Little Heroes Ready for Big Situations: A Safety Course for the Youngest Children of Mionica

Mionica, 12 June 2026 - With the support of the European Union and in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Sector for Emergency Management of the Ministry of Interior, the Municipality of Mionica, the Mionica Health Centre, the Mionica Red Cross and the Mionica Fire and Rescue Unit, an educational event dedicated to strengthening children’s knowledge and preparedness for emergency situations was held today at the “Neven” Preschool Institution in Mionica.

Preschool children were introduced, in an age-appropriate and engaging way, to the basic rules of safe behaviour during emergency situations.Through the interactive “Little Heroes’ Course: Following the Safety Trail”, boys and girls learned what to do in the event of floods or earthquakes, how to behave near a river when ice is melting, how to react if they notice smoke or fire, and what should be packed in an emergency bag. The activities were designed to help children develop a sense of safety, responsibility and preparedness through play, movement and practical tasks.

“Through play and in a fun way, children can most easily learn what they need to do, how to react safely, and get to know their local heroes – firefighters, doctors and other medical professionals. In doing so, we help reduce fear and build trust in the services that protect us. Every investment in children’s education is a direct investment in our shared safety. When we empower the youngest among us with the right information and skills from an early age, we are in fact building a more resilient society and a safer future for all citizens of Serbia,” said Violeta Sretenović, representative of UNDP Serbia.

“No matter how young children are, it is never too early for them to learn how to recognise danger, how to respond in emergency situations, and whom they can turn to for help. It is our duty to provide them with a safe environment in which to grow up, quality education and a carefree childhood. This is why programmes such as this one, as well as investments in preschool education, are among our priorities,” said Boban Janković, President of the Municipality of Mionica.

“Children are our future, and their safety begins with knowledge – that is why they should be included in emergency preparedness activities and encouraged to remain calm and ready when it matters most,” said Ivan Baras, Assistant Head of the Sector for Emergency Management of the Ministry of Interior.

Part of the programme was dedicated to introducing children to the “heroes from the neighbourhood” – representatives of the services that are the first to respond in emergency situations. The children had the opportunity to learn about the equipment in a fire truck and an ambulance, and to hear first-hand about the important roles played by firefighters, emergency medical teams and the Red Cross team.

The event was organized within the project “EU for the Health System of Serbia”, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior – Sector for Emergency Management.