On the 15th of June, YMCA Europe visited YMCA Serbia’s Digital Hub hosted at OPENS Youth Center in Novi Sad – a vivid example of how access to technology, strong partnerships and inspired youth work can transform opportunities for young people and communities.
In this shared space, HP‑powered Digital Hubs, HP HOPE laptops and an enthusiastic group of youth workers and volunteers all told the same story: when young people gain digital skills, the whole community moves forward.
YMCA Serbia at the heart of digital inclusion
YMCA Serbia has become a driver of digital inclusion, building Digital Hubs that bring technology and learning directly to young people. Through the HP–YMCA partnership, the hub at OPENS is equipped with HP HOPE laptops that support HP LIFE courses for young entrepreneurs, internet safety and digital wellbeing workshops, programming courses, education for seniors, career counselling and CV support.
These programmes sit alongside YMCA Serbia’s broader youth work – interactive workshops, youth leadership trainings and digital camps – making the hub a true “third space” where young people can learn, experiment and connect at their own pace.
From AI literacy to an XBOX in hubs
The visit also celebrated YMCA Serbia’s strong engagement in the YMCA AI Sprint – a European‑wide initiative delivered through the YMCA-Microsoft-Founderz partnership that builds AI literacy among YMCA staff, youth workers and young volunteers.
By running AI Sprint activities in their Digital Hub, YMCA Serbia helped youth leaders explore how AI can support programme design, communication and everyday youth work, and was selected as one of the XBOX prize winners in the initiative’s draw.
During the Novi Sad visit, YMCA Europe officially handed over this Microsoft‑donated XBOX, which will now be used as a creative tool for digital engagement – connecting esports‑based activities with conversations about teamwork, media literacy, healthy gaming and digital wellbeing.
Skills for a shared future – locally and across borders
Looking ahead to World Youth Skills Day on July 15 and YMCA’s “Skills in Action” campaign, YMCA Serbia is preparing activities that connect digital with the theme “Skills for a shared future”. The visit also created space for sharing good practices and building new connections between YMCA Serbia and YMCA Arad in Romania, strengthening cross‑border cooperation around digital hubs and youth‑led programmes.
Together, these efforts show how HP‑powered Digital Hubs, AI learning and regional partnerships can turn global commitments into local realities – bringing us closer to a Europe where every young person has access to the skills, spaces and support they need for a shared future.
