Children and youth

The population of children in Serbia is decreasing year by year, and the challenges that children and young people face in growing up every day are increasing. Help Net views children as young fellow citizens and a social resource, offers them the opportunity to have fun and learn, and advocates that they be provided with the rights that belong to them according to laws and international conventions.

The issue of educating children in the spirit of participation and giving them opportunities to be responsible for following their developmental potential is very important and applies to all countries. Many countries have already introduced programs and initiatives that encourage children’s participation in decision-making on issues affecting their lives and environment. There are several reasons why it is important for children to be involved in the decision-making process and to be brought up in the spirit of participation:

  • Children have the right to participate in decision-making on matters affecting their lives, according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
  • Children’s participation in decision-making can improve their understanding of political processes and teach them the importance of civic activism.
  • Children’s participation can contribute to solving problems in society and improve the quality of decisions made.
  • Raising children in the spirit of participation can help create a more empathetic and inclusive society.

Help Net members speak with children and young people, inform them, ask for their opinion, and involves them in topics of importance for their current and future life. We learn from children and youth, practicing a model of transformative leadership, and thus encourage the full potential of each child.

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