The Belgrade Open School (BOS), in cooperation with UNICEF, will work to empower young people in ten selected local communities to actively participate in shaping air quality and water management (WASH) policies and to contribute to establishing dialogue between youth and local decision-makers.

Project Goal
 The project strengthens the role of youth in shaping decisions on environmental issues.

• Overall objective: Contribute to the development of participatory environmental policies at the local level in Serbia.
• Specific objective: Empower young leaders for active participation in policy-making in the fields of air quality and water management (WASH).

Main Activities

The project is designed to increase youth participation and ensure that their views help shape local policies in the areas of air quality, water management, and youth policy.

• Selection of 10 local self-governments – communities where air and water are priority issues, with an analysis of existing policies and opportunities for improvement.
• Selection and training of young leaders – through an open and inclusive process, young people from diverse backgrounds will be chosen, with special emphasis on the inclusion of vulnerable groups.
• Training of Trainers (ToT) – a combination of in-person workshops and online sessions on public policies, advocacy, and the use of the U-Report tool, equipping youth with practical skills for active engagement.
• Local advocacy initiatives in 5 communities – young leaders, together with their peers, will propose and implement solutions to improve policies on air quality and youth participation.
• Peer learning workshops – trained young leaders will transfer knowledge on air quality and policy-making and motivate their peers to take part.
• Advocacy events and meetings with local authorities – young people will present project results and their policy proposals to decision-makers, creating space for dialogue and concrete change.

Expected Results

Through the project:

• 10 local self-governments will be involved in policy development processes,
• 55 young leaders will be empowered through training and mentorship,
• at least 1,000 young people will be reached through a public call and campaign,
• youth-led initiatives will be implemented in 5 communities,
• 150 young participants will be engaged through workshops,
• direct dialogue between young people and decision-makers will be established.

Project duration: August 15, 2025 – April 30, 2026.