Thanks to the national platform “Be a Volunteer” (https://budivolonter.gov.rs/ ), which was launched on March 24, over 7,000 people in 27 cities and municipalities have become involved in providing assistance to their fellow citizens on a voluntary basis.
Thanks to the national platform “Be a Volunteer” (https://budivolonter.gov.rs/ ), which was launched on March 24, over 7,000 people in 27 cities and municipalities have become involved in providing assistance to their fellow citizens on a voluntary basis. Volunteers are active throughout Serbia, while the greatest number of them is in Belgrade (24 percent) and Novi Sad (15 percent). When it comes to other cities and towns, the majority of volunteers are in Zrenjanin (7 percent) and Subotica (6 percent), Kikinda and Leskovac (5 percent), and Pancevo, Nis and Novi Pazar (4 percent). Most volunteers are between 20 and 40 years old (70 percent), while there are also those who are less than 20 years old (7 percent).
“Thanks to the “Be a Volunteer” platform, a safe and secure network of volunteer support for people over 65 years of age, who are in mandatory isolation, has been set up, as well as for other citizens who need this type of assistance, " Mihailo Jovanovic, the Head of the Office for Information Technology and e-Government (ITE) , said.
The applications from interested citizens who wish to help and volunteer are checked to prevent any abuse.
“Once the application is approved by the competent services, information on volunteers is forwarded to local self-governments, so that city and municipal centers could contact them and connect with the citizens who need their assistance,” Mr. Jovanovic said.
By connecting the platform to a telephone contact center, volunteers who do not have digital knowledge and skills, such as those without Internet access and senior citizens, are able to sign up and get engaged.
Anyone interested in volunteering can still apply by filling in the application form on https://budivolonter.gov.rs/ or by calling the COVID-19 Contact Center for free at 19819, every day from 8am to 10pm.
The National “Be a Volunteer” Volunteer Application Platform was implemented by the Ministry of the Interior's Emergency Sector and the Office for Information Technology and e-Government (ITE), in cooperation with the “Serbia Creating” platform, and with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Source: Office for Information Technology and e-Government and Coordination Body
