14 September 2026
A three-day School for Young Leaders was successfully held in Belgrade from 8 to 10 September 2026, organised by the Centre for Education Policy (CEP) as part of the regional project Balkan Emerging Leaders Initiative (BELI), supported by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme.
The training brought together twenty motivated young leaders from Serbia, aged 18 to 25, with the aim of strengthening their capacities for civic participation, leading community initiatives and regional networking.
Through lectures, interactive workshops, simulations and teamwork, the training programme was structured around key thematic areas essential for empowering youth activism.
The first day of the training focused on understanding the role of institutions, human rights protection mechanisms and the structural causes of social inequality, drawing on the Council of Europe’s Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture.
During the second day, participants developed practical skills in designing public campaigns, public speaking and presenting ideas, as well as the fundamentals of project management.
The final day focused on mapping resources within local communities, developing a joint action plan and establishing a structure for internal coordination and cooperation.
The School for Young Leaders represents the first phase of a comprehensive capacity-building programme. In the coming months, participants will take part in a mentoring programme supporting the implementation of their local actions, their work with student parliaments, and preparations for the upcoming first regional meeting in Skopje, where they will connect with their peers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo*.
The Balkan Emerging Leaders Initiative (BELI) aims to empower young people, strengthen regional dialogue and build the capacities of civil society organisations and educational institutions across the Western Balkans.
