FAQ

Mreža solidarnosti or MS translates literally as Solidarity Network. MS is a system of direct financial aid which connects people who want to help with those who need help. Support is given directly — person to person, with no centralised funds, intermediaries, and without keeping any money in the MS system.

MS began as a common digital initiative as part of IT Serbia and it stemmed from the desire to organise and work together for the purpose of making a quick and reliable support mode. With time, MS grew into a massive network of citizens, activists, and institutions, and now it independently develops projects for the common good.

Peer-to-peer means that the donated money does not go into a centralised fund. Rather, the donation is transferred directly to the person who needs the financial aid. The MS platform serves as a way to connect donors with people who need solidary aid, and to direct financial aid while ensuring a transparent donation.

MS currently covers two areas of support: MS For Education, and MS Against Repression. As a donor, you can choose to donate for one or both areas. Both areas are part of the same idea — that nobody is left alone when facing injustice.

Solidary financial aid is not regular humanitarian aid. In solidary financial aid, there is a shared understanding that there is mutual responsibility between those providing and receiving solidary aid, and that donations are shared and directed towards those who are experiencing the consequences of their social, professional, or civic engagement.

You need to register as a donor on the MS website. After registration, you gain access to your profile and to payment instructions when there is an active need in the system.

Yes. After registration, you can choose to donate to: MS For Education, which covers individuals from the education sector, MS Against Repression, which covers individuals facing various forms of repression due to their social or professional engagement, or for both areas. This way, you can choose where your donation goes.

Yes. If you want to change your donation amount, you can do that in your user profile, or when generating payment instructions on your own.

Yes. Both options are possible. It depends on how you wish to support MS.

The e-mail address is a means of registration and communication. Via e-mail, you receive: the registration confirmation link, the payment instructions, and all updates related to the donation. Without a valid e-mail address, it is not possible to go through with the donation process.

You log in when you register via your e-mail address. There is no need for a password — it is enough to enter your e-mail address and then follow the link you were given. At any moment you can login into your profile via the LOG IN button at the top of the MS website.

When there is an active need in the system, you can see payment instructions in your profile, and/or you receive them via e-mail. The instructions ensure your donation goes to the person who it is for.

If you currently do not have access to payment instructions, this means that all needs are met, and that there are no new cases in the system. This does not mean that your profile is inactive, it just means that there are no open needs for aid distribution.

International transactions to Serbia work through:

- Western Union: by entering the MTCN number into the system as means of verification.
- Moneygram: After the transaction, the control number is uploaded. This serves as reference for the person receiving solidary aid to withdraw money on their end.
- SEPA transactions: Special payment instructions are generated. This option for the purpose of making international transactions simple and direct.

Solidary aid is meant for those who are experiencing repression due to their professional, social, or civic engagement. This includes, depending on the area:

- All activities related to engagement for the purpose of education
- Students
- Professors
- Employees and citizens facing repression
- Individuals receiving fines or facing pressures and other consequences of their engagement for the public interest

No. MS is not the place for applying for oneself. Support is organised via delegates, partners, and our networks of trust who check information and who help direct aid responsibly and safely.

This depends on your situation:

- MS For Education → Turn to your delegate, collective, or contact person within MS.
- MS Against Repression → Turn to our partner organisations and crisis centres.

Delegates are persons who make it possible that aid is given quickly, responsibly, and where it is needed. Delegates connect people with MS and they represent the central point of trust in the whole system.

When a delegate or partnered institution or crisis centre confirms base information, and verifies that there is a true need, the case is entered into the system. Through this system, donors pay directly.

If you want to participate as a delegate, it is necessary to contact us via the contact form on our site, send us some way of contacting you and MS will contact you.

Information about people who need solidary aid is sent via the delegates, partner organisations, and a network of trust. Their role is to verify base information, and then to help direct aid where it is needed, responsibly and correctly.

Yes. MS was designed such that it is as transparent as possible, while maintaining privacy of those who are helped. This includes: a clear process of solidary financial aid, tracking and reporting the number of people who have received solidary aid, and verification via delegates and partner institutions and crisis centres.

No. For reasons of safety and dignity, their personal information is not shared. The only information shared is the information necessary for the functioning of MS and for maintaining trust.

No. MS does not work as a centralised fund, and no money is transferred to or kept in the MS system. The donations go directly from the donors to those it is meant for.

If you cannot find your answer, you can contact us via e-mail, or through the contact form on our page. For every area, there are also separate contacts: questions about donations, questions for delegates, questions about support.