The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Serbia, in collaboration with the Red Cross of Serbia, is implementing activities aimed at reducing the digital divide as part of the “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” Programme, in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with the support of the Government of Switzerland. The project aims to improve the digital skills of older people in six local self-government units in the Republic of Serbia (Kragujevac, Kruševac, Velika Plana, Zaječar, Boljevac, and Niš).

Training sessions included practical exercises on how to use communication platforms and e-services (such as eGovernment, eBanking, eHealth, Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, internet safety, etc.). Special focus was placed on accessing useful applications, such as scheduling appointments for issuing personal documents, using the “My Doctor” service, e-Cadastre, and more. During the training, participants learn how to navigate the digital world independently, which reduces the risk of social isolation.

The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed today between the Red Cross of Velika Plana, the Municipality of Velika Plana,and the Velika Plana Social Welfare Center. This will further strengthen the partnership between the institutions, focusing on long-term support for the digital empowerment of citizens, while ensuring the continued development and visibility of the project at the local level.

The agreement was signed by Strahinja Pavešković, President of the Municipality of Velika Plana, Zlatan Korunović, Secretary of the Red Cross of Velika Plana, and Aleksandra Đulić, Director of the Center for Social Work of Velika Plana.

Strahinja Pavešković, President of the Municipality of Velika Plana, thanked the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Government of Switzerland, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Serbia for their support, expressing confidence that project activities will ease the lives of older persons, especially those in rural areas.

Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, a ceremony was held to present certificates to the participants who successfully completed the training and improved their digital skills in Velika Plana. Since April 2024, a total of 257 participants from Velika Plana have completed the training and improved their digital skills. 

The “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” Programme is jointly implemented by the agencies of the United Nations in Serbia - UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNEP – in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and with the financial support of the Government of Switzerland.