Read the poignant confession of a man searching for a boy, now a 50-year-old man, who stayed with his family in the 90s, during the hardest times. The family from Xanthi is now searching for Mladen, the boy they cared for as a brother. Help us reconnect these broken bonds.

While reading this appeal coming from Greece, I was moved to tears. I vividly remember those farewells and welcomes. At that time, I worked for the Red Cross and I know what it was like when children were sent off to recover in Greece and when they were welcomed back. Very touching. The Greeks held them dear. Not one, not two children from the war, but thousands and thousands of them. Sending off the children was extremely difficult. Separation from parents, uncertainty… No one knew what the next day would bring. But on the return, oh on the return, it was completely different. Children smiling, happy, safe, with bright eyes and joyous faces. And the buses… that’s a story in itself. They were full to the brim, windows obscured by packages. Full of gifts, toys galore, clothes for every child to wear for the next 10 years, from blankets and furniture to cookies… I always cry when I remember that time and that immense love.

Appeal from Xanthi: Search for Mladen

Today, one of those boys - now a grown man from Xanthi - is looking for his brother from Serbia. Here is his plea in full: “Hello everyone, I am writing to you from Greece with great hope. During the war in former Yugoslavia, specifically between 1990 and 1993, my family in the city of Xanthi (Xanthi) hosted a boy from Serbia. His name was Mladen.

I believe Mladen is around 50 years old now. We would like to get in touch with him after all these years and see how he is doing. If anyone recognizes this story or knows Mladen who stayed with the family in Xanthi as a child, please contact me.

Mladen, if you see my post, know that we have not forgotten you. I was young then, but I remember what a good child you were and how much we loved you.

Mladen, if you hear me… We were 4 brothers. And we had you. The fifth.”

If you recognize Mladen or have any information, you can message the person looking for Mladen, Nikolau Akis, directly in the post Live from Greece or leave a comment.

This man will be searching through the archives of the Greek Red Cross in the coming days, but let us help him with the power of our networks. Maybe Mladen is your neighbor, godparent, or friend?

How can you help?

If you know someone who stayed in Xanthi (Xanthi) as a child between 1990 and 1993, please share this text with them.

• Follow the updates on this story: Search for Mladen
• If you have information, reach out directly to the family through the Facebook group or profile that initiated the search.

If you recognize Mladen or have any information, you can message directly to the inbox of the page Live from Greece or leave a comment on the original post.

The Red Cross program was officially called the “Children’s Recovery Program in Greece”

It lasted from 1991 until the early 2000s. Over 20,000 children went through it. Serbian Red Cross