U.S. Embassy Community Supports the Talented Children of the Dragan Hercog School
January 21, 2011
On Friday, January 21, Ambassador Mary Warlick officially opened the inaugural art exhibition of 2011 at U.S. Embassy Belgrade and extended a special welcome to the talented children – the authors of the exhibit – and to their families and the administrators and staff of the Dr. Dragan Hercog School in Belgrade.
Last year, U.S. Embassy Belgrade began a special volunteer initiative, encouraging its employees to contribute their time and resources to the local community. As one of many activities, embassy artists established the heArtReach program, where twice monthly these Serb and American volunteers from across the Embassy community joined an art class at the Dr. Dragan Hercog school, sharing their time, art supplies, and enthusiasm.
The Dr. Dragan Hercog School, located just a block and a half from the Embassy, is the only school in Serbia dedicated to the education of children currently undergoing hospital treatment. It serves students with cancer, autism, cerebral palsy, and broken limbs. Under the invitation of its principal, Embassy volunteers have together sought to foster a sense of pride among the students that their work has worth and that they have skills that can be used to the benefit of themselves, their families, their school, and beyond.