Motivating volunteers in Serbia

1. Motivating volunteers in Serbia Our case study

2. Be aware this is not applicablein all the places

3. Youth of JAZAS was founded in 1994 at the time of the deepest isolation Serbia has experienced and great divisions in the Serbian society. • All of the actors in the Serbian society in those years were among themselves divided onto patriots (the true meaning would be loyal to Milosevic regime) and traitors (true meaning being organizations helped by institutions from the West). • Every topic was a political one.

4. EXCEPT FOR AIDS !!!

5. We were at that time one of the rare youth organizations gathering young people with the topic being politically benign to everyone. • BUT FOR SURE WE WERE THE ONLY ORGANISATION IN SERBIA GATHERING SUCH LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE

6. We did not have the trouble with source of financing. (There is a proverb in Serbia saying “The sweet lamb gets the attention of two mothers”). • This was best put by the foreign Minister for foreign affairs of Yugoslavia, Goran Svilanovic who once in private conversation told me: • “You were the only NGO in Serbia with the post in Working Group on Young People of Stability Pact for SEE and in bodies of Directorate for Sport and Youth of CoE, and at the same time financed by five different ministries of Milosevic government.”

7. We did not have dilemma: the money with which Milosevic’s government had, was not theirs to spend. It belonged to the citizens of Serbia and whenever we were able to snitch a diner from Milosevic, we considered this a patriotic act.

8. How were we founded? • A group of enthusiasts from several faculties from Belgrade University gathered on December 16, 1994 at the faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade and founded what was at the time Yugoslav Society Against AIDS.

9. From the beginning, we knew we did not want to be one of the many nongovernmental organizations in Serbia in those years. Why? The answer is simple: NGO scene in Serbia had very bad image. Majority of the people thought of them as: • Time wasters • Unsuccessful characters with nothing better to do • Traitors • People with no positive energy and not much of what you could call capability

10. We have had clear strategy of public appearance: • In opposite of huge majority of NGOs in Serbia who were moaning on TV that: • Government is not helpful • That citizens have no understanding for their important activities • That local authority does not wish to cooperate with them…

11. Our volunteers working in PR department had clear homework • “Leave positive impression of young, capable man who can do anything hesets his/her mind on”

12. The statements we have made on TV were: • We are satisfied for the understanding shown by government for our activities. We understand that there is heavy economic situation but are sure the government is doing everything possible in this moment • Thanks to the citizens who are showing great understanding and providing us unselfish assistance for the activities we implement

13. Sure, this was not true at the very beginning but our standing point was the perception of what average Serbian person thinks: • If no one wishes to help you, I am not the only fool you will milk for benefit! • If everyone is giving the money I will not be the only cheap not to give the money !

14. The strategy has started to work very fast. The people have really started to help us, the Government has placed our organization on the budget of 5 ministries (3 republic and 2 federal)

15. We will not be far away from the truth if we say that in the period from 1995 to 2000 there was no state company or institution that refused to help us in one way or another. (IFPA) National TV has given us 100 free of charge broadcasts of our TV clip for December 1 and it has remained the tradition up until now. • This example was followed by six different stations with national coverage.

16. We were one of the rare organizations who had consensus in the society that we were doing the beautiful and positive thing on modern and new way.

17. In addition, what is most important of all: • YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE STARTED TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUTH OF JAZAS WORK IN LARGE NUMBERS

18. Branch offices started to grow, Novi Sad, Pozarevac, Pancevo, Nis…. All in total 12 aside from Belgrade. • At that time, we did not have the structure. • We were more of a movement then the organization.

19. We started to involve public persons to our activities: actors, singers, sportsmen.

20. For the purpose of presenting public campaigns, we hired the best agencies in Serbia at that time: Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy & Mather, I.C.P.S,….

21. We have always wondered what is the idea that attracts the young people and motivates them to work 10, 12 hours non-stop, for free, for Youth of JAZAS?

22. We are under the opinion that the answer can be found in following several facts: • We have given the opportunity for young person in Serbia to do something good, of benefit to the community (not related to politics) and this work to make them feel good about themselves • We have provided an opportunity for young people to design the activities and to implement them on their own in this way expressing their creativity and productivity • Famous persons were involved in those activities whom with they have communicated themselves, which for sure created a feeling of importance to them • We have given the chance to volunteers to in the time of the greatest isolation in Serbia and closed borders, they attend the seminars in abroad, travel and meet with their peers from other countries • We have organized exchanges of volunteers between the branch offices which gave our members the opportunity the notion they belong to wider community (family, as we referred this to) and in this unsafe time they have felt in a way protected by membership in Youth of JAZAS • Finally, our efforts to be trend setters among the population of young people have made them feel belonging to a modern and globally oriented well affirmed story – fight against HIV/AIDS

23. And at the end: WE HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN THE IDEA • THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT ONE YOUNG PEORSON IN SERBIA GET INFECTED AND BY PREVENTION SAVE LIVES AND • THE ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY LIVING WITH HIV

24. Then Serbia went through democratic changes: • The new government, knowing what we do, and the number of people we gather asked me to become assistant federal minister in Federal Ministry for Sports and Youth, in charge of young people. • Without me being a member of any political party. Just and only owing to my engagement in Youth of JAZAS. • This was a great recognition to the organization.

25. The only bigger recognition we have received was in 1997 when Patriarch of Serbian Orthodox Church sent us his written blessing on the occasion of December 1, • And then his example was followed by religious leaders of three biggest religions in Serbia, Belgrade Catholic bishop, mufti and rabbi. • These blessings we keep in frame in our office.

26. Today the situation in Serbia is different. • The work of NGO is acknowledged and distinguished. • International community is present and there is huge amount of money in the game. • The time of guerilla gathering and voluntarily work with heart has become bygone.

27. But we still gather almost the same amount of young people. • How?

28. We are still different, creative and what presents our biggest strength: • WE GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE SPACE TO MAKE ALIVE THE ENERGY AND EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVITY

29. We have been able to enable secure financing. This puts us into comfortable situation to: • say what we think and do what we believe in. • Moreover, we are not dependent on anyone.

30. This is why we have many enemies in Serbia. This is not such a bad thing. • We are proud of our enemies. • They are good for our organization.

31. They provide cohesion to the group. A group build in the fight. It gathers and unites. • The fight gives you energy. This is what young people want. • Energy gives birth to creativity for new activities.

32. In addition, in makes positive selection among young people. • We need positive, young, fight full people.

33. ACTIVITS WITH AN IDEA!Who know the reason they are in the story.