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EU CLOSER TO THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH SERBIA
In accordance with its program and the wish to contribute to Serbia’s joining the European Union through its activities, Center for Civil Society Development PROTECTA, in collaboration with Media&Reform center Niš, is starting the realization of the project “European Houses in south and southeast Serbia – Creating the mechanisms for greater availability of information and better understanding of the processes of EU integrations”.
The project has the objective to bring the process of Euro-integration closer to the inhabitants of south and southeast Serbia by opening three European houses – in Niš, Pirot, and Vranje. European houses will be the centers where citizens from this part of Serbia can obtain information regarding their interests and what that process means for each and every one of them.
European houses will also be the places where different thematic debates, informative-educational campaigns, and numerous cultural events will be organized.
The project is financed by the European Union, and realized by the European agency for Reconstruction through the program of Euro Integration Fund.
Additional information regarding this program and project can be obtained from Dragan Petkovic, program manager (dragan@protecta.org.yu).
13.07.2008.
FLARE IN NIŠ
In the period between 11. - 13.07, in Niš, at the premises of PROTECTA, the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the FLARE network, an international network for the fight against organized crime, was held.
The meeting was attended by:
- Michele Curto, FLARE network President
and the Board members:
- Anna Innocenti (Holland)
- Elena Obezdchikova (Russia)
- Karin Peham Strauss (Austria)
- Roxana Smil (Romania)
- Milan Stefanović (Serbia, NGO PROTECTA Niš)
A press conference as part of the FLARE network presentation in South Serbia was also held in the Media Center Niš.
Further activities of the FLARE network were arranged for the next year at the meeting, as well as the activity plan for promoting FLARE in the Balkans
20.06.2008.
PAINTING EXHIBITION “ROMA PEOPLE REALITY"
In the period between 16. - 20. June, 2008, in Niš, a painting exhibition “Roma people reality” was organized by a Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Center for Civil Society Development PROTECTA from Niš, which marked the beginning of the Decade of Roma people.
On Monday, June 16, 2008, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Kralj Milana Square, this event was opened by Beatrice Mayer, director of SDC in Serbia. On that occasion the citizens of Niš were addressed by a PROTECTA representative, Dragan Miljković, as well as by Osman Balić, a representative of the Roma community in Serbia.
In the program performances, citizens of Niš had a chance to be the first ones listening to an orchestra of Zoran Mamutović “Sounds of South”.
The author of the exhibited photographs was Ives Lereche from Switzerland, who represented, in a very convincing way, everyday life of Roma people all around the world, but also the hardships that surround it.
As part of the manifestation, on Thursday 19, Mr. Lereche organized a photography workshop for all interested photographers from Niš, at the premises of Youth Office in 14/5 Voždova Street, beginning at 5 p.m.
20.06.2008.
YOUTH SEMINAR
From 13. – 19.06.2008, on Veruša, Montenegro, an international seminar named “Youth participation in youth policy development processes in South-East Europe” was held in the organization of Forum MNE from Montenegro, Triagolnik from Macedonia, CZOR from Vojvodina, and CORNO from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Young people, youth organization workers, and volunteers from Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Albania met at the seminar to contribute to the increase of youth involvement in developing youth politics.
This seminar resulted in guidelines, standards, and recommendations regarding youth participation in these processes, which will be distributed to relevant stakeholders. The seminar was attended by a volunteer from PROTECTA, as the only participant from Serbia.
13.06.2008
FLARE NETWORK ESTABLISHED
In the period between 7.-12. June, in Brussels, Belgium, the statutory meeting of the FLARE network was organized. The meeting was attended by 50 NGOs from 22 countries from Europe and the Middle East. It was held in the European parliament building, and, on that occasion, Michele Curto, from the Italian organization Terra del Fuoco, was elected president of the FLARE network. The Board of network directors was also elected at the statutory meeting of the FLARE network, and it comprises six members:
- Roxana Smil, Romania
- Roberto Forte, Italy
- Karin Peham-Strauss, Austria
- Anna Innocenti, Holland
- Alyona Obezdchikna, Russia
- Milan Stefanović, Serbia, representative of PROTECTA
The FLARE network assembly was addressed by the president of the European parliament himself, Mr. Hans-Gert Pöttering.
FLARE network (Freedom, Legality and Rights in Europe) is the largest NGO network for fighting organized crime. The network currently consists of 50 members from 22 countries of Europe and the Middle East (Jordan, Egypt). This network was established with the purpose of fighting a more efficient battle against organized crime in the areas of: corruption, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, etc. The network’s headquarters are in Torino (Italy), where the Italian Center for Fight against Mafia, one of the biggest in Europe, is also situated. More information can be obtained at http://www.flareprogramme.org/
MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
On Friday, May 9, at the premises of the Youth Office in 14/5 Voždova Street, a press conference was held regarding the beginning of the project with the same name “Youth Office”, which in Niš is organized by a City municipality Pantelej and the Center for Civil Society Development PROTECTA. The project has been supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sport. The president of the municipality Pantelej, Bratislav Blagojević, and Dragan Miljković, from the Center for Civil Society Development PROTECTA, spoke at the press conference.
The purpose of the project is to raise the capacity of the Office, which should represent, for young people, contact with institutions. The project should present it a resource of possibilities in the local area and region. The users of the project are young people from the city municipality Pantelej, as well as the youth of Niš.
The Youth Office, through its voluntary activities, has the objective to contribute to the integration of young people into social happenings, to their affirmation and cooperation with institutions. The Youth Office will, in collaboration with all the relevant factors in the local area and region, participate in the implementation of the Youth Strategy, established by the Ministry of Youth and Sport together with various organizations and institutions.
08.05.2008.
EUROPEAN DAYS IN NIŠ
The coalition of non-governmental organizations, European Initiative Niš (EI Niš), is organizing a celebration of the Days of Europe on Friday, May 9, with the beginning at 5 p.m. at the central city square in Niš.
Activists and volunteers of EI Niš, will symbolically, among blue balloons, raise 12 yellow ones, which is all going to be accompanied by the sounds of The Ode to Joy. This is going to mark the beginning of the celebration of the Days of Europe, afterwards followed by performances of local DJs and a tribute band “Circle (Krug)” from Belgrade.
We invite you, on this occasion, to participate in the celebration of the Days of Europe, thus making a step further in building of European Serbia.
Niš, 8 May, 2008.
European Initiative Niš
25.04.2008.
LOCAL COMMUNITIES, EU REGIONALISM AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
In the period between 20. and 25. April, 2008, in the town of Segedin, Hungary, a seminar “Local Communities, EU Regionalism and Institutional Reforms” was held. The seminar, organized by the Centre for Safety Politics from Segedin, was held in the premises of South Eastern European Training Centre, and is part of the project “Segedin Process – from Europe to Europe” with the objective to accelerate the democratization process in Southeast Europe.
The issues discussed at the training were: local communities, European regionalism and European regions, economy, market development and liberalization, institutional reforms and their application, NGO responsibility for the regional safety, relations between NGOs and international institutions, and between NGOs and state institutions.
The seminar was attended by 24 participants form Serbia and Macedonia. Dragan Miljković was the representative from the Center for Civil Society Development “PROTECTA”.
21.04.2008.
DECENTRALIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEW SERBIAN CONSITTUTION AND EU INTEGRATION
On Monday, March 21, 2008, at the premises of Media Centre Niš, a press conference was held with the purpose of promoting an expert project “Decentralization in the Context of the New Serbian Constitution and EU Integration”, realized by the Centre for Regionalism.
The aim of the project is to indicate the shortcomings of the new Constitution related to an important area of territorial organization of authority. Likewise, its purpose is to propose, on an expert basis, the solutions that would contribute to better authority efficiency thorough decentralization and to apply the experiences of developed European countries.
The following experts spoke at the conference:
- Aleksandar Popov – Center for Regionalism, Novi Sad
- Miroslav Prokopijević - Institute for European Studies
- Mladen Jovanović – PROTECTA, Niš
19.04.2008.
PEER TO PEER WITHOUT FEAR
Between 05. and 19.04.2008, in Budva, in the organization of CAZAS, Montenegrin Association Against AIDS, an international seminar “Peer to Peer Without Fear" was held. Young people from Niš, Podgorica, Bijelo Polje, Bar and Spain were better acquainted with the problems relating to HIV and AIDS.
Throughout the seminar, the participants went through the tuition concerning peer-to- peer education, which resulted in successful presentations in a local high school. By visiting different places (old towns in Montenegro, Biograd Lake, Kolašin, Montenegrin coastline from Boka Kotorska Bay to the town of Ulcinj…), the young people had a chance to become familiarized with the natural beauties of Montenegro. Six members/volunteers from PROTECTA underwent this peer-to-peer education.
16.04.2008.
PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE TOPIC OF DECENTRALIZATION
A coalition of non-governmental organizations, European Initiative Niš, invites you o a public debate REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND DECENTRALIZATION, which is going to be held on Wednesday, 16 April, 2008, in the big conference room of the City municipality Medijana (Pariske komune bb Street), with the beginning at 5 p.m.
The issues to be discussed are related to the needs and the process of intensified regional development, strengthening of local self-government through decentralization of the state system and concrete benefits that every individual is going to have from Serbia's joining the EU. The following speakers participated at the public debate:
- Rodoljub Šabić, Commissioner for Information of Public Importance
- Aleksandar Denda, Alliance for Local Community Sustainable Development
- prof. dr Jovan Živković, International University of Novi Pazar
The public debate is taking place as part of the campaign realized by the coalition EI Niš: "Serbia in EI – how I benefit from that, how my city of Niš benefits from that". The admission is free.
14.04.2008.
PROTECTA OPENED THE YOUTH OFFICE
On Monday, 14 April, the City municipality Palilula, the City municipality Pantelej and NGO PROTECTA opened a joint Youth Office in Niš.
The Youth Office was inaugurated by the Minister of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia Snežana Samardžić Marković. The president of the City municipality Palilula Miroslav Djordjević and the president of the City municipality Pantelej Bratislav Blagojević gave speeches at the opening of the Office. On that occasion, the role of an NGO PROTECTA in further work of the Office was presented.
The Minister of Health of the Republic of Serbia Tomica Milosavljević and the Minister of Science of the Republic of Serbia Ana Pešikan, accompanied by numerous other guests, were also present at the ceremonial opening of the Youth Office.
The objectives of the Youth Office are the affirmation of young people, offering support to their initiatives and projects, promotion of healthy lifestyle, economic support of the youth, informing, prevention of destructive behavior, promotion of voluntary work, promotion of the values of tolerance, respect of human rights and equality...
ADDRESS: YOUTH OFFICE, 14-1 VOŽDOVA STREET, 18000 NIŠ
(next to the hotel Niš, on the corner of Voždova and Generala Trenijea Street)
12.04.2008.
URBAN OASIS
On Saturday, 12.04.2008, the central manifestation of announcing the most active resident assemblies was held, as part of the project “URBAN OASIS”. This unique action by PROTECTA, a City municipality MEDIJANA and resident assemblies was financed by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Serbia. A large number of citizens (over 200 of them), rich music program and a fire brigade demonstration of the Police department from Niš are the confirmation of the success of this project.
06.04.2008.
TRAINING “PČINJ REGION AND (DE)CENTRALIZATION” HELD IN VRANJE
On Wednesday, April 9, 2008, a one-day training “Pčinj Region and (De)centralization” was organized by the National coalition for decentralization and NGO PROTECTA. The following topics were presented to training participants, NGO representatives, local authorities, media, syndicates, and business sector representatives: Decentralization – terminology and values, Decentralization experiences in the world, and Decentralization in Serbia. In the second part of the training, local and regional problems that are the consequence of centralization were identified, and the participants presented local agencies’ propositions aiming at solving these problems, as well as advocating for decentralization. After the training a local action of decentralization advocating is going to be held in Vranje.
06.04.2008.
“PROMOTION OF FAN-COACHING BY THE YOUTH SECTOR” TRAINING
EUROPA PARK, GERMANY
In Europa Park, Germany, from 6 to 10 of April, an international conference and training seminar on the topic “Promotion of Fan-coaching by the youth sector” was held, organized by the Council of Europe. The seminar was attended by approximately 30 people from about 20 European countries, and an NGO PROTECTA was represented by the Executive Director Milan Stefanović. The seminar was a part of the campaign “All Different - All Equal” - Youth Racism, Violence and Sport.
04.02.2008. Topical!
EU FLAG APPEARED IN POBEDINA STREET
On Monday, February 4th 2008, the day after presidential elections in Serbia, European Union flag appeared at the window of PROTECTA’s office in Nis. PROTECTA is expecting that President of the Republic will fulfill his preelectoral promises.
31.01.2008.
SUPPORT OF NIS NGOs TO BORIS TADIC
At the press conference that was held within the premises of Media Center Nis at 11h today, seven NGOs from Nis gave the support to Boris Tadic at the forthcoming elections on February 3rd. In the course of the event, the following press release was issued:
PRESS RELEASE
Now is the moment that 75% of Serbian citizens that wish Serbia to join the European Union show their inclination at the elections. This decision is too important to be overshadowed by less important party interests or to arouse lack of interest.
To put it in a nutshell, only the choice of Boris Tadic stands for the clear message to Europe that we want to become the part of the European Union. For that reason we are going to vote for Boris Tadic and we invite all Serbian citizens that want to follow European road of Serbia, to do the same thing.
- Committee for Civic Initiative CCI Nis
- Human Rights Committee Nis
- Center for civil society development Protecta
- Human Rights Center Nis
- Youth Initiative for Human Rights
- Women Research Center
- Media & Reform Center
31st January 2008
Media Center Nis
23.01.2008.
CITY FORUM – UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIS
On Wednesday, January 23rd at 20h TV5 presented the CITY FORUM with the subject UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIS, produced by Media Center Nis.
The participants at the City Forum were:
- Lidija Nedeljković, National Employment Agency
- Đorđje Damnjanović, Association of Entrepreneurs of Nis
- Dejan Milošević, PROTECTA – Civil Employment Initiative
23.01.2008.
CITY FORUM – DECENTRALIZATION
On Wednesday, January 23rd 2008 at 18.00h within the premises of Media Center Nis the CITY FORUM was organized with the subject of DECENTRALIZATION.
The participants at the City Forum were:
- Dragana Antić, Commissioner for information at the City Assembly
- Dragan Aranđelović Ara, member of LDP
- Dragan Miljković, PROTECTA – National Coalition for Decentralization
The City Forum was recorded and will have its premiere on TV5 on Wednesday, January 30th at 21.00h.
09.01.2008
MEETING OF DELEGATIONS
OF REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PROTECTA
On Wednesday, January 9 2008, the meeting was held between delegations of Regional Chamber of Commerce of Nis and Protecta.
The meeting that was held within the business premises of Protecta, served the purpose of discussing the possibilities of cooperation in the field of institutional capacity building for attracting investments into the region, as well as of involving common efforts towards realization of these plans through realization of various programs and projects. Delegations presented detailed possibilities of cooperation and agreed about concrete activities that will provide results in practice.
07.01.2008
NEW YEAR PACKETS
On Orthodox Christmas, January 7th 2008, Medical Students’ Association in Serbia and Montenegro YUMSIC and Center for civil society development PROTECTA from Nis organized distribution of New Year and Christmas packets among children from association MNRO from Nis.
These packets were collected in the course of traditional action „Sweet party – Candy for a smile“ that has been organized by association YUMSIC for 10 years now, and that involves children that are usually deprived of these kind of packet. This is the third action of this kind in a row in Nis. It was held on December 24th 2007 in Cuba Club, with the attendance of great number of students from the University of Nis.
28.12.2007
INVITATION TO YOUTH NGOs TO TAKE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM “YOUTH ACTION FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY”
Whom does the program address?
- Representatives of registered civil associations that deal with the problems and needs of young people
- Informal groups or initiatives oriented towards youth population
The program addresses the groups that work within small local communities (up to 10.000 inhabitants), municipalities and smaller places, as well as the parts of bigger cities that are clearly defined as separate entities (e.g. suburbs, small settlements, blocks, city zones etc.). The right to participate have young people from 16-30 years of age. Group number is limited.
Districts covered by the program are: Pirot, Pcinja, Jablanica, Toplica and Nisava.
The program offers:
- Three-module education dealing with the topics: project management, organization management, as well as the topics related to local community development (problem identification, local fundraising, cooperation with the media, local self-government and business sector etc.)
- Allocation of mini-grant for co-funding of the projects of program participants and application of knowledge obtained from educative modules
The project „Youth action for a better community“ aims at capacity building of youth non-governmental organizations / informal groups for direct impact on social and other needs within their local communities, as well as at increasing of their recognizability and influence at the local and regional level.
Application deadline: January 31st 2008 You can download the application form here.
 Information, application forms and contact
(working days 9 – 16h):
PROTECTA – Center for civil society development
TPC Kalča BI-43, 18000 Niš
018/522 788; 514 360; 514 361
omladina@protecta.org.yu
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