Thirty-one children of Serbian heritage traveled from the United States to Serbia in summer 2026 on round-trip tickets paid for by Project Mileva. For some, the trip was their first chance to meet grandparents and other relatives in person.
The children came from 10 states, including Illinois, Texas, Oregon, Florida and New York. Their trips took them to at least 15 destinations across Serbia, including Belgrade, Novi Sad, Sombor, Valjevo and Čačak.
A first visit with grandparents in Zaječar
For Luka and Kalina, the summer marked their first trip to Serbia. They met relatives in Belgrade and visited Novi Sad and Golubac before traveling to Zaječar, where they met their paternal grandparents for the first time.
Other children spent their visits getting to know the places where their relatives live. Iskra attended workshops at the library in Čačak and joined family activities at home. Ana spent much of her summer with family and friends in Valjevo, while Teona met her great-grandfather and spent time with children in a New Belgrade neighborhood.
How the project pays for the trips
Project Mileva is an Illinois nonprofit that helps children ages 2 to 18 with Serbian roots travel to Serbia. In its first year, the organization raised $133,322 through 92 donations and provided 31 round-trip tickets.
The project plans to expand its work to include summer camps, language workshops and cultural outings. Applications for the completed summer season have closed. Families can register their interest in a future season through the project’s website.
