An inspiring story about success, employment, and recognition of hard-working people with disabilities comes from Kuršumlija. Within the project “Activate for more opportunities“, implemented by the Association of persons with disabilities Kuršumlija in cooperation with the municipality of Kuršumlija, a closing info session was held to present the results of this EU supported project.

This activity is part of the programme European Union Support to Active Youth Inclusion, worth EUR4.7 million, funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Government of the Republic of Serbia. The project was implemented in collaboration with services dealing with unemployment; for activities carried out in Kuršumlija, EUR 98,000 were allocated from the project’s budget.

Persons with disabilities who are facing multiple challenges and difficulties in daily life and work had the opportunity to undergo training and develop their entrepreneur skills, broaden their IT knowledge, and learn old crafts. Attendees were also given a chance to practice what they learned.

“The project succeeded in raising awareness among employers and the community about the inclusion of persons with disabilities in productive work and life-related tasks. The response from the community was positive. I, too, am a person with disability. People now recognize me in the street and greet me,“ says Marko Filipović, “Activate for more opportunities“ Project Manager, adding that persons with disabilities who had attended training sessions are now empowered, they have more confidence and are full of energy as they await new activities.

”When the pandemic hit the hardest, we handed out free face protection masks we made ourselves; our fellow citizens welcomed us with open arms and with smiles on their faces. They recognized our will and the ability to act as valuable members of the community and help when the community needed it most, “Marko Filipović noted.

Ensuring that persons with disabilities gain an equal status in the society, allowing them to make progress and tapping into their potential were the main priorities of this project in the Municipality of Kursumlija.

“One of the important aspects of the project was to support persons with disabilities to practice their entrepreneur skills. We succeeded in breaking down prejudice among employers and persons with disabilities alike. Employers are now aware that hiring persons with disabilities can indeed bring multiple benefits. On the other hand, we learned how to bring out the best in them and taught them how to improve themselves, and pass on the knowledge they acquired,” Project Coordinator Sunčica Nestorović explained.

The “European Union Support to Active Youth Inclusion” project, total value of which is EUR 4.7 million, financed by the EU and co-funded by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, aims to ensure greater social inclusion of youth population in Serbia by increasing of employment, youth activity, work experience and entrepreneurship practice among youth population. Through the project the EU and Government of Serbia has granted 24 grants, which will be implemented in more than 35 cities and municipalities in Serbia by the end of 2021. The projects implemented by the national and provincial social welfare institutions, municipalities and cities, citizens associations, foundations and educational institutions will increase the scope and quality of services at the local level in education and employment, innovative practice, active inclusion mechanisms and models and thereby strengthen the social inclusion of youth. The impact and tangible outcomes of the project are expected at all levels concerning the overall readiness and increased capacities of relevant institutions for the innovative development and management of youth active inclusion measures, policy development in line with best EU practices, and effective use of related EU financial assistance.

The project is managed by the Ministry of Finance, Department for Contracting and Financing of EU Funded Programmes (CFCU), while the project beneficiary institutions are the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs and Ministry of Youth and Sports

More about the project can be found on www.ukljucivanjemladih.rs

The European Union’s donations to Serbia exceed EUR 3.6 billion from 2000 to date. The funds have been used to support development, quality of life and reforms in: civil protection, flood relief and protection, education, connectivity, environment, health and consumer protection, culture, rule of law, local development, jobs and growth, public administration, migration, public financial management, civil society and media, social inclusion, youth and sport. EU support is implemented in cooperation with the Government of Serbia. The European Union is a larger donor of development aid to Serbia than all other international donors put together.