Niš is the second biggest city in Serbia, with approximately 400.000 citizens. It is geographically situated in south east part, about 240 kms from Belgrade, capital city of Serbia. It is a university city, with 13 faculties and many study groups. It is well situated and on the crossroads to capitals of neighbour countries (170 kms to Sofia, Bulgaria, 230 km to Skopje, Macedonia, 400 kms to Thessalonica, Greece).
From the social point of view, it is relatively multicultural area, with the majority of Serbian population and quite a number of Roma people. Other nationalities are also present, but in minor percentage. Even though it is the second biggest city, the major problems in Niš are unemployment and poverty. Niš used to be the industrial city, but now these industries stopped working, making the transition period harder. However, a lot is being done to improve the situation, there are a lot of investments and international companies, which have established branches in Niš, but still, as in the entire Serbia, lot of things need to be changed.
Being a big city, as well as a university city, there are a lot of young people in Nis. However, the city is confronted with a high level of youth delinquency, use of easy drugs and apathy. These are the reasons that the young should take the responsibility and try to make changes.


The main target of the project is to create conditions for the active inclusion and participation of the young in the development of the local community by means of various activities such as workshops, trainings, seminars, camps, etc. The volunteers will have the possibility, together with other volunteers, to work on present programs as well as to develop their ideas on what can be done to improve the present situation.

The volunteer will:

- be able to work both with the marginalized group of children and youth and with those attending regular schools (guide creative workshops, theatre workshops, debate, etc);
- be able to choose the institution we cooperate with and do some of the activities with either children without parents, refugees, IDPs, Roma people, young delinquents, or persons with mental disabilities;
- organize and help in the realization of some seminars and trainings;
- have the opportunity to learn about interculturality, mediation, how to guide workshops, project management and other skills that people in the organization have;
- be able to develop personal projects and also help in writing and organizing projects within Youth In Action program, where he/she will have to possibility to coordinate these activities (for example a youth exchange in Serbia);
- be technical support and assistant in various activities and thus be able to gain experience and share knowledge;
- work with the group of high school pupils from the Youth Network in the realization of their programs - to be the workshop leaders, make radio show with this group of young people and develop various programs;
- work in the following institutions on the local level: Home for children deprived of parental care "Dusko Radovic", Institute for upbringing of children, Boarding House for high school pupils; in this way the volunteers will have the possibility to gain experience and practical application of knowledge they get at the university, but they are also able to develop their ideas concerning the field of their work.

During the week, the volunteer will have different schedule, which will be agreed upon his/her arrival, and according to the needs, both of the volunteer and the organization. We expect that he/she will spend most of the time outside the office - in these institutions and working with direct beneficiaries. In the afternoon he/she will have language classes and on some days at 8 PM meetings or workshops in the conference room on the premises of the organization. In total, the volunteer will not be engaged more then 35 hours a week.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=66000096601