Category: Serbia YES

Youth-Led Projects Create Real Impact Across Serbia

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From organizing eco-camps in small towns to publishing investigative stories about marginalized communities, youth-led initiatives supported through the Youth Empowerment Support (YES) Project created meaningful change across Serbia, addressing local issues through creativity, activism, and collaboration.

Following the YES Grant Boot Camp, funded youth initiatives organized workshops and forums on civic engagement, media literacy, and environmental awareness. They mobilized youth volunteers, and established partnerships with municipalities, schools, and civil society organizations, proving that youth-led action can strengthen local communities and create real impact. Despite different themes — ranging from environmental activism and cultural revival to media literacy and civic participation — all projects shared a commitment to youth engagement and creating meaningful change.

One example was the Green Path initiative in Babušnica, where young scouts aged 15-20 organized eco-camps, educational workshops, and environmental clean-up activities, helping raise awareness about pollution and sustainability among local youth.  

In Bečej, the project “Participate and Change” illustrated how young people can meaningfully participate in local decision-making. This initiative established youth boards and trained 50 young peer educators to propose budget priorities—an unprecedented step in civic inclusion in local governance.

Other initiatives addressed infrastructure and policy gaps around urgent local issues. In Požega, the “Safety in Motion” project focused on traffic safety and cycling infrastructure, while the youth group Selo na tri klika from Despotovac, Petrovac na Mlavi, and Žagubica addressed environmental protection and rural development issues. These groups formed working groups and prepared concrete proposals for local institutions.

Youth also demonstrated the power of media and creative arts as tools for activism. In Niš, the project “Stories Beyond the Margins” empowered young journalists to report on issues affecting marginalized communities. Their articles and digital content reached thousands online and encouraged discussions about social inclusion. Stories included:

Meanwhile, cultural initiatives such as the “Feelgood Fest” in Sombor brought together young artists and alternative bands, engaging hundreds of visitors and giving youth a platform for creative expression. Inclusion and intercultural dialogue were also central. The arts were also a means to encourage social inclusion. “All Together – Youth Singing Loud” in Belgrade, Smederevo, and Niš used music workshops and concerts to connect Roma and non-Roma youth, engaging over 600 audience members and fostering cooperation with prominent artists like Konstrakta and Pretty Loud.

In just one year, the YES Project youth-led initiatives directly engaged more than 1,500 young people across Serbia, empowering them to take active roles in shaping their communities. Importantly, many informal groups also evolved into structured networks with broader outreach — one grantee in Novi Sad began the process of registering as a formal CSO, while another expanded from 11 to 43 active members working across Eastern Serbia on youth entrepreneurship and local democracy in rural areas, and more than 30 partnerships formed between CSOs, municipalities, schools, and informal groups.

By building youth leadership pipelines, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and amplifying youth voices in policymaking, the YES Project catalyzed a sustainable civic ecosystem driven by young people committed to shaping a more democratic, inclusive Serbia. One of the strongest shared outcomes was the redefinition of youth as agents of local change.

These initiatives demonstrated the power of youth leadership: when young people are given trust, support, and resources, they become drivers of positive change.

YES LEAD Academy: Developing the Next Generation of Youth Leaders

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LEAD Academy participants and facilitators from Common Ground Consulting

Young people across Serbia are stepping up to become leaders in their communities and address issues of public concern. Through the Youth Empowerment Support (YES) Project, EWMI and its partners, National Coalition for Decentralization and Common Ground Consulting, are helping make this possible by equipping emerging leaders with the skills, confidence, and networks they need to drive positive change.

One program, the YES LEAD Academy brought together a new generation of young leaders from across the country for an intensive leadership development program focused on personal growth, civic engagement, and community impact.

The seven-day academy, held in Niš in July 2024, gathered 17 selected participants aged 18–30 who took part in interactive workshops, discussions, and leadership training designed to strengthen their skills and confidence.

The program focused on key concepts, including storytelling and advocacy, project development, public speaking, trust-building, and youth leadership. After completing the Academy, participants continued their leadership journey through a three-month internship program in civil society organizations across Serbia, gaining practical experience in fields such as human rights, environmental advocacy, media, and youth work.

The program produced strong results, as several interns became leaders in their home organizations, many participants secured employment, and all remained actively engaged in their communities.

The impact — both personal and professional — of participation in the LEAD Academy was emphasized by numerous participants, one of whom shared: “I believe the LEAD Serbia Program will have a significant impact on both my personal and professional development. Personally, it will enhance my leadership skills, boost my confidence, and help me connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference. Professionally, I expect the program to equip me with practical tools and knowledge that will enable me to contribute more effectively to environmental policy and sustainability efforts in Serbia. Overall, it will be a transformative experience that will shape my future endeavors.”

Another participant highlighted how the LEAD Academy approach led them to new personal insights into and how those insights had informed their professional approach: “On a personal level, I learned some new things about myself and became more motivated for what I do and what I fight for. I additionally dealt with my values, fears, insecurities, things that move me so that I better understand where I am in life and what I want to do next. On a professional level, I gained an idea of how I work best in a team, i.e. what kind of role I want to have, and I improved my speaking skills.”

When asked how they would apply what they learned in the LEAD Academy to demonstrate active leadership going forward, one participant shared: “Following the LEAD training, I plan to demonstrate active leadership in my community by advocating for gender equality and the rights of young people. I will initiate and lead projects that promote better education and create an inclusive society where everyone’s voice is heard. My focus will be on empowering others to act, fostering a community where young people feel encouraged and supported to pursue positive change. By leading with empathy, consistency, and a genuine commitment to making a difference, I aim to inspire others to actively contribute to our collective growth and well-being.”

Another participant shared that the experience and lessons from the LEAD Academy would inform their approach to their life and role in society every day: “Now I am always looking for an opportunity to help others, to engage, to listen to their problems and struggles, to show empathy and to make a plan of action for going forward in the future so their lives can be better.”

As participants return to their communities equipped with new skills, confidence, and networks, they are already turning ideas into action and inspiring others to get involved. The Academy proved that investing in young people’s leadership skills can create long-term impact—not only for participants but also for the communities they serve.

Through programs like the YES LEAD Academy, the YES Project builds a growing network of youth leaders committed to strengthening civic participation and democratic values across Serbia.

From Ideas to Action: YES Grant Boot Camp Supports Youth Initiatives Across Serbia

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As part of the Youth Empowerment Support (YES) Project in Serbia, the YES Grant Boot Camp brought together the teams behind some of the most promising youth-led initiatives from across the country, giving young changemakers the opportunity to strengthen their ideas, connect with mentors, and compete for grant support.

Held in Niš in June 2024, the three-day Boot Camp gathered participants representing 22 shortlisted initiatives selected from 90 applications. During the Boot Camp, participants worked closely with mentors to refine their project proposals and prepare presentations for an expert panel.

The Boot Camp was designed not only as a selection process but also as a learning and networking opportunity. During the first two days, participants improved their proposals through workshops and mentoring sessions focused on project development, citizen mobilization, financial management, and media visibility.

On the final day, each team presented its initiative, and 12 organizations were awarded with YES grants in two categories: Start-up and Ramp-up grants.

Beyond the competition, the YES Project helped build a community of youth leaders ready to address real challenges in their communities, from environmental protection and cultural initiatives to civic participation and inclusion.

Importantly, the Boot Camp demonstrated that youth empowerment goes beyond funding. Even participants whose initiatives were not selected for grants left with new knowledge, stronger networks, and valuable experience that helped them develop future projects. In fact, the Boot Camp was designed with this goal in mind — to provide education, practical skills, and networking opportunities for all participants, even those for whom financial support was not available.

The Boot Camp marked the beginning of a new phase under YES Project — one where young people across Serbia are emerging as leaders and transforming their ideas into impactful community action.