28 Jun
28. Jun is a humanitarian organization with special United Nations consultative status aimed at improving the lives of those living in the Western Balkans post the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It was established by Serbian Canadian artist Filip Filipi in 2012 and is the only humanitarian organization operating in the Western Balkans to be recognized by the United Nations. 28. Jun is a member of the Forbes’s nonprofit council. As of 2021, over $9 million in aid has been delivered to the Western Balkans. In an exclusive interview for Frontal, the Vice  President for 28. Jun talks about the struggles of the diaspora and how she found her calling working to eradicate child poverty. Vice President Snežana Dimitrijević: A 4-year long initiative to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies was made possible by a generous donation from the Israeli advocacy organization StandWithUs: Founder and President Filip Filipi Janković: In 2021 alone, over $1 million in aid was distributed. During the Holidays, volunteers distributed thousands of gifts to children in 10 locations throughout Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia. Disaster relief. During the 2014 Southeastern Europe floods, 28. Jun airlifted 30,000 lbs of urgent  humanitarian relief into Belgrade from Toronto. It was the largest airborne donation Serbia received by a non-state actor during the natural disaster. 28. Jun was a first responder to the earthquake in Banovina (region). Medical. In December 2019, anesthesia machines, portable X-ray units, ultrasound machines, EKG/ECG machines, and several tons of medical supplies, was delivered to the General Hospital in Prokuplje, Serbia. The donation, sent in partnership with American NGO "Supplies Over Seas", is one of the largest ever of its kind to the country, slightly surpassing the value of a shipment 28. Jun delivered to Niš , Serbia, in 2013. Domestic violence and advocacy. In October 2020, 28. Jun Women was launched to combat current issues of domestic violence and trafficking in the region. The NGO strives to provide direct assistance and resources to women’s shelters and single mothers while promoting positive role models to mentor young women in their life and career goals. Special projects. Animal food vending & recycling machine. The organization was the first of its kind in the region to address the issue stray animal starvation when a special project commenced in late 2021 which saw the inaugural installation of two vending machines  in the Stari Grad district of Belgrade, the first of many to be installed. The machines dispense food and water for domestic canine and feline animals which have fallen into homelessness which is estimated at 15,000 in a city of only 2 million inhabitants. In addition to dispensing provisions, the vending machines, similar in appearance to an ATM, also allow for the disposing of plastic bottles; a feature to promote environmentally-conscious choices and the push towards sustainable development. Most recently, installing locations in Bosnia began— the first being Banja Luka. Community share refrigerator. The first of its kind, the  refrigerator in Belgrade was installed by Tamara Stojković and Emilija Bojić as part of the eponymous youth initiative launched by the WWF project. Donated by 28.Jun, it is intended to reduce food waste and help those facing starvation. The community share refrigerator is located in front of Dorćal Platz in Belgrade. Other installations will be located throughout Bosnia and Serbia. Scholarships. The Serbian diaspora organization awards scholarships to college level and pre-collegiate students to assist in the cost of supplies and books. United Nations consulting. The organization was officially granted special consultative status on June 28, 2018 by the  United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which consists of 19 member states, during a session of the Council in New York. Out of the estimated 10 million non-profit organizations only 4,500 of them have reached this level and this status. ECOSOC is the UN's main platform for addressing global economic, social and other related issues. The selection of 28 Jun is a recognition for the long-term humanitarian work in the former Yugoslavia. Granting this status enabled the organization to express expert opinion regarding the Western Balkans on important social and economic issues of the United Nations . Stance on the Rio Tinto Crisis. 28. Jun vowed to report on the deteriorating environmental situation and possible humanitarian crisis in Serbia regarding the "Jadar" illegal mining project by Rio Tinto, promising to use its special consultative status with the United Nations. In a statement provided by 28. Jun, executive level members urged that "among the many problems in Serbia related to the environment, we are most concerned about Rio Tinto Jadar lithium mine". A strong narrative has developed which argues that the European Union has designated Serbia and the region as the toxic dumping ground for the EU. Leaders  of the clandestine mining giant Rio Tinto told the EU officials that the construction of the mine will begin after the elections in Serbia. Celebrity endorsements. Over the years, the organization has been endorsed and directly supported by athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs and other notable personalities such as Novak Djokovic, Andrija Kuzmanović and Ceca (singer) Post Malone's DJ Smitty was awarded 28 Jun Humanitarian of the Year for 2019.