Subotica, Serbia — I made my way south from Budapest on a train that took me through the beautiful Hungarian countryside. In just four short hours, I left Hungary behind and entered Serbia. Rain pitter-pattered on the train’s windows as it pulled into the Serbian border town of Subotica. I had read about Subotica’s art nouveau buildings (unique to this city in the Balkans) but was curious to learn more about the city. Subotica is truly multiethnic—its 100,000 inhabitants are a great mix of Hungarians, Serbians, Croatians, Bosnians, and so on. Growing up here, residents naturally learn a minimum of two languages (Hungarian and Serbian), and it was quite remarkable to hear the constant switching back and forth between these distinctly different tongues. I was met warmly at the train station by Dezso Kiss, founder of GFC grantee partner Club 21, and was quickly swept away to the town hall. We were met there by the head of social policy for the municipality of Subotica. After a short tour, I was interviewed by the local news station regarding my visit to Serbia and was able to talk about Club 21’s efforts in Subotica and also to mention the four other groups GFC is supporting in Serbia.

Following the town hall visit, we gathered at the American Corner in Subotica, where one of Club 21’s groups meets. Club 21 runs several clubs around the city that offer children and youth safe alternatives for their free time. I was blown away by the enthusiasm of the kids there and again touched by the many languages/ethnicities/backgrounds blended into this unique little group. If Club 21 is any indication of the groups I have yet to meet in Serbia, I think this will be one amazing trip!

Lisa Fiala is GFC’s Program Officer for Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States