Summary of organization’s strategic orientation
Zajecar Initiative supports people to use strengths and resources in their communities to shape them according to own needs. With a focus on Community Development, Youth Engagement and Civic Education, ZI has made significant contributions not just in Eastern Serbia, but also at a national level. Demonstrating a robust locally-based grantmaking capacity, ZI has supported more than 300 projects of local organizations. Through landmark programs such as “Youth in Motion” and “School Elections,” ZI has emerged as a champion in the civic education of young people, employing innovative approaches.
Summary of the supported project
Various studies conducted in Serbia over the past years indicate worrying trends in the attitudes of young people. They lack trust in institutions, feel neglected, are not interested in societal issues and developments, and do not believe they can influence political processes and decisions. Furthermore, there is a growing radicalization of their views, along with increasingly pronounced authoritarian tendencies. Much of these issues can be attributed to inadequate civic education. Young people in Serbia graduate from high schools lacking basic information on crucial topics related to democratic society and are completely unprepared to take an active role in democratic processes, which is expected of them. There are numerous examples of European countries that have invested significant resources in improving civic education in schools in response to increasing mistrust in democratic institutions, the rise of racism, intolerance towards minorities, and aggressive nationalism among young people. This project seeks to connect the most important actors in the field of civic education through a series of activities, enhance their capacities and cooperation, inform the public, and deliberate and define concrete recommendations for a higher quality and more efficient civic education for young people in the Republic of Serbia.
Project goals
Overall goal: Contribute to a higher quality and more efficient civic education of young people in Serbia through improving school subjects and content within formal education, as well as creating a supportive framework for the development and implementation of various non-formal education programs.
Specific goals:
- Improve cross-sector cooperation in the field of civic education in the Republic of Serbia.
- Create conditions for more effective advocacy of necessary reforms in the field of civic education in the Republic of Serbia.
Beneficiaries
The main beneficiaries of this project are 12-19-year-old students, who will benefit from enhanced civic education. This project aims to combat the rising civic apathy and radicalism in youth by bringing together key stakeholders and facilitating consultations to shape civic education improvement. It also strengthens ties between various civil society organizations and public sector entities, including the Ministry of Education, regional departments, and schools. This cross-sector collaboration increases the effectiveness of formal and non-formal education programs, fostering a more engaged, civically-oriented, and tolerant young generation.
Main activities
- Consultation process: ZI will organize one-day consultation meetings in 5 cities: Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, and Valjevo, providing a space for dialogue and networking among key stakeholders in this area, as well as collecting inputs and information necessary for formulating specific recommendations for improving civic education in Serbia.
- One-day final conference: The conference will gather all interested parties that participated in the consultation process, aiming to present and finalize the Policy Brief document with recommendations for improving civic education.
- Media campaign: The campaign will run through digital channels and traditional media, aiming to inform citizens about good practice examples, as well as all challenges society faces in the field of civic education.
- Filming and broadcasting of a documentary: The documentary will deal with the current state of civic education in Serbian schools, the effects on generations of young people, and examples of good practices from European countries and around the world.
- Two advocacy trainings: These trainings are intended for civil society organizations from the country that are active in the field of civic education. They will provide a space for networking and connection, as well as for developing their capacities for planning and implementing advocacy actions.
- Creation and publication of a brochure titled “Advocacy for Better Civic Education”, primarily aimed at NGOs that at the local or national level carry out activities aimed at improving formal and/or non-formal education of young people.
