BELGRADE, Serbia - This week Ana Ivanovic visited the Municipality of New Belgrade Ceremony Hall to induct 15 more schools into the School Without Violence program, the UNICEF cause with which she is closely involved.
The 22-year-old, who has been a National Ambassador for UNICEF Serbia since September 2007, gave a heartfelt speech just miles from where she grew up and participated in a special workshop with local children, aimed at displaying how aggression in the classroom can be averted.
"Since I grew up in Novi Beograd (New Belgrade), I am very glad about this initiative in my municipality," said Ivanovic, who has made many personal donations to the program in recent years. "I would sincerely like the program to spread to other Belgrade municipalities and to each and every school in Serbia, and to leave no school out from the fight against violence."
The workshop involved role play in a mock classroom environment. Ivanovic played the role of observer, challenging the child actors as to why they were 'bullying' students, before assuming the role of a threatened pupil herself.
One hundred and eighty seven elementary and nine secondary schools in Serbia are now part of the School Without Violence program, which launched in 2005 and is supported by several Serbian governmental ministries.
For more information on Ana Ivanovic and her involvement in the School Without Violence initiative, visit www.anaivanovic.com.
