“Turtle – Spornjača”: Crowdfunding Campaign for the Protection of the Pond Turtle

In 2024, Belgrade Open School, in partnership with Young Researchers of Serbia, the Kraljevac Lake Special Nature Reserve, and the Katalist Foundation, implemented the crowdfunding campaign “Turtle – Spornjača”, aimed at raising funds for the research and protection of the pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), a strictly protected species in Serbia. The campaign focused on purchasing GPS tracking devices to monitor the movement and behaviour of turtles at Lake Kraljevac, contributing to their long-term protection and the preservation of their habitat.

The campaign was implemented through the donacije.rs platform, raising a total of RSD 840,200. The quality and social impact of the “Turtle – Spornjača” campaign were further recognised in 2025, when the initiative received the Grand Prix award in the ECO category at the Campaigns with Purpose festival, an event that has been recognising and celebrating the best socially responsible campaigns in Serbia for five years. The award was presented to Young Researchers of Serbia as the campaign lead, recognising the successful collaboration among the partner organisations, including Belgrade Open School.

The award further demonstrates how strategically designed, authentic and transparent communication can inspire citizens and communities to take action in the field of nature conservation. For Belgrade Open School, the “Turtle – Spornjača” campaign and the recognition it received represent an important achievement in supporting biodiversity conservation initiatives, as well as a strong impetus for further developing innovative models of cooperation, citizen participation and sustainable solutions for environmental protection.

Champions of Open Data

In March 2020, Belgrade Open School received an award in the category “Open Data Civic Initiative” for the project Visible Data for Invisible Air, aimed at improving access to and the use of air quality data in Serbia through the application of open data principles.

Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Serbia), the project included establishing a citizen air quality monitoring network, developing the vazduhgradjanima.rs platform for publishing and sharing data, and connecting organisations and other stakeholders working on open data and air quality issues.

The award was presented to BOS on the occasion of International Open Data Day. AllThingsTalk and the Internet Society of Serbia were also recognised in the same category. The project contributed to a better understanding of the importance of open data for informing citizens and improving public policies in the field of air quality protection.

Serbian Visions award "The Best Vision"

The Belgrade Open School received the Serbian Visions award "The Best Vision" for social engagement and continuous contribution for participation in the only multi congress in Serbia - Serbian Visions, organized by the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

Diplomacy & Commerce Award for Civil Society Development

The Diplomacy & Commerce Award 2018 for a long-term contribution to the development of civil society in Serbia was awarded to the Belgrade Open School by the Diplomacy & Commerce magazine on March 22, 2018. This award recognizes BOS' commitment to the development of the civil sector in Serbia through the organization of educational activities, mentoring, financial and expert support during more than 20 years of work.

''The Sample Of Leadership Excellence“ award

Belgrade Open School (BOS) won ‘The Sample of Leadership Excellence’ award for 2016, given by the Serbian Association of Managers (SAM). BOS was awarded for its longtime, permanent contribution to the development and promotion of young leaders in Serbia through a great number of programmes. Certainly some of the most distinctive programmes are the one year multidisciplinary educational programme ‘’Future Studies’’, which BOS has been realizing for over 20 years, and the ‘’Politikas’’ educational programme.

The SAMPLE award ‘’The Sample of Leadership Excellence’’ is awarded to the person or institution which has contributed most to the promotion of leadership amongst youth and which has had a positive impact on the surroundings and development of young people.

Special Award for an Example of Good Practice in the Field of Career Guidance and Counseling

BOS Career, an online system for career management, received the special award for an example of good practice in the field of career guidance and counseling, which is awarded by the National Centre of the Euroguidance Network, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, and the Ministry of Youth and Sport. As an online system which contains complex and all-encompassing services for career guidance and counseling of young people, BOS Career stood out from the other entries of the competition.

BOS Career is the first free online system in Serbia, launched in 2011, with the goal of providing support and empowering high school students and other young people to manage their careers independently and sensibly. BOS Career has over 32.000 registered users of various ages and interests.

Award for the Contribution to the Development of the Information Society in Serbia

Belgrade Open School received a reward in December of 2016, from the Register of the National Internet Domain of Serbia (RNIDS) Foundation, as a sign of gratitude for the dedication and support in the development of RNIDS in the past 10 years. Anniversary awards are given to deserving individuals, organizations and institutions which have, through their work, contributed to the creation and development of internet in Serbia, and the RNIDS Foundation.

Belgrade Open School, as one of the founders of the RNIDS Foundation, has for years, through its activities, worked on promoting and increasing the value of the information society, and was also the first one in Serbia to start using the internet as a tool in education, i.e. started applying e-learning in its programmes.

''Stars of Belgrade'' award

Belgrade Open School was given the prestigious Stars of Belgrade award in 2011 for the ''Evrokrem – strengthening young people of Belgrade for participation in the European Integration process’' by the City of Belgrade's Agency for Cooperation with NGOs and European Harmonization.

During the project, 30 high school students from Belgrade attended educational programmes on the topics of: cultural identity and European values in culture, European values in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development, and European values in the field of youth activism. As a result of this, these young people initiated several activities in the field of environmental protection, including a visit to the waste for secondary raw materials ‘'Žar ptica’', as well as a visit to the Environmental Protection Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

Award for BOS website – Among the best domestic websites in 2013

The BOS website was pronounced one of the best domestic websites in Serbia on the prestigious WEB top 50 list, as declared by the PC Press company.

‘’The Belgrade Open School website exudes functionality and professionalism, which is accomplished by a simple design and clear, regularly updated content. You will easily get around this site, and quickly get all the information you’re looking for at the time…and more. In much the same way, you will immediately notice all the current calls for application, news and useful announcements on the home page.’’

Award for the BOS Career portal – among the most successful portals in 2012

Belgrade Open School’s internet portal karijera.bos.rs was presented as an example of one of the most successful portals on the .rs domain, within the Third Annual conference on Internet Development – DIDS 2012 (Serbian Internet Domain Day), which was organized by the Serbian National Internet Domain Registry (RNIDS). Belgrade Open School was in the company of the 12 most successful internet portals within the .rs domain for 2012.

BOS Career is a free online system, providing support for high school students when sensibly choosing their careers, and the first portal of this kind in Serbia. The portal contains: tests, a database of: vocations, faculties and higher education institutions, tools for creating a personal profile, CV builder and constant online counseling.