Serbia: Leading an active life again
Monday, March 08, 2010
With technology and help from Diakonie, Lena can resume at least some of her social life. Photo: Diakonie/ACT
Lena (not her name) has multiple sclerosis. She is now over 50 and needs support for every move she makes.
Lena, from Serbia, lives in a small house with her parents. Until the age of 27 she was a very active engineer who was used to going out, meeting other people, and going to concerts. With her sickness getting worse, Lena had to give up her job.
Sitting in the wheelchair at home she lost lots of contacts and friends. In 2002, the Resource Centre for People with Disabilities, supported Diakonie Auslandshilfe, in Novi Sad was founded.
Lena was among the first clients to visit the centre. She learned to work on the computer and got special devices made to enable her to work on the computer without having to move.
In the meantime, Lena got a computer at home. She writes emails to friends all over the world. She is a very active lobbyist for the concerns of people with disabilities, sending emails to the authorities in Novi Sad and the regional government of the Voyvodina.
In addition, Lena organises visits to the theatre, concerts and exhibitions for people with disabilities. Lena is leading an active life again.