Building champions together – a year of growth, partnerships, and change

The year behind us was much more than a mere sequence of calendar events. It was a journey through challenges, growth, new partnerships, and a confirmation that the ideas we nurture have a real impact. Guided by our belief in the power of community, sport, and active youth participation, we created spaces for dialogue, support, and development throughout the year, connecting young people, organizations, and institutions across Serbia, the region, and Europe. Every step, workshop, training, and meeting was part of a broader vision: to build a society where solidarity, equality, and responsibility are the foundation of healthy development and active citizenship.

Our year began with sports – and it was in this spirit that we continued to create stories that change lives, empower young people, and connect communities. The conclusion of the previous year marked a new chapter for the project „Life Champions against peer violence“, implemented with the support of the Cabinet of the Minister without Portfolio responsible for coordinating activities in the field of gender equality, prevention of violence against women, and the economic and political empowerment of women. During this phase of the project, workshops were conducted across Serbia – from Subotica, through Belgrade and Smederevo, down to the southern towns of Raška and Kuršumlija. Through direct work with children and youth, we raised awareness about the importance of  recognizing and preventing peer violence, as well as about values such as solidarity, mutual respect, and responsibility. These conversations, often difficult but necessary, highlighted how essential it is to continuously empower young people and create safer environments for their growth.

In the same sports-driven rhythm, we continued our successful collaboration with the DEKI 5 football camp, formalized through a three-year agreement within the project „Life Champions 3.0 – every child has the right to be a champion“. Supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children, this project was especially aimed at children without parental care, emphasizing how crucial their participation in sports and educational activities is – both for their personal development and for the communities and institutions that support them. As part of these activities, we visited Skopje, Sarajevo, and Belgrade, bringing joy to hundreds of children through donations of sports equipment, educational content, and rich programs combining play, learning, and socializing. Additionally, we organized dozens of info days across Serbia and the region, where children and youth learned more about the „Creeating Life Champions“ concept, its core values, and opportunities for active participation.

A highlight of the year came in September, when we once again demonstrated the power of community by organizing a large regional camp, which brought together 100 children from different sports disciplines. Over several intensive days, participants engaged in diverse sports training, workshops on teamwork, fair play, and personal development, as well as numerous creative and recreational activities. The impressions left by the camp – smiles, friendships, and words of encouragement from children, coaches, and parents – once again confirmed that true values, such as being a good person, showing empathy, and respecting others, make sport an invaluable tool for youth development. The region had many stories to tell, and we are proud to have been part of them.

At the very end of 2025, Development Center for Youth, within the framework of a successful three-year cooperation with the DEKI5 international football camp of renowned football player Dejan Stanković and the UEFA Foundation for Children, implemented a significant donation of sports equipment and gear intended for sports and educational activities for children in Serbia and the region, further strengthening the “Creating life champions” concept. The equipment was distributed through a network of local and partner organizations in Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a special focus on vulnerable groups in sport, including girls in football, young Roma and Romani girls and boys, children without parental care, and children from less developed communities, with the aim of making sport accessible to all. During 2025, the donation reached children in Arilje, Belgrade, Valjevo, and Veles, with further distribution secured to social welfare institutions and local sports communities, while simultaneously promoting the values of inclusion, equal opportunities, and the educational role of sport, which Development Center for Youth consistently advances with the support of the Erasmus+ programme and the UEFA Foundation for Children, continuing the partnership into 2026.

Alongside sports and youth activities, we were pleased to announce the start of the project „FemPolitic – Political school for women“. Implemented through the Progressive policy fund from Montenegro in cooperation with the Development Center for Youth, the project focused on empowering young women, especially from rural and marginalized communities in Montenegro and Serbia. Through programs in leadership, strategic communication, and digital activism, participants gained the knowledge and skills needed for active and safe participation in political life. The project culminated in the jointly created women’s political manifesto, presented to decision-makers and political parties, ensuring that the voices of young women were not only heard but also respected.

Our partnership in the TUNE project (Transnational United Network of Europe), coordinated by the Greek organization United Societies of the Balkans (USB), continued, now in its fourth year. Throughout the year, workshops were held in Belgrade and Kuršumlija, while young people had the opportunity to participate in an international training in Kruševo, which gathered participants from 19 different nationalities. As the project’s crowning event, a final gathering was held in Thessaloniki, summarizing the results so far and laying the groundwork for new joint activities in the coming period.

To close the year, another significant milestone was the launch of the project „Trade Union – new voice for louder youth”, supported by the Erasmus+ program, Key Action 3 – European Youth Together. This two-year project, which brings together 11 partners from seven countries, aims to empower young trade union activists, strengthen their visibility, and actively involve them in decision-making processes. The official project launch took place in Skopje, where partners reviewed initial steps, defined the methodology, and laid the foundation for future activities, including research, educational programs, national and international union academies, and a strong online campaign targeting young people.

We look back with pride on everything achieved throughout the year and extend our gratitude to all partners, volunteers, and collaborators who were part of this story. We continue forward, guided by the same values – building strong, aware, and brave young people together, ready to be champions on the field, in their communities, and in life.