MLADI ISTRAZIVACI SRBIJE UDRUZENJE

Young Researchers of Serbia (YRS) is a non-profit, non-political NGO that gathers young people around common interests, ideas, and goals. YRS arose from the research movement at Valjevo in 1969, but in 1976 was officially established as a network of organizations, societies, clubs, and sections with research programs, gathered around the coordinative office on the republic level in Belgrade. Throughout its history, the number of members changed, but there were over 50 different organizations taking part. Today YRS represents the organization on the national level and unites three thematically different but interconnected sectors – Youth Sector, Voluntary Service of Serbia, and Environmental Protection and Educational Sector. Young Researchers of Serbia has more than 3000 members, mostly young people aged 15-30. Our motto is: THINK BIG – do a little: start an avalanche! Our vision is to be the driving force for all those whose aim is to make our planet a more peaceful, just, and healthy place. Driven by science and education, our mission is to contribute: – to environmental protection and nature conservation, – to development of voluntarism and its values, – to scientific creativity and active participation of the youth Our main aims are environmental protection, environmental education, youth exchange, and work with young people, as well as the promotion of sustainable development, scientific creativity, and voluntarism. Voluntary Service of Serbia (VSS) is a volunteer exchange service center founded in 1990 as one of the sectors of Young Researchers of Serbia (YRS). The goal of the VSS is to develop and promote volunteering through several of its continuing programs: International exchange of volunteers and coordination of an informal network of external member organizations (Contact points) in Serbia; – Organization of international volunteer workcamps in Serbia; – European volunteering service and long-term volunteering; – Development of infrastructure and supportive environment for volunteering and networking of relevant stakeholders in Serbia and worldwide, participation in working groups, commissions, and membership in national and international networks; Young Researchers of Serbia is a member of different CSO networks, where the VSS stands for the development and promotion of volunteering. Young Researchers of Serbia is one of the founding members of the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS), an associate member of the National Association of Youth Workers (NAPOR), and a member of international networks: Alliance of European Voluntary Services, the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Services (CCIVS), Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) and a partner member of Service Civil International (SCI) in Serbia. Young Researchers of Serbia is one of the founders of the regional network South East European Youth Network (SEEYN).