Development of green and digital skills for sustainable future
UNICEF in Serbia and Telekom Srbija have launched a partnership focused on the development of young people’s green and digital skills, their active participation in the green transition, and creating sustainable solutions for local communities. In the course of two years, some 500 adolescents will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and hands-on experience through practical training, collaboration with professional educators, and teamwork. This will allow them to develop their own ideas, use modern technologies and contribute to addressing ecological challenges in their communities.
The program will be implemented in the local self-governments that are part of the project. There, young people will learn through practical training how to use modern digital technologies to create solutions that contribute to energy efficiency and environmental protection. With the help of professional educators and mentors, they will work on concrete ideas and prototypes, which will enable them to gain new knowledge and practical experience, and also develop team and project skills important for further education and professional development.
“Young people have the potential to be drivers of sustainable change. They, however, need the knowledge and practical skills that will allow them to actively contribute to the development of their communities and find their place in the labour market more easily. Thanks to this partnership, the adolescents will have access to non-formal learning programs that combine digital competences, green skills and active citizenship”, said Jelena Kovačević of UNICEF.
This partnership is part of the wider commitment of Telekom Srbija to contribute to the sustainable development of society by means of socially responsible business, through investment in education, youth empowerment, digitalization and environmental protection. The company continuously supports initiatives focused on environmental protection, especially projects in the sphere of biodiversity protection, while the partnership with UNICEF additionally enables young people to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for the green transition.
“By investing in young people’s knowledge and skills, we are creating the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient future of Serbia. This partnership is in accordance with the commitment we have clearly defined in the ESG strategy of Telekom Srbija Group – that technological progress makes sense only when it creates long-term value for people, communities and the environment. Together with UNICEF we want to offer young people the chance to turn their ideas into concrete green solutions and actively contribute to the development of their local communities”, said Zoran Karić, an environmental expert from Telekom Srbija and winner of the “Sustainable Development Leader” award in the individual category at the “ESG Leaders” competition, organized under the auspices of PwC Srbija.
Within the partnership, research will be conducted among young people via UNICEF’s U-Report platform to give them the chance to voice their opinions, ideas and needs regarding environmental protection and sustainable energy, and more actively participate in the decision-making on topics affecting their communities and their future. Based on the experiences and results of the program, a digital Green Skills Youth Guide will be created, which will be available as a permanent educational resource.
