On December 6th, a panel was held at the Center for Professional Development in Niš to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. During the event, the Youth with Disabilities Forum invited all interested young people with disabilities from Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad, Zrenjanin, and Subotica to apply for paid internship programs. The program aims to improve employment opportunities for young people with disabilities by helping them acquire new knowledge and skills through internships. It is implemented within the project “Job Fit: Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.” The project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and focuses on increasing the participation of persons with disabilities in the labor market and strengthening their economic independence.
On this occasion, the second anniversary of the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation with project partners, including the City of Niš, was also celebrated.
“The City of Niš is proud that many companies have applied to be part of this internship program. We believe that this will significantly improve the position of people with disabilities in the labor market. We welcome such activities that contribute to improving the position of hard-to-employ groups, among which are motivated and hardworking individuals,” said Vili Hadžić, Assistant Mayor of Niš.
The call for internships for young people with disabilities is open to motivated candidates up to 35 years of age who are eager to learn and gain work experience through internships in 39 leading companies and employers across Serbia, offering 55 available positions. During the two-month internship program, which will take place in February and March 2025, the Youth with Disabilities Forum will support the interns by covering financial compensation.
“Interested candidates can apply by filling out a form available on the website fmi.rs and then sending it to the email address activitymanager@fmi.rs with the subject ‘Application for Internship’ by January 10, 2025. Detailed descriptions of individual internship positions, as well as the application form, are available on the website. A candidate can apply for two positions, and selected candidates will participate in a preparatory online workshop organized by the Youth with Disabilities Forum before starting the internship,” said Tanja Radović Krstić, Program Manager at the Youth with Disabilities Forum.
For more information, interested individuals can contact the YDF via email at activitymanager@fmi.rs or by phone at 064 8917579 and 011 2622846, from 9 AM to 4 PM on weekdays.
Additionally, interested candidates from Niš can obtain information at the Career Center for Persons with Disabilities, which was opened last year in the Caritas Niš premises. The center aims to support people with disabilities in their job search and integration into the work environment.
“At our Career Center, we offer career counseling services, organize personal development workshops, provide various labor market training opportunities, and offer job search support. This year, more employers from Niš have applied for internships, and we encourage interested young people with disabilities to apply,” said Dušan Đorđević, Career Counselor for Persons with Disabilities at Caritas Niš.
Jasna Petrović, one of last year’s interns, gained significant knowledge and experience during her internship, increasing her chances of finding a current job:
“Internships are crucial for empowering persons with disabilities because they provide a sense of belonging and help overcome barriers and challenges that people with disabilities face when seeking employment,” said Jasna, emphasizing the importance of Career Centers that, through their programs and support, allow people with disabilities to gain practical knowledge and skills.
The YDF’ experience working with employers shows that more and more employers recognize the importance of developing an inclusive work environment, which they can achieve by collaborating with the Forum through training, the employment portal for people with disabilities zaposljavanje.fmi.rs, or internship programs.
“As a company dedicated to community development, we support initiatives that promote equality and enable each individual to reach their potential. We believe that an inclusive work environment enriches both individuals and the organization, bringing diversity and new perspectives. Our goal is to provide young people with disabilities with the support and resources needed for professional development and overcoming barriers,” said Minja Jovanović, Recruitment Specialist at Better Collective, a company that advertised a job opening this year through the competition.
The internship program is part of the “Job Fit: Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities” project. The project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Youth with Disabilities Forum. Other project partners include Caritas Serbia, the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, Smart Kolektiv, and the Center for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities in Serbia.
