Volunteering in Serbia is an easy way to settle into a new life: you meet people fast, practise the language and become useful where you live. Formally, anyone willing to give time can volunteer.

Who takes volunteers

  • The Red Cross: work where you live — helping older people, collecting items, health and education programmes, first aid training.
  • Animal shelters: walking dogs, care, helping find homes for animals, accompanying them at adoption events.
  • Charities and food banks: sorting and delivering parcels, helping in warehouses.
  • City events, festivals and sports competitions: volunteers are always needed for registration, wayfinding and logistics.
  • Schools and children's centres: help with homework, accompanying trips, creative workshops.

How it works

You contact a local organisation, fill in a form and go through brief training or a briefing. Then comes a schedule of shifts you choose yourself. You are normally expected to keep your commitments: if you signed up, turn up, otherwise others are left short.

What it gives you

  • Language: Serbian is picked up faster in a volunteering environment than in a classroom.
  • Contacts and reputation: people start to recognise you and offer work and help.
  • Understanding of how the local system works: social services, schools, clinics.
  • Experience that helps when job hunting — especially in social work and healthcare.

What to expect and keep in mind

Volunteering does not replace a job and is usually unpaid: travel or meals may be covered, but not always. Do not take on more than you can manage — reliability is valued above enthusiasm. If the work involves children or older people, be ready to provide documents and undergo checks. And do not accept informal work presented as volunteering with cash payment — that is an employer-employee relationship.

First steps

Start with one organisation and one direction: spreading yourself across several tasks in the first months is hard. Write or call, ask which shifts are needed now and what is expected of you, and check whether travel costs are covered and whether training is provided. At the first meeting, do not promise to help always — name the specific hours you can genuinely keep.