07/08/2026
Here we see a photo of the main entrance portal to the Đerdap Camp of the ORA, stands for Omladinska radna akcija (Youth Work Action), which were large voluntary labor programs used to build public infrastructure. Here at this ORA Đerdap Camp (which is in eastern Serbia along the Danube River), the youth volunteer workers were most likely working on the famous Đerdap Dam that spans across the river to Romania, which ended up being one of the largest hydroelectric plants in Europe. The ORA groups were integral in the creation of many of Yugoslavia's most important pieces of large infrastructure, in addition to this dam, they also helped to construct highways, rail lines, memorial parks, and other civic sites. In the above photo, underneath where it says ORA Đerdap, it says "Youth Community of Brotherhood & Unity", with that important Yugoslav concept of Brotherhood & Unity being an important part of the ORA ethos, where young people from across the country could come and work, socialize and bond together (regardless of their gender, ethnic background, religion, social status, urban/rural lifestyle, etc), all towards better uniting the nation's younger generations and forging a collective identity. Furthermore, ORA was used as an opportunity to communicate Yugoslavia's communist ideology to young people, where "badges" could be earned for accomplishments that could help to secure future employment or political advancement. It is not clear where exactly this ORA camp was located or if the grand entrance portal shown in this photo still exists. This photo was originally in very bad condition, which I used some tools to sharpen and color correct.