Empowering Education: YMCA’s Digital Mobile Hub Transforms Learning for Students in Serbia powered by HP
The team at YMCA Serbia realized that through a mobile digital community hub, more young people, children, and educators in need of services can be reached. The strategic plan for the project is to spread awareness about this opportunity to schools in the Vojvodina region of Northern Serbia, where communities are diverse and underserved.
This year, the aim is to reach 10 schools, impacting thousands of children who, thanks to HP and YMCA, will gain access to technology and non-formal learning methods within the school environment.
Milina Krajčíková, a fourth-grade teacher at the Ján Čajak Elementary School, shared with us the importance of investing in children’s digital education.
“The modern era has brought many advancements to the educational process and everyday life, with which children are confronted from an early age. Each child is compelled to be a part of the achievements of this modern age. Therefore, a new subject, the Digital World, has been added to the school system in Serbia. Through this subject, children from the first grade onwards begin to learn how to use digital technologies, which often catches schools unprepared. For example, our school lacks a computer lab for lower grades, only having facilities for the higher ones. This is where YMCA becomes invaluable, bringing activities directly into schools to fill this gap. Furthermore, fourth-grade students don’t have textbooks for this subject, so teachers are striving to find alternative methods to engage them. YMCA and HP significantly assist in this, especially for older teachers who may not be as tech-savvy.”
“Our students eagerly attend YMCA activities, including summer camps, day care center activities, creative workshops, and digital workshops, which are particularly beneficial for us”, said the teacher.
The YMCA Digital Mobile Hub initiative has become an integral part of our school’s ecosystem, providing essential resources and support for both students and teachers alike.
Through its innovative programs and partnerships, it has bridged the gap between traditional education and the demands of the digital age, empowering the younger generation with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the modern world.
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.
