In December 2008 and January 2009, USAID’s Economic Security program held four trainings for Youth Office Coordinators from 32 municipalities throughout Serbia. The purpose of these trainings was to strengthen the capacity of these newly opened offices by enhancing the coordinators’ outreach and entrepreneurship project management skills.
Ms. Ivana Kovacevic, the Ministry’s State Secretary for Youth, opened the first training in Sremski Karlovci. In her opening remarks, she stressed the importance of entrepreneurial education and the centrality of entrepreneurship and employment in the Ministry’s strategic plan for youth, adopted by the Government of Serbia last year.
The first two trainings in December focused on communication and management skills and sought to provide youth office coordinators with tools to reach their constituency and manage projects. The second set of trainings in January focused on helping youth office coordinators to better understand entrepreneurship and how to promote youth entrepreneurship in their communities. In the months ahead, the Economic Security program will continue to strengthen Youth Offices – enabling them to operate as Youth Entrepreneurship and Career Development Centers will help to anchor the new institution’s place in their community.