Abu Dhabi

Jelena joined Boris Becker to watch Novak playing an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi. 

School of Life opening in Knic

The third School of Life whose adaptation and equipping was funded by the Novak Djokovic Foundation has been opened in Knic today. The Foundation has renovated rooms for the Preparatory Preschool Program (PPP) and the School of Life which will …

Novak Djokovic Foundation gave presents to children in foster care

Dance, hands up high in the air, smiles, delight and joy while expecting to receive the gifts that were waiting for them on stage. Children in foster care at the territory of Belgrade, aged 3-7 years, had their own little party in Dom Omladine ( the Youth Center), where they got New Year presents and enjoyed performance organised by the Novak Djokovic Foundation.

UtoplimoDecu/Let’s keep all children warm

Novak Djokovic Foundation team collected winter clothes and shoes for children on the second floor of the Delta City Shopping Mall in New Belgrade, on December 14.

Zena Interview

Jelena Ristic about the project “Supporting families at risk”, “Family outreach workers”, motives and goals of NDF…

Implementation of a joint project of NDF, UNICEF and Government of Serbia, called “Supporting families at risk”, has started across Serbia. 53 families with 118 children have already been included, with aim to prevent the separation of children from their families, and strengthen families to cope with the crisis and provide their children with adequate care, safe and stimulating environment. 

There is a team of people behind this program, led by the “Family outreach workers” who are doing their best to make sure the children have a beautiful childhood.

That’s what Jelena Ristic, the “Novak Djokovic“ Foundation CEO, was talking about in an interview to web portal “Žena” (Woman), pointing out that a child’s smile and stable family are the main NDF motives for work.

We will do anything for a child’s smile

If it hadn’t been for the strong family standing fully behind Novak Djokovic, question is whether he would have become the best player in the world. That’s why today his Foundation helps projects with aim to strengthen the true team values, and the first to be implemented is called the “Family outreach worker”. Jelena Ristic, the Foundation CEO, says in an exclusive interview for portal “Žena” (Woman) that a child’s smile and stable family are their main motives for work.

Jelena is very committed to the Foundation. She says that just one smile is enough to motivate her and the whole team to work day and night to realize children’s right to smile and have a carefree childhood.

The goal of this brand new and innovative program is to prevent the separation of children from their families, and strengthen families to cope with crisis and provide their children with adequate care, safe and stimulating environment.

– The “Family outreach worker” is a result of several months of deliberation with the Centers for Social Welfare, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, UNICEF, experts from institutions for children without parental care and the Novak Djokovic Foundation. The aim is to further strengthen families to cope with crisis and at the same time take care of children. This service has been necessary in the social protection system for several reasons. First of all, our centers are overcrowded with families in need. Social workers simply do not have time for continual work with them to become stronger and modify their behavior models. They are working on 300 cases per year, and our staff will need two and a half years for that because attention and dedication, as well as time, are required for accomplishing the results. A child’s biological family is irreplaceable, and in most cases, it has no alternative. Of course, there are situations when there’s a threat to the life of a child and it must be displaced from the family. But there are many more situations where families just need someone to direct them, to give a suggestion, to motivate them, take them to the doctor, provide documents, to enroll their child in kindergarten, to give them advice how to overcome the situation. All those families must voluntarily agree to be included in the service. We are sure that after six months they will be much stronger – says Jelena Ristic, who has been closely monitoring each step of implementation, and the Foundation will continue monitoring of the project implementation.

Jelena on serbian tv show “Beogradska Hronika”

“Family outreach workers” meeting with UNICEF

Jelena went to a meeting to discuss about the beginning of the implementation of “Family outreach workers”, a project supported by the “Novak Djokovic” Foundation and UNICEF.

The support to 53 families with 118 children is provided in four Serbian cities – Belgrade, Kragujevac, Nis and Novi Sad – within the “Family Outreach Worker” supported by the “Novak Djokovic” Foundation and UNICEF in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy.

ATP World Tour Finals + Davis Cup Final

Jelena went to one match in London before going back to Serbia where she attended to the Davis Cup Final a few days later.

Bercy 2013

Jelena was in Paris during Bercy tournament. Here some pics during Novak’s first match against Herbert.

Novak and Jelena are engaged!!!

Novak Djokovic popped the question in the South of France. They flew by helicopter to the luxury Couvent des Minimes hotel. The next morning they came back to Monaco to visit a jewelry store.