A three-day capacity-building training, organised as part of the regional EMPOWERED project, was held from 9 to 11 December 2025 at the Centre for Professional Development in Leskovac. Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC), as the partner organisation from Serbia, implemented the activity in cooperation with the City of Leskovac, while the Youth Disabilities Forum conducted the training.

The training convened representatives from the City Administration of Leskovac, the Centre for Social Welfare, and local civil society organisations. Participants included organisations representing and supporting persons with disabilities, such as associations for individuals with multiple sclerosis, paraplegia, muscular dystrophy, and organisations for blind and visually impaired persons, along with stakeholders involved in independent living support.

The training strengthened participants’ practical skills in planning and implementing inclusive local initiatives. Key topics included project activity planning, basic budgeting, risk identification and management, monitoring and evaluation, and preparation of project documentation required for effective implementation and reporting. The programme combined structured lessons with interactive activities, enabling participants to apply the presented tools and approaches to address specific local needs and priorities that support the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

More about the project EMPOWERED