Welcome to Šabac, where the state has finally decided to show it cares about families! Or so they say. The Ministry for Family Care and Demography has launched the “Parenting Caravan” – a national campaign aimed at strengthening parenting skills, improving support for families, and informing citizens about available assistance measures. Sounds like a fairy tale, but let’s see what’s really behind the shiny words.
What is the Parenting Caravan?
This caravan is designed as a traveling team of experts who will visit 10 local municipalities in July. The goal is to be “present on the ground,” listen to parents, understand their problems, and provide advisory support. The Ministry claims the state allocates huge financial resources to help families, including the largest parental allowance in Serbia’s history – up to 3 million dinars for four children, and a one-time subsidy for buying the first property amounting to 20,000 euros.
Is that enough?
Of course, the numbers sound impressive. The first child brings 100,000 dinars, the second 300,000, the third 2 million, and the fourth a whopping 3 million dinars in monthly installments. The lump sum for baby equipment has also been increased to 7,000 dinars. But does this really solve parents’ problems? Or is it just a drop in the ocean of issues families face in Serbia?
Local support and Šabac as an example
The city of Šabac proudly participates in this caravan and emphasizes continuous investment in families through various forms of assistance – from financial aid, free textbooks, to housing subsidies and social services. But is that enough to stop the demographic decline and ease parents’ daily lives?
What’s happening on the ground?
After the official part of the program, a baby race, children’s workshops, and parent forums were organized. It all sounds like a nice event, but the real questions remain: how much will this campaign actually help parents solve real problems? Will the state truly be “among the people” or will this remain just another political show?
Conclusion
The state promises, the numbers are big, and the campaign is in full swing. But while parents struggle with everyday challenges, the question remains – is this just another PR move or real change? If you’re a parent, you might have already experienced how hard it is to rely on state support. So, what do you think? Is the “Parenting Caravan” the real deal or just another colorful lie? Drop a comment, share your experience, or just have a laugh – this topic deserves a bit more honesty and a lot less empty talk.
