Who We Are
Our Story
Born to serve those displaced by the crisis of 1995. Rebuilding lives in the Krajina region since 2016.
Who We Are
Born to serve those displaced by the crisis of 1995. Rebuilding lives in the Krajina region since 2016.
The Beginning
In August 1995, Operation Storm swept through the Krajina region of Croatia. In four days, over 200,000 Serbian civilians were expelled from their ancestral lands — ancient villages emptied, churches abandoned, generations of history left behind. It was the largest single forced displacement of people in post-war Europe.
Among those who fled were doctors, farmers, teachers, children. They arrived in Serbia, Bosnia, and across the diaspora with nothing but the clothes on their backs and memories of a home they feared they would never see again.
Two decades later, in 2016, Friends of Krajina was founded by members of the diaspora who had watched in horror as their homeland was emptied — and refused to let the next generation be forgotten. The question was simple: what could ordinary people do? The answer became our organization.
What began as emergency relief — food, medicine, temporary shelter — evolved into something deeper over the decades. We recognized that true recovery required more than aid. It required opportunity. Dignity. The tools to build a future, not just survive the present.
Today, we operate four interconnected programs — scholarships, economic empowerment, housing, and farming — each designed to address a different dimension of displacement and create lasting pathways to self-sufficiency.
2016
Diaspora members establish Friends of Krajina as an IRS 501(c)(3) charity to support displaced families two decades after Operation Storm.
2016
Scholarships launched for high school and college students from refugee and returning families.
2017
First 25 homes refurbished in the Krajina region for returning families.
2018
Animal assistance program begins to help returning families sustain themselves on their land.
Today
500+ scholarships awarded, 50+ families housed, 250+ farms supported, and multiple businesses founded.
To support Serbian refugees and displaced persons from the Krajina region in building dignified, self-sufficient lives — through targeted humanitarian programs that address education, economic opportunity, housing, and agricultural revival.
A world where every person displaced from the Krajina has the resources, opportunity, and support needed to rebuild their life with dignity — and where the cultural heritage of Krajina's Serbian community is preserved for future generations.
What Guides Us
Every person we serve is treated with the full respect and dignity they deserve, regardless of circumstance.
We are a diaspora acting together for our people. Our strength comes from solidarity and shared purpose.
The people of Krajina have endured the unimaginable. We honor that strength and help channel it toward the future.
We believe return, renewal, and revival are possible — and we dedicate our work to making that belief real.
Leadership
Driven by personal connection to the Krajina — diaspora members, humanitarian professionals, and community leaders united by one purpose.
Executive Director
Founding member with 30 years of humanitarian experience in the Western Balkans.
Programs Director
Former refugee, scholar, and advocate who returned to Krajina to lead on-the-ground work.
Board Chair
Diaspora leader and philanthropist who helped found the organization in 2016.
Finance Director
Certified accountant ensuring every dollar reaches the communities that need it most.
Whether through a donation, volunteering, or spreading the word — every act of solidarity matters.