BELGRADE, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Farhad Nuri, a boy from Afghanistan, and his family were ceremonially granted Serbian citizenship on Thursday after the 11-year-old amazed the local community with his talent and humanity.
Prime Minister Ana Brnabic explained at the ceremony how last year Farhad, who was living in a refugee camp at the time, created paintings and sold them to raise money to help Serbian kids who need medical treatment.
"I am extremely happy that I can present this wonderful family, which was struck by a situation they had nothing to do with, with Serbian citizenship on behalf of the government. I am glad that Serbia has shown its humane face during the migrant crisis," Brnabic said.
She said it was "important to open our doors, as a society, to people who are struck by troubles, and to enable them to find homes for themselves and a different future."
Farhad came to the ceremony with his mother, father and two brothers. He and his brothers were presented with sports gear and some drawing accessories.
Serbia will provide Farhad's family with accommodation in a house or an apartment, as well as language lessons, which will help them find employment, according to the government's refugee commissioner, Vladimir Cucic.
"Gaining citizenship is the first and the most important step towards integration in Serbia," Cucic said.
According to Serbia's interior ministry, some 3,600 migrants from the Middle East and Africa are located in shelters in Serbia, most of them wishing to reach Western Europe.