News Archives

14 Feb

“Ask the ambassador” – the first BOLD network meetup in Belgrade.

On February 10, 2023 ( Friday), BOLD members met with U.S. Ambassador Christopher R. Hill at a BOLD network exclusive event “Ask the ambassador” – where they discussed what they were passionate about, their dreams and concerns about Serbia’s future, and all the opportunities that BOLD had in store for them. Embassy’s Information Officer Matthew Underwood facilitated this highly engaging Q&A session with the ambassador, which was also joined by an online audience of over 1500 live streaming viewers.

Ambassador Hill replied to the questions in detail, drawing anecdotes and examples from his life experiences while sharing his vision for Serbia as well his mantra for diplomacy and leadership.

The participants also got to hear from Cultural Attaché Holly Zardus, who envisioned BOLD for Serbia and had built the platform over the last one year from scratch. Holly elaborated on the ambassador’s responses where needed, explaining how BOLD can support Serbia’s youth in advancing their aspirations and ambitions for themselves and their country though a wide range of annual fellowship programs, trainings, and funding opportunities.

This was the first get together of BOLD members since the launch of BOLD on December 7, 2022. The event garnered very positive response from the participants. BOLD plans to host similar events across Serbia throughout the year to reach out to the youth in every corner of the country, listen to what they have to say, and inform them about how they can benefit from the offerings of BOLD.

13 Feb

Team BOLD touring across Serbia to meet local youth

Ivan Todorov News

On January 27, 2023, Phil Beekman, the Public Affairs Chief of the U.S. Embassy in Serbia met with local BOLD members at the American Corner in Subotica to talk about leadership, academic, and professional growth opportunities and to hear about the ideas and thoughts of the young generation

Holly Zardus, the Cultural Attaché of the embassy visited the American Corners in Novi Sad and Bujanovac around the same time, and in all these places, the response from the participants were very encouraging.

This year, the BOLD team will be traveling across Serbia to meet with members of the BOLD network to have a real exchange of ideas and also to reach out to the local communities, informing them about all the academic and professional fellowship, workshops, and grant opportunities the future leaders of Serbia will get through BOLD.

05 Dec

Meet 2023 YTILI Fellow Strahinja Tirnanić

Ivan Todorov News

Founder and CEO of Proman Consulting, Strahinja Tirnanić is focused on improving business organization. Strahinja collaborates with university faculties and NGOs to organize workshops, lectures, and internship programs that directly help people in local communities improve their soft skills for the labor market. Strahinja is confident that the YTILI program will position himself and his business to succeed further in their endeavors. He wishes to expand his knowledge of company leadership and management as well as improve his technology, marketing, and sales skills while making the most out of his opportunities to form global connections through YTILI fellowship, grow his cultural knowledge, and transfer these lessons to his peers.

05 Dec

First ever BOLD Workshop kicks off with 30 young leaders from across Serbia

Ivan Todorov News

In the lead-up to the launch of BOLD in Serbia, the U.S. Embassy partnered with the Chicago-based Prismatic organization and Serbian NGO Young Ambassadors to select 30 young leaders from across the country for a leadership workshop. In 5 intense days of training on project development and management, social emotional learning, and leadership skills, the participants developed group project proposals to be pitched in a live competition for up to $5000 of grant funding at the launch event. This pilot workshop for the BOLD program was a model for other future workshops and way for the new BOLD program to attract members. The young leaders shared their idea to a packed audience of over 400 people at Dom Omladine Beograda and also to hundreds more through live streaming in American Corners in Nis, Novi Sad, Bujanovac, Novi Pazar, Subotica, and Novi Sad. BOLD Serbia will share their project proposals on its Instagram & Facebook pages to make these great ideas accessible to all. If there are other young people in Serbia wondering if they have what it takes to try to make a difference in their community, they should watch these trailblazers in the BOLD program and follow their lead. Future BOLD workshops like this will be focused on one of the two themes of the program – civic engagement and economic development.

05 Dec

BOLD member Maša Dragašević awarded YTILI Fellowship for year 2023

Ivan Todorov News

Masa Dragasevic founded her business, SAT AGENCY at 23 years old with the goal to pass on knowledge to the younger generations and aid them with the tools needed to acquire the best education available. Working with a hundred universities from around the world to promote them in Serbia, Masa informs young Serbians about the possibilities of studying abroad and showcases the stories of scientists and students from the most prestigious universities on a podcast to display how success is achievable even if their conditions aren’t always favorable. Through the YTILI program, Masa intends to gain a new perspective from meeting inspiring people and entrepreneurs, immerse herself in American culture, and learn new knowledge to uplift her community in Serbia.