Belgrade Open School (BOS) awarded the best change-makers in 2022, for the fourth year in a row. This award is delivered to citizens and civil society organizations and informal groups whose efforts influence the lives of their fellow citizens, contributing to the development of the local community, improving access to social services, cultural content, healthier environment.
As in previous years, the award was delivered in four well-known categories, but this year, a new category Success through Synergy was launched. This category awards the organization that achieved cooperation with the business community and jointly advocated the creation of a stimulating environment for important changes in the community.
Out of the great competition, the following initiatives were awarded:
1. In the Change through Cooperation category, which highlights examples of good practice and successful cooperation between public authorities and civil society organizations, the winner is Caritas Šabac for the initiative "Development of social protection services in the municipality of Bogatić".
2. In the Success through Synergy category, the first winner is the Women's Association Etno Carolija Prva Kutina for the restoration of the Cultural Centre in the village Prva Kutina and the initiation of citizens of all structures by organizing various cultural events in 2022.
3. In the category Citizen Voice for a campaign that, through its public advocacy activities, mobilized a large number of citizens around a goal - the Creatively Affirmative Organization Parnas from Novi Sad, which realized the 20th International Film Festival Uhvati Film - a festival whose actors and authors are people with disability.
4. In the category Advocacy by a non-formal group as the most successful initiative of an informal group, the initiative Bežanija remains - Kosa stands from Belgrade was awarded. The initiative launched and united the residents of Bežaniska Kosa in the fight against the construction of 3 skyscrapers in a quiet family neighborhood with mostly low-rise buildings.
5. In the Change-maker category, which celebrates individuals who have excelled in public advocacy, the award was given to Olivera Jovović for the initiative "Expanding the list of neonatal screening to spinal muscular atrophy" and Vesna Stanimirović who launched the initiative "Our little means a lot to someone". Through this initiative, she collected humanitarian aid for vulnerable individuals and families.
Special certificates of appreciation were also presented at the award ceremony. Certificates were given for contribution to systemic strengthening of mental health in the community (PIN - Psychosocial Innovation Network); for contribution to the fight for a dignified life for children and young people with autism (Association of Citizens Help and Support for Persons with Autism in Kolubara District); for raising the visibility of the problem of economic inequality between men and women (Women's Association of the Kolubara District); for providing equal opportunities to people with disabilities and support in realizing the right to work (Udruženje Zadrugarstvo from Kragujevac); for contribution to the protection of rivers in Serbia (VIVA Water Inspectors of Valjeva); for overcoming taboos (Women's Initiative); for the fight for the adoption of the Law on Emergency Aid (Dejan Zejnula).
This event is organized within the project "Civil Society Advocates: Through Partnership towards Democratic Development in Serbia", which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by Belgrade Open School, in partnership with the BFPE Foundation for Responsible Society and the Balkan Research Network Serbia (BIRN). The four-year initiative, whohcwas launched in November 2018 aims to improve the practice of public advocacy in civil society.
