Nikolas Lindhrst is again promoting foster care in Montenegro

British actor Nicholas Lindhurst, known for his role as Rodney Trotter in the BBC TV series "Men", is again in Montenegro to promote foster care.

As announced by UNICEF, during the two-day visit, Lindhrst will meet with the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Zorica Kovačević, and foster parents to discuss the progress achieved since 2013, when he became a friend of the "Every Child Needs a Family" campaign. He will also participate in the open days of centers for social work in Podgorica, Bijelo Polje and Berane, whose goal is to provide information and invite citizens to become foster parents.

On Monday evening, Lindhrst will participate in a special event promoting foster care at the Montenegrin National Theater, which is open to all interested citizens.

"The purpose of Lindhrst's return visit to Montenegro is to remind the key messages of the campaign "Every child needs a family", according to UNICEF.

"Children should grow up in a family environment, because the happiness and sense of belonging that it gives them is crucial for their normal growth and development," Lindhrst points out.

"Across Europe, it is now generally accepted that placing a child in a foster family instead of in an institution is key to respecting the human rights of the most vulnerable children. We hope that, in the near future, Montenegro will put an end to the placement of children in institutions," said Benjamin Perks, head of the UNICEF representative office in Montenegro.

"In the previous period, we worked intensively on developing the foster care service, so that the number of children in family accommodation in the period from 2008 to 2015 increased by about 38%. There is a downward trend in the number of children placed in institutions for children without parental care, so that the number of children placed in the period from 2008 to 2015 decreased by 46%. Through various activities, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare will strive to completely stop the placement of children aged 2017-0 in institutions by 3," emphasizes the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Mrs. Zorica Kovačević.

With his arrival in Montenegro and the promotion of foster care on a volunteer basis in 2013, Lindhrst became a friend of the "Every Child Needs a Family" campaign. His return visit two years later is organized for the continuation of this campaign, which is carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare and UNICEF.