Over 20 years ago, sometime around the day of St Nicholas, convoys of buses full of children would start their journey towards Greece. The Red Cross of Serbia together with the Greek Red Cross organised the recuperation of children who lost their parents in war, children of refugees and children from socially depraved families, afed from 8 to 16. This story about a boy from Paracin is a memento of those times. Photos were carefully saved by Nikola, and we are publishing them now. They show him with “his” Greek family.

Every day, we are churned by pending tasks. Heaps of paperwork, data collection and racing time. We always need one more day before the exam, two days more before the meeting, five minutes more before it is time to rise and shine. And so, years go by. Sometimes daily life makes us forget what kept us warm inside, what motivated us, memories fade away, faces disappear and so do events, buried beneath mounds of paper.

And then, there comes that call or message, which shoots us straight in the heart, and all deadlines become irrelevant. Nikola Krstic from Paracin, a boy with worries that are fit for an adult, was over almost 20 years ago one of those 18,000 children whom the Red Cross of Serbia took for recuperation in Greek families. And it was really a recuperation, not just a vacation. The Greeks took the children in as their own, loved them and took care of them, nursed them back from sadness, and put smiles back on their faces. That magical “hospital”, the program of children staying with Greek families, lasted from 1993 to 2011. This program, where children whose childhood was destroyed by war stayed with Greek families, was organised by the Red Cross of Greece and the Serbian Red Cross. It is rare that anyone within the International Movement dared to implement such a program, because it is difficult for those making it happen, as much as it is wonderful for the children and the families. Now we are reminiscing about that feat, so that it is not forgotten. We have often wondered what is it that kept this program alive for so many years. There is no precise answer, but it can only be the love of all those who took part in it.

Nikola has, like many other children, long stayed in contact with “his Greeks” who live in Nea Faliro in Athens. But that contact ceased at one point, and he wants to find them during those years. I believe that they often remember Nikola, wondering where he is now.

That is where heaps of paperwork gained a deeper meaning. The goal was to find that one name, of that particular family that was not forgotten, based on limited information. Nikola wishes to invite them, after 17 years, to the christening of his daughter. Could there be a better reason, to search heaven and earth, even for a tiniest of leads?!

Greek names, names of our children, in thousands. Infinite dusty binders. But, as always: a strong feeling guides us and makes us quicker. The puzzle pieced together, and the old phone number of the family that took Nikola in for Christmas in 2001 appeared. I remembered that a while ago they changed all phone numbers in Athens. That is when I remembered, whom else, but the colleagues from the Red Cross of Greece. They know. Familiar voices on the other side of the line and their happines helped us overcome this obstacle, together, denying borders.

The family of our Nikola could not believe that their hopes and wishes had come true. Nikola remember them, as they remember him. And then, who is to say that great loves do not exist. This is one of such stories.

Nikola wrote his part of the story, and sent us pictures of him as a child and now. He wrote:

“My name is Nikola Krstic, I was born in Paracin on 24.04.1992. I completed elementary school in Paracin, and high school in Cuprija. I graduated in 2016 at the Faculty of Political Sciences, majoring in International relations.

I am the son of Zarko Krstic, a soldier killed in battle during the NATO aggression in 1999 in Kosmet. On that day, my life and the life of my family changed fundamentally. We realised that family is the most precious thing, that should be preserved and fought for, and that unity is the base and pillar of family. I was brought up in the spirit of those values, honoring the memory of my late father. I owe my personality and character to my mother, who raised me and my brother on her own. She fought diligently and honorably for me and my brother to become honest and hardworking men, who will one day be an example to their children and to the community. As time passed by, the pain and demise became greater: me beginning school, graduation, eighteenth birthday, university graduation, starting a family, the birth of my daughter Helena, who brought joy and happiness to our home.

Beside many difficult moments that I had in my life, one wonderful period stands out, which I shall remember forever. The Red Cross of Serbia started a program after the war, enabling children of fallen soldiers to visit Greece, and stay with families involved in humanitarian work. I was one of those children, a young boy, not even ten. I was not sure where I was going, what kind of journey it was going to be, or where I was going to stay. I was confused when I arrived, but when I saw them, the smiles on their faces, and when I felt their hugs and warmness, I knew I was going to be safe with them. They were Niki, Azaria and little Orestis, who was 4 at the time.

Those twenty days that I spent in Athens left a mark on me, an indelible trace, That was a family that never made me feel not an equal part of it, took care of me and gave me anything I wished for at that time. In those difficult moments, they were my support, something I could lean on, and I can say - they were my family. What I remember when I was leaving Is a great sadness that I had to go, until the next year when we all came to stay with them. Those are moments that I will always remember and cherish.

We remained in contact all the way up to 2006, and since then we had not seen each other or spoken. I had done everything to reach them, but in vain. I had heard that they moved, changed their phone number, but that was it. 13 years had passed since we had last spoken, and 17 since we last saw each other. All those years I wondered where they were, if they were doing well, and I decided to find them. The reason why I wanted to reach them was to have them by my side for the christening of my daughter Helena. I contacted the Red Cross of Paracin, and the secretary Slobodan Djordjevic, who was delighted and dedicated to helping me. I was waiting for his call anxiously, expecting a positive turn of events. It all lasted only a few days, and they managed to locate them. We exchanged phone numbers, and we have been in touch for seven months now. I was saddened when they could not come to Serbia because of a passing in the family. What I wish for is to see them again, to hug them and thank them for everything that the did for me.

I am most grateful for the help, professionalism, responsibility and quick response to my request to find this family.”

I believe that the reunion will happen soon- because there simply cannot be any other way.

Sladjana Dimic

Red Cross of Serbia

Coordinator for the stay of children in Greek families from 1993 to 2011