The only club of voluntary Roma blood donors in Montenegro, but also in the Balkans, marked its 20th anniversary with an action in which exactly 20 units of blood were donated.
When it is Tair Hajrušaj in 2004 from the then secretary of the Nikšić Red Cross Milorad Mido Drekalović heard the story about voluntary giving, he wanted the Roma in Nikšić to found their own club. Words quickly turned to actions, the club was founded, although no one at that time believed that it would last that long.
"I believed that the club would survive, because the Red Cross was with us. Mido Drekalović was with us, then Ana Macanović i Goran Damjanović and we knew the club would last. And our youth has always been there," says Tair, who left the leadership of the Voluntary Blood Donors Club (KDDK) "Roma" to the youth.
His youngest son Abedin Dino, who rolled up his sleeves and donated blood more than 20 times, took over the management of the Club.
"We give everywhere in Montenegro and our club is ready to help everyone, not only in Nikšić, but everywhere in Montenegro. Now the young people run the club, and I am here to help if something is needed. The most difficult thing was to go from house to house and agree with them about the action, to drive them to the city and bring them back, but we succeeded", says Tair and hopes that his grandchildren will follow in his footsteps and those of his four sons.
When he came of age, Dino took a book of voluntary blood donors, when a fellow citizen needed a larger amount of blood, and he never regretted it. He is proud of the fact that his blood flows through the veins of those who needed help at that moment.
"My Roma and Egyptians from Nikšić are here to lend not one hand, but also the other if needed and to save someone's life. We are here and will always be here to help. Blood does not ask about religion and nation. Twice a year we independently organize an action, and we also participate in actions organized by other clubs, as well as by invitation - there is always one of the donors to jump in and give blood and save someone's life. We are happy and proud to have our club and that it is the first in the Balkans. We wish he wasn't the only one," says Dino, who started volunteering at the Red Cross as a teenager.
"We have about 30 members. We had more of them, 55, but some of them went abroad," he says.
Milan Hajruši, who donated blood the most times in the club, says from the beginning that a saved life is the highest price and the highest salary.
"This is the 41st time I have given blood - as many years as blood. I was not 18 years old when a family member needed blood and when I gave blood for the first time. I saw then that I could save someone's life. I never thought about whether to donate blood or not. There is no thinking about it. And before three months passed, I knew to donate blood. I had two booklets, so I knew I was 'smuggling'. Now I only have one, so I can't," says Milan.
He adds that it is difficult to describe in words how he feels that day when he gives away the precious liquid.
"I am so happy that no one and nothing can spoil my mood. There is no better feeling knowing that I saved someone's life. I would recommend all Roma in Nikšić, as well as others in Montenegro, to donate blood because this has no price. Let them also open another club so that we are not the only club in the Balkans, let there be more of us", says Milan, who has also been volunteering at the Red Cross for years.
Club members are not only Roma from Nikšić, but also Egyptians. One of those who donate blood as a family is the Delijes, so at the event marking the 20th anniversary of their existence, the three brothers donated blood.
"All three of us are voluntary blood donors from before. This is my 20th time. It is good to donate blood, because our blood means a lot to someone. I'm always here to give blood - action or not. Whoever needs it, I am here, and not only me, but also my brothers and all the voluntary donors. It is good for everyone to get involved in voluntary giving," he says The flair of Delia.
At the ceremony organized on the occasion of two decades of existence, KDDK "Roma" presented certificates of thanks to the Municipality of Nikšić, JP Komunalno, the Red Cross of Montenegro and the Nikšić municipal organization, the Cabinet for Transfusion Nikšić, Milorad-Mido Drekalović and Tair Hajrušaj, the founders of the Club.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
