Novak Djokovic: Tennis Champion and Serbian Hero
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Credit: http://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/our-work/strategy-of-support/[/caption]
On Sunday, January 31, Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray to win the 2016 Australian Open, the first of this year’s four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. The win marked his sixth Australian Open victory, meaning he is now tied with Roy Emerson for the most victories in that tournament. He also holds two US Open and three Wimbledon titles, for a total of eleven Grand Slam championships, tying him for the fifth-most Grand Slam titles in all of men’s singles. That feat becomes even more impressive when one considers his age: only 28.
Yet as proud as Djokovic must be of his athletic achievements — as ecstatic as he must feel to be ranked number one in the world and to maintain winning records against both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — Djokovic may be even more proud of the philanthropic work he has done for the children of his native Serbia.
Djokovic was born May 22, 1987, in Belgrade when it formed part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and he experienced some of Serbia’s most tumultuous years. In his words, he grew up in “a war-torn country, a place where many kids do not dare to dream big.”
The Novak Djokovic Foundation lends aid to children from disadvantaged communities, focusing on preschool education to get their lives off to a healthy and encouraging start.
Founded in 2007 by its namesake, the Novak Djokovic Foundation originally supported a scattered set of causes: disaster relief, the upkeep of historical monasteries and churches, financing young Serbian talents to compete in international contests, supporting war orphans, and others. More recently, though, the foundation has come to focus on supporting the creation of preschools in areas of Serbia where they are lacking.
The foundation’s website explains that “Serbia has one of the lowest participation rates of children in preschool education,” and that, out of the 180,000 children aged three to five in the country, only 44% attend preschool. In rural areas, the percentage is even lower (29%), because preschool education is simply unavailable in smaller towns. The Novak Djokovic Foundation aims to raise enrollment in preschool, believing “early childhood education gives a child a chance to return strongly to any challenge and become a winner in any field.”
Djokovic’s impressive philanthropic achievements show his thoughtful, deliberate drive to help his country. “I want to start building my philanthropic legacy,” he says in a letter on his foundation’s web site, “while I’m still young and have a lot of people’s attention.”
Djokovic certainly does have a strong presence today in the media — his extroverted, humor-loving personality has earned him the nickname “The Djoker,” and made him a popular installment on television and YouTube. He has appeared on talk shows opposite hosts including Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Regis and Kelly, and David Letterman. His popularity is a highly useful tool in his charity work and, in 2012 and 2013, he hosted charity dinners, both of which brought in millions of dollars for his foundation.
In 2012, for his incredible achievements in tennis and his exemplary conduct off the court, Djokovic was awarded the Order of the Karadjordje’s Star of the First Degree, the highest honor the Serbian government can bestow. It is hard to think of a better person for the children of Serbia to emulate.
Djokovic wants to serve as a positive role model for the children his foundation aids. Reflecting on his own success, he says: “I want to help other kids as well to learn from my example that many things are possible if we only believe in ourselves and work hard to fulfill our dreams.”
Sources:
http://novakdjokovicfoundation.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Grand_Slam_men%27s_singles_champions
