Belgrade, April 23rd 2014 – On April 22nd protégés of the Centre for Placement and Day Care of Children and Youth with Developmental Disorders Stari Grad marked Earth Day in Kalemegdan park by flying paper kites made within the creative inclusive workshop of Day Care Centre Stari Grad. Volunteers from the U.S. embassy in Belgrade took part in working with children.

The event is traditionally held on the occasion of celebrating the “Earth Day” and is organized by the Day Care Centre Stari Grad and PE “Belgrade Fortress” and aimed at raising environmental awareness and consciousness about the importance of preserving the planet, as well as raising awareness of the importance of inclusion of persons with developmental disorders and their contribution as equal members of society and the community in which they live.

Due to continued collaboration of Day Care Centre Stari Grad and PE “Belgrade Fortress” a permanent exhibition of works made by Day Care Centre protégés titled “So can I” has been realized at the area of Kalemegdan Park. For first time this provided an opportunity for the persons with developmental disorders to exhibit their work on a daily basis, so handicrafts made by children and young people with developmental disorders are now exhibited at the area of Kalemegdan Park.

During the two-year collaboration of the Public Enterprise “Belgrade Fortress” and Day Care Centre Stari Grad many events were realized at Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park with the aim of improving the quality of life for children and young people with developmental disorders, developing a positive self-image, independence and socially acceptable forms of behaviour of those children, as well as developing awareness and empathy for the rights and needs of persons with disabilities.