19-20.02.2009. .
ISC conducted the second Mobile Advocacy School on February 19-20, 2009, in Novi Sad, Vojvodina, in cooperation with Radio 021, a prominent media group. The press conference to announce the Mobile Advocacy School gathered various media, including 2 national news agencies, 1 provincial, 2 regional and local TV stations, 2 regional radio stations, and a daily newspaper. ISC illustrated recent program achievements through effective media appearance of its partner, BCIF, and grantee, Novi Sad Humanitarian Center. The Mobile Advocacy School training created a space for learning and networking among CSOs from Novi Sad, Kula, Kikinda, Kovin and Sombor, who are active in the area of human rights, European integration, media, minority rights, ecology, etc.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

16.03.2009. .
ISC organized the third seminar on Good Governance on March 16 in ISC premises. The seminar was mediated by Dr. Marilyn Wyatt and served as continuation of ISC efforts to encourage civil society organizations in development of efficient models for internal management. The seminar created a space for exchange of experiences, information, and advice related to CSO governance but also explored common challenges around founding and managing of boards. Participants included 10 prominent Serbian CSOs: BCIF, CDCS, Civic Initiatives, EMINS, Group 484, Humanitarian Center Novi Sad, People's Parliament, ProConcept, Protecta and YUCOM. The key result of the seminar was the creation of a Steering Committee which will formulate a plan for incorporating advice on good governance into the manual on re-registration that will be distributed to Serbian CSOs after the new Law on Association is passed.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

25-26.03.2009..
ISC organized the initial core advocacy training for the youngest generation of AP grantees and Norway CSGA project partners on March 25-26, 2009. The orientation was conducted by prominent ISC Advocacy Resource Persons (ARPs) at Belgrade's Hotel Majestic. The main objectives of the training were introduction to advocacy concepts and techniques, power mapping and political analysis, and development of advocacy skills through practical exercises. Participants were high-profile activists from Fund B92, Group 484, Humanitarian Center Valjevo, Urban In Novi Pazar, Zajecar Initiative, Open Club Nis, Civic Initiatives and European Movement in Serbia.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

28-30.04.2009. .
ISC organized a three-day workshop/training in Belgrade on April 28th-30th for trainers (TOT) on budget monitoring and shared experiences in the field of advocacy. Mr. Nader Tadros, Founder and Director of the US-based People's Advocacy, conducted the training, which was attended by 14 advocacy resource persons (ARPs). The training increased participants' knowledge of the most useful tools for applying advocacy, informed them of the state of transparency in the Serbian budget process and budget analysis techniques, identified potential areas for some budget advocacy work, and described ways to link budget work with their advocacy campaigns.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

21-22.05.2009. .
ISC Training department conducted the third Mobile Advocacy School in Zajecar (Eastern Serbia) on May 21-22 in Zajecar. This event had been organized in cooperation with "Zajecar Initiative", a prominent local NGO that serves as resource center for Eastern Serbia's civic sector. The press conference gathered number of local press and electronic media.ISC presented recent program achievements through effective media appearance of its grantees from Timok region. The Mobile Advocacy School training created space for learning and networking, bringing together CSOs from Zajecar, Knjazevac, Bor and Soko Banja. These CSOs are active in the area of human rights, Roma education, assistance to people with disabilities and AIDS, European integration, children care and youth activism.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

4.06.2009. .
ISC and Production Group MREZA conducted a one- day training for ISC AP grantees on Thursday, June the 4th. The curriculum of the one-day Media Training was intended for ISC AP grantees that have the opportunity and need to appear in electronic media. Participants learned how to address the public in electronic media in a direct and concise manner. Trainers and lecturers included Lila Radonjic, PG Mreza Editor and Director, Olja Beckovic, Editor and Presenter of „Utisak nedelje"(Impressions of the Week) and Maja Divac, Editor and Presenter of „Evronet".

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

15.06.2009. .
On June 15, ISC organized orientation for nine CSOs who successfully passed competitive RFA process and ended on candidates' short- list for potential AP grantees. One- day training agenda is focused on advocacy techniques and tools for successful communication. Training was conducted by Sonja Stojanovic and Vukosava Crnjanski, members of ISC ARP team of consultants.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

25-26.06.2009. .
ISC organized the fourth MAS on June 25th -26th in Bujanovac in southern Serbia. The event was organized in cooperation with USAID's Preparedness, Planning and Economic Security Program, with strong support and expertise from USAID's field office in Vranje. The press conference for the MAS was well attended and the turnout of twelve journalists and editors was the best yet for any event of this sort organized by ISC/CSAI. Like the above mentioned MAS, this training also created space for multiethnic learning and networking, bringing together Serbian, Albanian and Roma CSOs from Bujanovac, Presevo and Vranje.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

9-10.07.2009. .
ISC successfully conducted a Massive Mobile Advocacy School in Palic, on July 9-10. An intensive course on project proposal writing and effective outreach was conducted for 30 CSOs based in multiethnic and economically underdeveloped Serbian municipalities. ISC gathered civic activists from Roma, Albanian, Bosniak and Serbian organizations, and provided them with an environment to learn more about different projects, cultures, and opportunities to network. Communications and outreach courses were conducted by Bojana Lekic, a prominent journalist, who provided useful tips and advice for TV appearances. ISC received very positive evaluation marks from all participants who were keen to take part in future capacity building events.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

1-4.09.2009. .
ISC organized advanced core training on Advocacy and Budgets on September 1-4 at Belgrade's Hotel Slavija. The group of participants included Advocacy in Practice (AP) grantees, three judicial associations and CSGA Norwegian project partners. The orientation was conducted by Nader Tadros, senior consultant and international expert and Vukosava Crnjanski, prominent ISC Advocacy Resource Person (ARPs). The training covered the following topics:

• Advocacy Conceptual Framework;
• Advocacy Strategy Planning;
• Exploring Common Advocacy Approaches
• Introduction to Budget Advocacy.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

10.09.2009. .
ISC and Production Group Mreza conducted one- day orientation for ISC AP grantees on September 10th . The curriculum of the one-day Media Training was intended for ISC grantees that have an opportunity and a need to appear in electronic media. This course aimed to facilitate the communication of ISC grantees with the media. ISC has noticed that CSOs who lack media experience tend to feel uneasy and less secure when addressing the public through the media. In response, ISC created a media program, based on a system of practical exercises, designed to help participants learn how to better represent themselves via media appearances. Participants learned how to address the public in electronic media in a direct, concise and engaging manner. Mentors and lecturers were Lila Radonjic, PG Mreza Editor and Director, Olja Beckovic, Editor and Presenter of "Utisak nedelje" and Maja Divac, Editor and Presenter of "Evronet".

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

17.09.2009. .
In order to create adequate learning space and opportunities for Serbian civic organizations, ISC enables wide accessibility to the most successful trainings. Therefore, ISC and Production Group Mreza conducted one- day orientation for CSGA Norwegian project partners and three judicial associations on September 17th . This course aimed to facilitate the communication of ISC grantees with the media so ISC created a media program, based on a system of practical exercises, designed to help participants learn how to better represent themselves via media appearances. Participants learned how to address the public in electronic media in a direct, concise and engaging manner. Mentors and lecturers were Lila Radonjic, PG Mreza Editor and Director, Olja Beckovic, Editor and Presenter of "Utisak nedelje" and Maja Divac, Editor and Presenter of "Evronet".

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

6-7.10.2009. .
ISC organized a Mobile Advocacy School (MAS) on Advocacy and Budgets on October 6-7, in Nis. This event was the formal opening of the new MAS cycle to be implemented by ISC throughout Serbia in FY 2009/10. The group of participants included civil society organizations based in Nis, Leskovac, Prokuplje, Donja Trnava, Bela Palanka, Svrljig and Pirot. The orientation was conducted by Mirjana Barbulovic and Mladen Jovanovic, prominent ISC Advocacy Resource Persons (ARPs) and active civic leaders from Nis. The training provided practical skill sets for effective advocacy campaigns, as well as numerous concrete recommendations for budget monitoring and reporting. The participants explored relevant budget documents and run key budget calculations that will help in their future advocacy work. South Serbian civic activists have gone through the basic level of orientation, while the advanced training for the same group of trainees will be organized in March 2010. The advanced MAS curriculum is designed to link and apply commonly used advocacy strategies and skills, such as constituency building, coalition building, media advocacy, as well as budget advocacy training that focuses on designing and implementing grass root advocacy campaigns at the local level.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

26-27.10.2009. .
ISC organized the initial core advocacy orientation session for the newest group of AP '09 grantees and Roma organizations on October 26-27 in Belgrade. The training was conducted by Vukosava Crnjanski and Milos Djajic, prominent ISC Advocacy Resource Persons (ARPs). A large group of high-profile activists were involved in an intensive two-day course on advocacy skills and techniques. Following the training, an overwhelming number of participants reflected extremely positively on the novel approach to politics and power, human rights, strategic planning, media outreach and message development introduced by ISC. All participants emphasized that ISC efforts towards promotion of constituency and civic participation opens new possibilities for unique approaches in and support for advocacy initiatives in Serbia.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

16-17.11.2009. .
On November 16-17, in Zlatibor, ISC organized Mobile Advocacy School (MAS) on Advocacy and Budgets basic skills. This training gathered eleven Sandzak CSOs based in Novi Pazar, Tutin, Priboj, Sjenica and Prijepolje. The training was conducted by Vukosava Crnjanski, and Zdenka Kovacevic prominent ISC Advocacy Resource Persons (ARPs) and active civic leaders from Pozega and Belgrade. Additionally, the trainings provided participants with practical skill sets for undertaking effective advocacy campaigns and offered a number of concrete recommendations for budget monitoring and reporting. The follow-up training will be organized in May 2010.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

19-20.11.2009. .
On November 19-20, in Zlatibor, ISC organized initial Mobile Advocacy School (MAS) training on Advocacy and Budgets for sixteen civic organizations based in Sumadija region and Zlatibor County. The trainings was conducted by Mirjana Barbulovic and Zoran Filipovic, prominent ISC Advocacy Resource Persons (ARPs) and active civic leaders from Nis and Uzice. Additionally, the training provided participants with practical skill sets for undertaking effective advocacy campaigns and offered a number of concrete recommendations for budget monitoring and reporting. Participants explored relevant budget documents and analyzed key budget calculations that are necessary to develop cost-effective advocacy initiatives. Advanced, follow-up training will be organized in May 2010.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

7-8.12.2009. .
On December 7-8, 2009. ISC organized two orientation sessions for 29 CSOs who successfully participated in call for Advocacy in Practice project proposals, announced by ISC. The first session was advocacy orientation, conducted by Snezana Stojanovic and Sinisa Djuric, members of ISC ARP team of consultants. Training on PR, communication and media was conducted by Zoran Sekulic, FONET and Borislav Miljanovic, McCann Ericson. The list of participants includes Društvo za razvoj kreativnosti, Centar za istraživanje etniciteta, Centar za alternativno rešavanje sukoba CARS, Srbija u pokretu, NVO Dokument, Supernatural, LiNet, Centar za prava manjina, Biro za društvena istraživanja, Fond Ecotopija, Ekološko udruženje Heliks, CDF, Incest trauma centar, CIL, Romski centar za demokratiju, Zlatiborski krug, Zavicaj za povratak, IDA, Ženski prostor, YUROM centar, Nacionalna asocijacija prakticara/ki omladinskog rada NAPOR, Gradanska citaonica Pirgos, Udruženje stocara STARA PLANINA, Udruženje osoba sa hendikepom FENIKS, Forca, Sretenje, Asocijacija za žensku ekonomsku inicijativu FEMINA CREATIVA, Ekološki centar Stanište and Zrenjaninski edukativni centar ZEC.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.

15-16.12.2009. .
From December 15-16, ISC conducted Mobile Advocacy School for CSOs based in Presevo, Vranje, Bujanovac and Vojvodina. A multiethnic group of participants was trained on advocacy and budgets by Milos Djajic and Sinisa Djuric, ISC Advocacy Resource Persons (ARPs). The group also participated while USAID's Mid-Term Evaluation Committee evaluated CSAI's training program by sharing their impressions of the training and by providing feedback on how the training program helped them to attain practical skill sets. The follow-up MAS for this particular group will be conducted in Spring of 2010.

For more information please visit http://iscserbia.org/what_we_do/training/.