This year, the "Digital Expedition" Caravan is once again embarking on a journey across Serbia and is about to visit ten cities

Bor, April 8, 2023 - The "Digital Expedition", launched the year before last at the initiative of the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, visited the city of Bor as its first stop this year. Through thematic lectures and discussions with experts from the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, and the Office for IT and eGovernment, the citizens of Bor had the opportunity to learn everything about digital literacy, the importance of digital skills, safe behavior in the online world, as well as other advantages of using the Internet and digital space. Caravan lectures are aimed at the broadest population, from young people and their parents to the oldest fellow citizens and civil servants. That is why they are held at three locations in each city: on the main city square, in associations and associations pensioner clubs, and local self-government units.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia has recognized the importance of digitization for the development of the country, economy, and society and is investing significant funds in the construction of infrastructure that is crucial for the establishment of electronic services. In parallel with this process, citizens need to acquire basic digital skills that are requisite for the jobs of the future and life in a rapidly changing world thanks to digitalization. Therefore, everyone must have equal access to digital services and the knowledge of how to use them.

Ana Brnabić, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, joined the first stop of the "Digital Expedition 2023" and said: " In the past seven years, the Government has done a lot to reform the state administration. I am proud and happy that the results of hard work are noticeable today. We wanted the citizens and the economy to feel that we are at their service seven days a week, 365 days a year and that you can do some work just as efficiently on Sunday morning or Thursday evening. That you don't have to leave the house, leave your family, leave your job, yet you can do it from your armchair. For me, it is the accountable state administration. The special focus of the Digital Expedition this year is on older fellow citizens and pensioners. I didn't want to leave anyone out and forget, but to make it easier for everyone. I was proud when I saw the pictures from Bor yesterday, how the pensioners accepted the electronic administration and how much enthusiasm and energy they have ".

Aleksandar Milikić, the mayor of Bor, expressed his appreciation that the city of Bor is the first of the ten cities in Serbia to host the "Digital Expedition 2023", adding that the Bor Youth Office will continue to hold training sessions for older citizens in the Association of Pensioners on a regular weekly basis, and after the Digital Expedition.

The caravan of digital skills, security, and literacy was joined by Nikola Selaković, the Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, who stated that this Government has shown that it cares about its oldest fellow citizens. "I will remind you that from November of last year to January of this year, pensions were increased by 20.8%, and as the president announced, pensions will again be increased by double digits by the end of this year." From October, our oldest fellow citizens will be able to use pensioner cards, which will provide them with various benefits, such as various shops, pharmacies, but also theaters, and cinema discounts. The Digital Caravan, as we saw it today in Bor, will teach them how to apply for a pension card by themselves via the computer, or get some other service through E-administration, making life easier not only for them, because they will not wait in lines, but will also make work easier for institutions to which they would otherwise have to physically go".

Mihailo Jovanović, Minister of Information and Telecommunications, also addressed the citizens of Bor: "During the next three months, the caravan will visit 9 more cities in Serbia, and on this occasion, all interested citizens will have the opportunity to learn about the key digital skills of the 21st century, from the youngest to generation Z with their parents, and the oldest citizens who are not sufficiently familiar with digital services. They will learn how to have a safe digital experience, how to exercise their right or fulfill their obligation in communication with government authorities via the Internet, what are the ways to safely purchase products and services on the Internet, and how to get verified, accurate and timely information in the digital world".

Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and  Personal Data Protection Milan Marinović particularly emphasized that in this time of development of modern technologies, accelerated digitization, and all-increasing use of artificial intelligence, special attention should be paid to personal data used in connection with such types of data processing and to its protection. "The Commissioner implements various actions with a special focus on vulnerable categories of citizens, which include children and older citizens. One of the good ideas we came up with, together within the New Literacy program, implemented by USAID and Propulsion, is a brochure for our youngest called "Personal data is our treasure, how can we protect it?" which is free and available in electronic format on the Commissioner's website.

The digital expedition is supported for the second year in a row by the United Nations Development Program UNDP,  whose Permanent Representative in Serbia Jakup Beriš said: "UNDP has been pleased to support the Government's ambitious digital agenda from the very beginning." We have not forgotten about the oldest population and have designed special training for acquiring digital skills tailored to their needs. In addition, we donated two computers, and a printing and scanning device to Pensioners' clubs in all 10 cities where the Digital Expedition is to pass through, and formed a Digital Corner in each club, where the oldest will be able to attend specially designed courses and learn how to, via the help of digital tools, facilitate and enrich your daily life.

Since primary and secondary school students are the most vulnerable in the digital space because they spend the most time on social networks and popular online platforms, a series of workshops on the safe use of the Internet, critical thinking, and media literacy was created for them. The workshops will be held by the National Contact Center for Child Safety on the Internet, the organization Propulsion, and the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, who will also present the brochure "Personal Data is our treasure, how can we protect it?", created within the New Literacy program.

The next Caravan's stop is in Priboj on April 21 and 22, and during the next three months, the Caravan will visit Kikinda, Zrenjanin, Sombor, Prokuplje, Brus, Valjevo, Sremska Mitrovica and Zaječar. The "Digital Expedition" Caravan is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, the Office for IT and eGovernment, and the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European organization Propulsion.

For more information, please visit the website digitalnaekspedicija.gov.rs.

Photo: Office for IT and eGovernment