.rs.