In 2024, YMCA Serbia’s Digital Community Hub program made significant progress in fostering digital literacy, safety, and equity.
By leveraging the mobility of the digital hub, the program reached diverse and underserved populations, providing transformative learning experiences.
Expanding Digital Literacy Across Vojvodina
YMCA Serbia`s Digital Community Hub program focused on equipping students and educators with essential digital skills, particularly in rural and marginalized communities. Workshops covered key topics such as online safety, coding, and digital well-being, creating inclusive educational opportunities.
Key Activities and Milestones
- Coding workshops for students at the Elementary School in Bački Petrovac, with participation from all 1st to 4th-grade students.
- Leadership and early education programs to keep the hub active and relevant to the community.
- Expansion of the mobile digital hub to schools in Vojvodina, prioritizing underserved communities.
- Interactive workshops on online safety, coding, and digital well-being, with participant feedback emphasizing the hub as a safe and empowering learning space.
- Introduction of a digital equity educator and content creator who enhanced outreach with engaging social media content
- Digital Community Hub
- Full implementation of internet safety and coding workshops across all targeted schools.
- YMCA Summer Camp sessions integrating environmental education with digital learning through the ECOKids platform, engaging 60 campers.
- Outreach to rural and minority communities in Vojvodina, featuring digital leadership, AI training, and internet safety workshops using tools like HP LIFE and Code.org.
Program Impact
- Schools Reached: Over 10 schools participated in the mobile digital hub program.
- Participants: Approximately 2,500 students and teachers benefitted from workshops.
- Key Focus Areas: Coding, digital well-being, sustainability, and internet safety.
Strengthening Inclusive Education
The Digital Community Hub program promoted inclusive education by bringing digital learning opportunities to underserved communities. The contributions of the new team member significantly enhanced program delivery and increased YMCA Serbia’s digital presence through creative media content.
A Lasting Impact on Digital Empowerment
The Digital Community Hub project has had a lasting impact by equipping young people and educators with essential digital skills while fostering a culture of safety, creativity, and lifelong learning. The program’s success highlights YMCA Serbia’s commitment to digital inclusion and its ability to create meaningful change through collaboration and innovative education.
YMCA Serbia remains dedicated to strengthening its initiatives and building more inclusive digital communities across the Western Balkans.
More stories from the West Balkan Digital Hubs, here
Digital Community Hubs in the West Balkans is a YMCA initiative, powered by HP to accelerate digital equity in the regions, by helping YMCAs in Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia to expand existing or create new digital community hubs.
The project aims to expand existing digital hubs and create new ones to enable young people, including those from marginalized communities, teachers, and youth workers, to access greater opportunities for education and employment.
