• 2025-02-10

Regional Internship Program for Youth: Laila Šašivarević Gains New Knowledge and Experience at CDF

Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe (RYDE) project

As part of the Regional Internship Program, implemented through the Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe (RYDE) project with the support of the European Union, Laila Šašivarević from Sarajevo spent two months interning at the Center for Democracy Foundation in Belgrade.

The program provides young people from the region with opportunities to gain new knowledge and work experience in civil society organizations outside their home countries, as well as to learn about European integration processes and policy reforms affecting youth.

During her internship, which lasted from December 2024 to February 2025, Laila participated in RYDE Policy Labs – structured dialogues with decision-makers – connected with young people from different countries and explored key youth policy issues. She also attended the Youth Policy Forum on economic and housing independence of young people, organized by the National Youth Council of Serbia.

As part of her engagement, Laila wrote a blog titled “Environmental Issues as Drivers of Youth Activism in the Western Balkans” exploring how environmental protection can serve as a catalyst for social change among young people in the region. You can read the blog at the following links:

Ekološke teme kao pokretači omladinskog aktivizma na Zapadnom Balkanu

Environmental Issues as Drivers of Youth Activism in the Western Balkan

“I had the opportunity to get to know the civil sector in Serbia, as well as the challenges young people and the broader community face. Through this program, I learned how we can work together to create change. I highly recommend this internship to anyone interested in gaining similar experience and contributing to social change”, Laila stated speaking about her experience at the Center for Democracy Foundation.

Watch the video with Laila here.

Applications for the next cycle of volunteering within the Regional Internship Program will be opening soon!

Center for Democracy Foundation