Elections - a tool for reconciliation

Educational programme covered all municipalities in Leskovac and Vranje region where PROTECTA targeted voters who voted in the 2003 elections for the first time. (generation 1983-1985), as well as passive citizens and abstainers. The work with youth o secondary schools in the municipalities of Pcinja and Jablanica District included meetings with active secondary school students – potential participants in seminars. The aim of the seminar was to transfer knowledge about public advocacy and teamwork of youth relevant to the elections and campaign activities. The project was implemented in partnership with Leskovac Education Centre as the leading partner, and it was funded by NPA (Norwegian Peoples Aid).

Debate of Balkan young leaders

In partnership with organisations from Bulgaria, FYROM and Albania, where PACE from Sofia was the leading partner, there were realised four seminars aimed at establishing an open dialogue between the four countries, based on friendship, mutual understanding, history, intercultural and non-violent action. Participants in the seminar were young politicians and NGO representatives – future decision makers in their respective countries. The total of 30 young people passed the seminar which, unfortunately, was held only in three, instead of four countries. Two last seminars were held in FYROM. The project was funded by Westminster Foundation for Democracy from London.

Allavida programme of grants encouraging cooperation between the youth in South-Eastern Europe (YouthExChange.SEE)

In the period 2002-2004, PROTECTA was the major Serbian partner of British Foundation Allavida. The partnership boiled down to the regional programme of small grants (up to 3,000 euros), which encouraged the establishment of cross-border cooperation in development of youth programmes. The overall programme was aimed at exchanging knowledge, skills and experiences between young people in the territory of South-Eastern Europe.  PROTECTA was tasked to promote the grant programme in Serbia, offer support for writing project proposals, help with collecting project documentation, assist in sending project documentation for grant making decisions. Though the grants were small, they generated a lot of interests among youth NGOs and they enabled the establishment of new partnerships.

This was not the first time that PROTECTA administered the process of grant allocation. Namely in 2001, UK Foundation ‘Balkan Community Initiatives Fund’ was temporarily located in the premises of PROTECTA.

Courses of PC and English for young people of different target groups   

With support from several foundations (World Bank, Norwegian Embassy...), PROTECTA organised courses for PC and the basic English course for young people of different target groups. From 2002 onwards, more than 400 young people passed the courses. Such a programme, through focused on skills development to help young people find a job, is extremely important in terms of building self-confidence of young people, who, through a three-month work with other participants, have a chance to learn about teamwork and the work of the NGO such as PROTECTA.