YMCA Serbia is accelerating digital inclusion by expanding its Digital Hub activities to Belgrade and Novi Sad, the country’s two largest cities.
Through strategic partnerships and innovative programmes supported by HP, the YMCA is reaching new communities with free digital education, career-focused training, and future-ready skills for young people and youth workers.
Recently, YMCA Serbia participated in one of the most dynamic events in the region – the Komuna Handmade Festival, held at Belgrade Waterfront, a growing hub for IT and innovation in the Balkans.
With over 20,000 visitors attending across two days, YMCA Serbia’s Mobile Digital Community Hub attracted strong visibility throughout the event. The team used the opportunity to promote HP LIFE, a free business skills training program that gives people all over the world the opportunity to learn in-demand skills and core business concepts – whether they want to enhance their education, start their own business, or secure a better job – by providing free, accessible training courses in eight languages.
HP LIFE offers free, practical courses in areas such as entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, finance and IT – especially valuable for young people, small business owners and market vendors.
The festival drew participants from all across Serbia, including rural areas where access to digital education remains limited. YMCA staff helped visitors explore HP LIFE and guided them through available learning opportunities. The partnership was further enhanced by the fact that four members of Komuna’s organising team are also part of YMCA Serbia’s staff and board, highlighting shared values around youth empowerment and creative entrepreneurship.
Beyond the capital, YMCA Serbia is continuing to grow the HP LIFE initiative in new locations. In Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city and home to OPENS – one of the Balkans’ most active youth centres – the YMCA has helped equip the space with 20 HP laptops.
OPENS Youth Center is the result of joint 20-year continuous work and cooperation of young people, their associations and the City of Novi Sad to improve the position of young people. The building has an area of about 950 m² and is located in the Creative District of the city. The Center is designed for young people, youth organizations, informal groups and professionals who work with young people.
Together with OPENS, YMCA has launched a new series of weekly digital learning sessions designed to reach young people in areas where YMCA had not previously been active.
These sessions include:
- 3D printing workshops
- IT camps
- Virtual reality activities
Each is tailored to make tech education more engaging, accessible and practical for young people from a range of backgrounds.
Connecting both initiatives – from Belgrade to Novi Sad – is Ana, a dedicated YMCA Serbia staff member leading the coordination of both programmes and ensuring continuity and impact.
Now in its third year of HP LIFE implementation, YMCA Serbia continues to focus on expanding access to digital skills through strategic partnerships, high-impact public engagement and meaningful outreach. Whether at youth centres or major festivals, the YMCA remains committed to delivering free, relevant and future-oriented digital education where it is needed most.
