Respect for diversity at home and in preschool groups is the topic for focussed discussions with parents, training for preschool teachers, assistants and CSO representatives. This is CYSO way to work on prevention of violence. Since 2012, CYSO has been the National Coordinator for all the activities in Serbia in the annual global 19 Day Campaign against abuse and violence against children and youth.


CYSO provides support for education of children and youth, as well as their parents, both independently and with our local partners. The programmes include: support to early inclusion of children into preschool education, especially for children from marginalised groups; support to children, parents, preschool institutions and schools for quality education for all children; support and encouragement for youth from marginalised groups to continue their education up to university level; support for parents and youth, who dropped out of school, to continue their education.


CYSO has developed and successfully implements two accredited training programmes for employees in preschool institutions and primary schools and has also other training programmes for youth activists, local community development networks and non-governmental organisations.

CYSO is a member of four different international networks and we play an active role in several international programmes, projects and campaigns. In doing so, CYSO is constantly learning from others, exchanging knowledge and experience with organisations worldwide and is growing into a respectable regional center and valuable source of knowledge, information and experience in certain fields of work.


CYSO has been actively participating in programmes for prevention of trafficking in children and youth since 2004. We organize and coordinate various activities to raise awareness among children and youth about the dangers of trafficking in children and youth. CYSO also provides legal and technical assistance for the late registration of non-registered children and their parents. We also have an active role in the National Team for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.


Children and Youth Support Organisation (CYSO) recognises environmental awareness raising and needs for promotion of active participation in environmental protection and preservation as most important areas for engaging children and youth from the very beginning of their education. Our overall objective is to help them understand the importance and value of natural resources, to develop habits which will keep their immediate environment safe and clean and help them develop and foster a sense of responsibility for environmental preservation and sustainable development.

Since 2005, we have been implementing programmes related to the environment protection in southern Serbia mostly, but in other regions of the country as well. We have developed a model for cooperation which involves networking of children and youth, citizens, non-profit making organisations, schools, companies and state institutions.

At the same time, CYSO is dedicated to strengthening the capacities of local NGOs in their efforts to act and work in their local environment as independent agents of change, but in cooperation with local communities and schools as well.

Our model of networking has proven to be very successful because it supports children and youth develop an active approach towards recycling in general, gathering waste for recycling, and they understand that they can plan and carry out new joint actions with the money they earn through selling the collected recyclable waste. Thanks to our programmes, the media are showing more interest in topics concerning environmental issues and our efforts in environmental awareness raising of the local communities are also successful.

As with all our projects, these environmental programmes are also being implemented in cooperation with national and international organisations, local and state institutions and educational institutions of all levels.


“Do something for yourself while you can!” is the title of a programme for secondary school students and other current and future youth activists. Themes which are discussed at the youth training are: opportunities, advantages and benefits of volunteering, possibilities for international cooperation and involvement as well as methodology for development, planning and implementation of joint activities. Youth trainees are also supported and encouraged to build links and cooperate with other young people, groups and NGOs.


CYSO has developed and published several research and analysis papers and publications, alone or together with its partners.