Sixteen children win a trip to London marking 35 years of the “Laza Kostić” Foundation
LONDON IS THE BAIT, SERBIAN CULTURE IS THE GOAL
Not eight children, as announced at last year’s patron saint celebration, but twice as many will travel to London and Stratford this September, on a journey titled In the Footsteps of Serbian Greats.
The “Laza & Wil and the Bee” competition was launched last February, alongside the release of the educational, multidisciplinary game of the same name, authored by Marina Milić Radović. It served as an introduction to the marking of the 185th anniversary of Laza Kostić’s birth and the 35th anniversary of the Foundation bearing his name—established in London in 1991, relocated to Belgrade in 2009, and operating from Novi Sad since 2016.
Reviving monuments, busts, museum displays, and posters in public spaces
“Like Matica srpska, we were founded abroad, only to continue our work in the ‘Serbian Athens’. Serbian culture and art have always been our goal—whether we worked in London or, as today, invest tremendous effort to take the most dedicated and creative children to London.
Broadening horizons and breathing the air of a global metropolis is important for young people. But it is equally important that they become aware of the value and legacy our great figures have left in the world—and how deeply interconnected these influences are. That is precisely the purpose of the interactive cards and accompanying booklet..
Through them—admittedly with London as the bait—our children, along with their parents, educators, and teachers, discovered the bust of Laza Kostić at Kalemegdan; pupils of the Laza Kostić Primary School, as well as their parents, became aware for the first time of the two magnificent gift posters by our knight Atila Kapitany, placed in the main hall 15 years ago by the then headmaster Mr Jauković; as well as the model of the Globe Theatre and the costumes of Henry VI and Joan of Arc in the Museum of the National Theatre.
This very project—one we initiated and secured for the theatre company to participate in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad as one of only 36 companies worldwide—marked the first and only time the Serbian language was heard on Shakespeare’s stage, making it one of the most significant achievements of the National Theatre since its founding.
This game has brought to life busts, posters, models, and monuments that stand in plain sight, yet often go unnoticed.
Within this booklet, participants discovered something rarely mentioned elsewhere—that the “Laza Kostić” Foundation installed a golden plaque on the wall of the Globe Theatre.
The game also illuminated a connection seemingly unseen until now—the parallel between King Lear and his three daughters, and Stefan Nemanja and his three sons; it explored the rose through the lens of Shakespeare, Kostić, the Wars of the Roses, and the Rose of Sharon from the Song of Songs…”
A game that connects generations
During preparations for the competition, around 350 children and at least 700 parents, grandparents, teachers, and educators took part.
While group workshops and individual mentoring sessions were essential, success would not have been possible without the involvement of families. In one case, a girl became interested in her roots for the first time through the game and visited Kovilj because of Kostić; in another, she baked a competition cake with her grandmother for the first time.
Through this experience, children and their families visited landmarks in Kovilj, the “Živanović” Beekeeping Museum, the Dejan Medaković Memorial Room in Sremski Karlovci, Laza’s bench in Sombor, his monument, St George’s Church, and many other sites—even discovering connections to the Ljubostinja Monastery.
“The goal of this game is to attract as many children and young people as possible every 9 December—on the day of St Alypius the Stylite, when Laza Kostić, the ‘poet of Prometheus’, passed away—to the Prometej Publishing House, which preserves the memory of Serbian greats.
And every 12 February, on the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs, to bring them to Matica srpska—not only children from Serbia, but from across Europe and the world. So that when we are no longer here, children, with hearts aflame, continue to explore and spread this love for their culture worldwide,” said Marina Milić Radović, founder and director of the Foundation.
Seven-member jury reaches a decision
The jury was chaired by Dr Zoran Maksimović, theatre scholar and co-founder of the Foundation (Belgrade, 2009; Novi Sad, 2016). Other members included Dragan Kojić, long-time director of the City Library; Prof. Dr Nevena Slović, lawyer and co-founder; Dragan Stevović, director of the National Theatre Museum in Belgrade; writer Zoran Subotički, who chaired the semi-final jury; Biljana Puškar, literature professor; and Mirjana Rastović, music editor.
All ten finalists who presented their work on 12 February in the Ceremonial Hall of Matica srpska won the trip to London:
1. Čarna Ercegovac, Year 2, “Ivan Gundulić” Primary School, Novi Sad
2. Una Amanović, Year 4, “Dositej Obradović” Primary School, Belgrade
3. Darko Petrović, Year 4, “Miodrag Čajetinac Čajka” Primary School, Trstenik
4. Mia Kričković, Year 5, “Kosta Trifković” Primary School, Novi Sad
5. Mihailo Petrović, Year 5, “Milorad Mića Marković” Primary School, Mala Ivanča
6. Maksim Guberina, Year 6, “Kosta Trifković” Primary School, Novi Sad
7. Marija Đurović, Year 6, “Žarko Zrenjanin” Primary School, Novi Sad
8. Lena Simić, Year 6, “Laza Kostić” Primary School, Belgrade
9. Lena Labat, Year 7, “J. J. Zmaj” Primary School, Sremska Kamenica
10. Helena Nešić, Year 7, “Žarko Zrenjanin” Primary School, Novi Sad
The artistic programme featured soprano Radoslava Vorgić Žuržovan, a Knight of the Foundation, accompanied by Nevena Sovtić on piano, performing Ikone sijaju by Dorotea Vejnović (lyrics by Vesna Egerić) and Je veux vivre by Charles Gounod.
The audience also enjoyed performances by Laza’s Ambassadors who stood out in the semi-finals, including Lenka Vučić, Jovana Kragujev, Lav Dabić, and Mila Juras.
The evening concluded with a piano duo performance by Filip Vidanović and Ksenija Ninković, students of the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, performing Tchaikovsky’s March and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Acknowledgements for special contributions
Before announcing the winners, Dragan Kojić, President of the Foundation, presented certificates of appreciation to individuals who made significant contributions, including Protopresbyter-stavrophores Branko Mitrović and Jovan Milanović, Prof. Dr Dragan Stanić, lawyer Đurđe Ninković, Antonio Albieri, Milorad Jauković, Olga Đurić Perić, Zoran Vujnović, and Ana Lončar.
A special recognition was awarded to lawyer Kosta Milić for continuing the endowment tradition established by Tomislav Milić.
Children from the Children’s Village join hands with the winners
“The added value of this unusual and innovative competition lies in connecting children from the Children’s Village with children from more typical environments. Preparations for London provide an exceptional opportunity for networking among children, helping them assimilate and avoid remaining in the ‘ghetto’ they would otherwise be destined for. This way of working, and the attention they receive through the Laza Kostić Foundation, has not previously been practiced in Sremska Kamenica. It is incredibly valuable, giving children confidence and enabling them to dream and to pursue those dreams.
It is commonly said that none of them achieve the highest grades, due to significant gaps accumulated over the years, caused by difficult family circumstances.
Because of this, they tend to withdraw as soon as they feel pressure, since they do not believe they can achieve top grades at all. As a result, they do not strive for the best results. They often lack inner motivation to make additional effort, because they do not feel that they belong anywhere,” observes Marina Milić Radović.
Godparent of the Slava set an example
Our godparent of the slava, Mr. Miloš Nikšić, a generous donor and the main patron of last year’s “Kostić Lazi na zvezdanoj stazi” festival in Sombor, also provided preparatory workshops “Laza & Will and the Bee,” along with gift games for children from his former elementary school in Kljajićevo, as well as one ticket to London for the competition winner. However, his role at the Foundation’s slava went beyond that of a donor. By example, he demonstrated how, even at the age of 39, one can push personal limits and, through disciplined dedication to sport, fulfill a dream that would otherwise remain just that—a dream without persistence and hard work. By daring to step in front of an audience and play the piano, he sent a message to both younger and older generations that it is never too late to achieve one’s dreams.
Generous donors provide encouragement
When we say: IK Prometej, Vega IT, Offset Print, Telegroup, Farmalogist, Esensa, Plus Cash & Carry, Rauch… these are, above all, generous people—visionaries such as Prof. Dr. Dankuc, Miloš Nikšić, Saša Popović, Olja Rodić, M.A. Snežana Spasojević, M.A. Dijana Gligorijević, Nikola and Sanja Pervaz, M.A. Miomir and Lovorka Nikolić, Svetlana Milićević, Dr. Ruža Subotić, Dr. Vladimir Belanović—who are aware of how crucial support for younger generations is for their healthy and high-quality development.
A remarkable example is Antonio Albieri, whose donation (private lessons in English and Serbian for six of the most promising children from the Children’s Village, as well as knitting lessons for three girls) has shifted the children’s own expectations of themselves. Unaccustomed to achieving excellent grades and top results, and without additional encouragement to excel and stand out positively, some were initially confused. Others, surprisingly, in a very short time progressed from very good students to straight-A students and decided to strive toward enrolling in university one day.
Nothing without the parishioners from Žarkovo
By tradition, members of the Foundation from various cities come and contribute to the hospitality. Parishioners of the Ascension Church in Žarkovo have once again generously prepared a variety of delicacies—homemade specialties for the Foundation’s slava—and assist with logistics, even when the celebration takes place far from their church.
With the first year of the competition cycle completed, we have already entered the second season, in which, due to great interest, we have also included high school students. Preparations are underway for new participants competing for the prize trip to London in 2027.”
