"Sister of Mercy – Daria Alexandrovna Korobkina" The project "Sister of Mercy – Daria Alexandrovna Korobkina" is an annual national award program established in 2022 by the humanitarian foundation "Zajedno za osmeh" (Together for a Smile). The core mission of the project is to recognize, empower, and reward the best medical nurses and technicians across all three levels of the healthcare system in Serbia (primary, secondary, and tertiary care). Furthermore, the project aims to preserve the historical memory of the deep humanitarian and brotherly ties between the Serbian and Russian people. Historical Inspiration The initiative is named after Daria Alexandrovna Korobkina, a heroic Russian volunteer nurse who came to Serbia during World War I. She showed immense courage by treating wounded soldiers directly on the front lines, tragically losing her life on October 2, 1914, during the fierce Battle of Gučevo. Her legacy of ultimate empathy and self-sacrifice serves as the guiding principle for this project. Key Project Activities The project framework encompasses a continuous cycle of evaluation, public advocacy, and a formal awarding event: Nomination and Evaluation Process: Healthcare institutions, professional collectives, and patient associations submit nominations for outstanding nursing staff. The criteria are rigorous: nominees must have over 20 years of work experience, work in shifts, and have a proven, exceptional track record in direct patient care. An expert commission, comprised of prominent healthcare professionals, meticulously evaluates the candidates to select the annual laureates. The Annual Award Ceremony: The central activity is a highly publicized, dignified ceremony traditionally held around October 2nd (the anniversary of Daria's death) at the Russian Center for Science and Culture ("Russian House") in Belgrade. Public Advocacy and Networking: The event successfully brings together key stakeholders, including high-ranking state officials (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor), leaders in military healthcare, religious dignitaries, and patient advocacy groups. Through official addresses and cultural programs, the project publicly champions the nursing profession and strengthens institutional support. Rewarding the Heroes: Beyond public recognition, the project provides tangible rewards. In partnership with the Municipality of Čajetina, the laureates receive the main prize: a 10-day paid vacation at the Zlatibor mountain resort. Through these activities and extensive national media coverage (e.g., National Broadcaster RTS, "Politika" daily), the project effectively elevates the social status of nurses, highlighting their difficult, indispensable, and humane daily work.

The overarching goal of the project "Sister of Mercy – Daria Alexandrovna Korobkina" is to comprehensively affirm the universal values of humanity, empathy, and solidarity, while actively preserving the historical memory of the unbreakable, brotherly ties between the Serbian and Russian people. The project achieves its goal through two deeply interconnected objectives: 1. Cultivating Serbian-Russian Friendship and Historical Memory At its cultural core, the project seeks to celebrate and permanently protect from oblivion the deep historical connections between Serbia and Russia. By honoring the legacy of Daria Alexandrovna Korobkina—a Russian volunteer nurse who made the ultimate sacrifice treating wounded Serbian soldiers at the Battle of Gučevo in 1914—the project highlights how our two nations have historically stood shoulder to shoulder in defending truth, justice, and human life. A major part of this goal is to educate the public on the immense contributions of Russian medical missions, which brought vital medical doctrines (such as the methods of Nikolay Pirogov) and unyielding support to the Serbian people during their most difficult times. Through this historical lens, the project aims to strengthen contemporary cross-cultural solidarity. 2. Elevating the Nursing Profession and Affirming Humanity Simultaneously, the project aims to recognize, empower, and reward the most dedicated medical nurses and technicians across the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of the healthcare system in Serbia. By connecting Daria’s historical heroism with the contemporary, everyday sacrifices of today's medical staff, the project draws public attention to the demanding, deeply humane nature of their daily work. The goal is to build a culture of remembrance and elevate the social status of these essential frontline workers. By publicly championing their selflessness, the project aims to inspire the wider community and prove that the ultimate values of empathy, sacrifice, and unconditional care for others transcend borders and time.

1. Elevated Professional Dignity and Morale of Medical Staff • Qualitative Result: Frontline nurses and technicians experience a profound shift from feeling invisible to feeling deeply valued by the society. The recognition, combined with the recovery vacation, significantly mitigates professional burnout and empathy fatigue, restoring their motivation for providing humane patient care. • Ways to measure: We measure this through qualitative post-event evaluations. We conduct in-depth interviews and collect narrative testimonials from the laureates, nominees, and their hospital collectives. Analyzing this feedback helps us evaluate the positive shift in workplace atmosphere and individual psychological well-being. 2. Revitalization of Russian-Serbian Historical Memory • Qualitative Result: The project successfully bridges the past and the present, ensuring that the heroic legacy of Daria Korobkina and the immense sacrifices of Russian medical missions during WWI are vividly reintegrated into modern collective memory. It strengthens the feeling of brotherhood and shared values (#WEARETOGETHER). • Ways to measure: We utilize qualitative media analysis (sentiment analysis). By analyzing the tone, narrative framing, and vocabulary used in national media coverage (e.g., RTS, Politika) and public comments, we evaluate how effectively the message of cross-cultural solidarity is accepted. Furthermore, the qualitative analysis of keynote speeches by state officials (e.g., the Minister of Health) serves as an indicator of successful historical advocacy. 3. Empowerment of Patient Communities • Qualitative Result: Patients transition from passive recipients of healthcare to active, empowered participants who have a dignified public platform to express their gratitude. This deepens mutual trust and emotional bonds between patients and medical professionals. • Ways to measure: We collect structured feedback and conduct focus group discussions with partner patient advocacy organizations (such as the Leukemia Patients Association "LEUKA") that participate in the nomination process. Their written observations and transcripts confirm the emotional empowerment of the patient community. 4. Strengthened Institutional and Bilateral Cooperation • Qualitative Result: The project fosters a cohesive, high-level diplomatic and institutional network, uniting Serbian ministries, military healthcare, civil society, and Russian cultural institutions (Russian House, Russian Embassy) around a shared humanitarian cause. • Ways to measure: This is evaluated by the quality and continuity of official partnerships. The continued willingness of high-ranking officials to participate, endorse the event, and issue official letters of support serves as the primary qualitative proof of the project's systemic and bilateral importance.