Young Researchers of Serbia held an introductory training for civil society organizations supported within the sixth cycle of the ECO SYSTEM support program, which took place from May 26 to 28 at Srebrno Jezero (Silver Lake). On this occasion, contracts were signed with organizations whose 15 projects were selected for support, and whose implementation will be carried out in local communities across Serbia.

During the three-day program, participants covered key topics essential for successful project implementation, including organizational risk management, identifying corruption risks, and the importance of transparency in organizational work. Through sessions focused on integrating a gender perspective into activities and monitoring the implementation of environmental policies in local communities, the projects will contribute to identifying specific community needs. The program also included the use of AI tools for optimizing organizational work, as well as their negative environmental impact, particularly related to high energy and water consumption and CO₂ emissions.

In addition to acquiring new knowledge, the training served as a space for networking, exchanging experiences, and strengthening partnerships among organizations working on nature protection, improving environmental quality, and involving citizens in decision-making processes.

In the forthcoming period, organizations will contribute to the development of more sustainable and resilient local communities through fieldwork, research, education, public actions, and dialogue with institutions. Through innovative solutions tailored to local needs, they will work on improving environmental quality, encouraging active citizen participation, and strengthening cooperation among different stakeholders in the community. These activities are expected to lead to long-term positive changes, the creation of sustainable natural resource management models, and better preparedness of communities to respond to modern environmental challenges. A significant part of the activities will be focused on youth education and the development of new learning models in environmental protection, including topics such as safe chemical use, regenerative agriculture, energy transition, and sustainable development.

Young Researchers of Serbia (YRS) have been implementing ECO SYSTEM programme since 2020 with the support of Sweden. Over the past five years, the program has supported 55 projects across Serbia, while in the sixth cycle, 15 projects will be supported, implemented by: Pokret gorana Kikinde (Kikinda / Orašac), Center for Environmental Improvement (Belgrade), Dendrosrbija (Užice), PROAKTIV (Niš), Lokalni odgovor (Valjevo), Institute for Regional Development (Novi Sad / Rudnik), Forum for Civil Action – FORCA (Požega), Center for Modern Skills (Belgrade), Volunteer Fire Department Kraljevo (Kraljevo / Raška), UNEKOOP (Paraćin / Novi Banovci / Kragujevac), Ekomar (Kragujevac / Belgrade), Alternative for Safer Chemicals – ALHem (Belgrade), Eneca (Niš), Tim 42 (Leskovac), GM Optimist (Gornji Milanovac)