Research on youth policy in Serbia

In February 2017, Open club conducted a research on the topic of youth policies and youth activism in Serbia and Serbian-Bulgarian border region. The aim of the research was to determine the current situation, problems and needs of youth in the border region in the field of youth policies. Developing a common methodology was followed by identifying the respondents i.e. decision makers at the local level who deal with youth issues, representatives of local self-government, municipalities, youth offices, representatives from the youth sector, local youth associations working with youth and for youth, and active young people from across the border region.

The overall research consisted of desk research and fieldwork. Desk research included analysis of relevant local, national and EU documents in the field of youth policies, while the fieldwork included filling out questionnaires and interviewing relevant local representatives, as well as focus group discussion with youth.

The research process involved respondents from the territory of 7 border administrative districts (Bor, Zaječar, Toplica, Niš, Pirot, Jablanica and Pčinja), i.e. from 10 towns and municipalities (Bor, Zaječar, Knjaževac, Aleksinac, Niš, Pirot, Prokuplje, Leskovac, Vranje and Bujanovac).

The entire research was carried out within the project "Youth Riders", implemented by the Association for Development of Children and Youth - Open Club from Nis in partnership with Free Youth Center from Vidin, Bulgaria as the leading partner and the Association for Local Development Kamenica, and is co-financed by the European Union through Interreg-IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Bulgaria-Serbia Programme.

The results of the research conducted in Serbian-Bulgarian border region are available on the Youth Riders project website, in the "Documents" section.

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union through the Interreg-IPA CBC Bulgaria-Serbia Programme, CCI No 2014TC16I5CB007. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Association for Development of Children and Youth - OPEN CLUB and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the Managing Authority of the Programme.

The project is co-funded by EU through the Interreg-IPA CBC Bulgaria–Serbia Programme.