Milestones
CARE has been working in the Balkans since 1993. We started by providing humanitarian aid to those displaced and affected by the wars. Today, CARE seeks to help build sustainable peace and development in the region. Our programmes support economic acvies on a regional level, strengthen peace and reconciliaon efforts, seek to integrate minories and foster opportunies for young people. Since the 2000s, CARE focuses its efforts on the polical and socio-economic inclusion of marginalized groups and gender equality. We also provide emergency assistance to refugees stranded in the Balkans. CARE today works in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo , Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania.
1993
With war raging in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, CARE starts to provide humanitarian aid in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia.
1994 - 2000
CARE implements the REACH project, social assistance and medical support to over 75,000 vulnerable people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
1996
CARE sets up Return and Reintegration programmes in the Balkans, reconstructing close to 1,000 houses and helping families return and find jobs.
1997
CARE starts operating in Kosovo, manages eight refugee camps, housing more than 120,000 people.
1997-...
CARE initiates a Civil Society Development programme that targets mainly youth and women organisations in BiH.
1999
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, CARE introduces the “Quick Impact Facility” - an inclusive local economic development initiative.
1999
Roma Social-inclusion projects started in Serbia and BiH. CARE fosters the social integration of the Roma national minority, with focus on Roma girls and women.
2000-...
Over 200,000 people benefited from CARE's socio-economic inclusion program. From 2005 onwards, over 100,000 women, men, boys and girls have benefitted from CAREs gender equality and economic empowerment initiatives in Balkans.
2002-2005
Implementation of Balkan Youth Project engaging and supporting youth organisations across the region.
2003-2011
Access to reproductive health and social inclusion of marginalised and vulnerable population groups in Serbia.
2005
CARE gets involved in fighting domestic violence and trafficking of human beings in the region by supporting civil society and institutional stakeholders.
2005 - present
Regional Economic Development projects and sustainable agricultural development projects are being implemented in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2006
The Young Men Initiative is born
The Young Men Initiative is born
An innovative approach, addressing boys and young men to prevent violence and foster gender equality, the Young Man initiative (YMI) is present across the Balkans and so far, has reached over 30,000 young men. CARE’s educational curriculum becomes mandatory for schools in some parts of the Balkan countries.
An innovative approach, addressing boys and young men to prevent violence and foster gender equality, the Young Man initiative (YMI) is present across the Balkans and so far, has reached over 30,000 young men. CARE’s educational curriculum becomes mandatory for schools in some parts of the Balkan countries.
2009
CARE introduces its regional Roma Women Empowerment - FAIR project, the first project to support Roma women organisations in their structure and work in BiH, Serbia and Montenegro.
2011
A Women Economic Empowerment programme - supporting women's agricultural cooperatives and social enterprises is launched in BiH and Montenegro.
2014
Flood Assistance Emergency Relief programme
The floods in 2014 affected over 3 million people in Bosnia and Serbia. True to our humanitarian mandate, CARE Balkans immediately responded by providing “modern CARE packages” with equipment and tools, hygiene items, food and vouchers to approximately 5,000 people.
2015-...
CARE provided humanitarian assistance to 17,000 and more refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and other places who reached the Balkans.
2017-2021
CARE implements a nationwide agro-cooperative development project in North Macedonia that supports agro-cooperatives and state institutions to modernise production, access market and adapt favourable policy framework
2017
CARE receives Global Education Network Europe Innovation Award for its Y-Programme, a comprehensive education programme that promotes healthy lifestyles, non-violence and gender equality.
2020