Obeležja solidarnih kuhinja u Republici Srbiji
Characteristics of solidarity kitchens in the Republic of Serbia

Summary/Abstract: In the Republic of Serbia, nearly half a million people live in absolute poverty. Solidarity kitchens in Serbia, which this paper situates as instances of vernacular and reactive solidarity, have been established in response to multiple crises at once, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the ”crisis” of people on the move, and the withdrawal of social welfare amid neoliberal pressures. The goal of this paper is to showcase the work and challenges faced by local solidarity kitchens whilst focusing on their genesis from a political, social, and economic perspective. Solidarity kitchens can be understood as the embodiment of the fundamental pillars of social work and position themselves within the framework of its values. They are characterized by a non-hierarchical approach to organizing and a rejection of the concept of charity. Unfortunately, they face several challenges, including fluctuating sources of funding, constant changes in staff, and limitations in service delivery.

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