Tamara Ciric: "Not many people decide to come back to homeland but I have!"

US based Tesla Science Foundation presents every year Tesla's People Medal to recognize the hard work of individuals on cooperation between Serbian Diaspora with their homeland. This year the medal was presented to Ms Tamara Ćirić, a returnee from Chicago, who started web portal “online registry office” in Niš, as well as the system for learning the Serbian language over the internet.

Tamara Ciric was presented with Tesla's People Award Source: ASAS press

The origins of Serbian diaspora can be traced back to 1690 when the First Great Migration under Arsenije Čarnojević happened. The Great Migrations of the Serbs in 17th and 18th centuries were caused by the then political situation in Europe.

Current statistics show that nowadays 11.5 million Serbs leave worldwide .

According to the World economic forum data, when it comes to brain drain, Serbia holds an infamous high position. Together with countries such as Burundi, Algeria, and Haiti”. Today migrations in Serbia are mostly  one-way tickets. 

“The problem is not that people are leaving because mobility is one of the foundations of Europe, but the fact that people do not return and they do not have many contacts with the motherland once they leave the country”, said Ms Ciric for SBS.