Mission and vision
2007-06-13
Group 484 is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1995 to support the organisation of 484 refugee families who had found refuge in Serbia after fleeing Krajina and Operation “Storm” of the Croatian Army. From these 484 families, Group 484 takes its name.
The founder of Group 484 was Jelena Šantić, a renowned ballet dancer and peace activist, who was awarded the Pax Christi International Annual Peace Prize in 1996.
From this initial group of enthusiasts who provided humanitarian, psychosocial, legal and informative assistance to refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and then to displaced persons from Kosovo, Group 484 has become a formalized and structured organisation using a systemic approach to issues of forced migration. Direct assistance has been gradually given way to greater educational and research work in order to influence decision makers to craft durable solutions to the region’s migration challenges. Group 484 also works to empower forced migrants and local communities, especially youth, to be open and tolerant toward diversity among peoples.
Since its establishment, Group 484 has worked closely with its staff, members and beneficiaries in order to best meet the needs of beneficiaries and respond to challenges in the field. Strategic planning was first carried out in 2001, and resulted in the Strategic Plan 2002-2006. During this process, Group 484 clarified its mission and vision, harmonised its programmes with its overall mission and vision, updated its organizational structure and better positioned itself nationally as well as abroad. These developments led to Group 484 being better able to support beneficiaries, especially in the search for durable solutions through advocacy efforts directed at decision makers.
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is for a world in which all people have equal opportunity to realise their human rights and potential wherever they are, fully living their ethnic and cultural diversities.
MISSION STATEMENT
Group 484 in Serbia and Southeast Europe, together with migrants, local communities, especially youth, and organizations and individuals who share our values, works to build an equal opportunity society, where human rights and diversities are fully respected.
GROUP 484 VALUES
- Equality (of opportunity for all people)
- Tolerance
- Solidarity and Empowerment
- Accountability
- Creativity and innovation
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 2007-2009
The main strategic directions Group 484 will be using in its work in the upcoming three years (2007-2009) are:
Strategic direction 1: Creating conditions for young migrants and their peers to develop their human potential
Strategic direction 2: Encouraging the creation of an open society and the reduction of poverty in Serbia by influencing public policy and advocating for the fulfilment of the needs of migrants and vulnerable groups
Strategic direction 3: Diversifying the resources supporting Group 484’s work, and developing activities for resource mobilisation in local communities to support migrants and vulnerable groups
Strategic direction 4: Building organisational capacity and enhancing the quality of work through continuing education
Strategic direction 5: Creating synergy among relevant actors in the region of Southeast Europe in the field of migration in order to develop a systematic approach to migration issue and find durable solutions for forced migrants
Jelena Šantić the founder of Group 484, the leading ballerina of the Belgrade National Theater, writer and humanist, was one of Serbia’s leading peace activists. Since 1991, Šantić initiated a number of peace protests, set up many cooperation networks linking together local and regional non-governmental peace groups, and led refugee relief and reconciliation projects. Šantić was a member of the Belgrade Circle, helped start the European Movement in Serbia and the Center for Anti-War Action. In 1996, she was awarded the Pax Christi International annual peace prize.
