HumanaS network met as part of the regional project “Taking Action on Social Inclusion of Older People” run by the Red Cross of Serbia. The meeting was organised in order to set the foundations of a strategic plan for the network for the period 2016 to 2020. The meeting was held in 17 and 18 June, focusing on enhancing the network capacities as well as the capacities of the organisations in the network. 23 participants of 12 HumanaS members were present.

HumanaS network has been founded 12 years ago following the Red Cross of Serbia initiative and currently has 15 member organisations who work on issues of ageing and older people. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of older people through different advocacy activities. The first strategic planning was done in 2008 and through the years of its work the network had many successful activities becoming visible and recognised in the society.

This strategic planning was done in the following segments: history, identifying the network’s duties, environment analysis, mission and values, SWOT analysis, strategic objectives, strategic tasks, network structure, resource mobilisation plan, annual budget and monitoring and evaluation. As part of the two day meeting, a short study visit was made to the Caritas Šabac day care centre.

The joint conclusion is that the network was very successful but that meetings such as this one are necessary to strengthen the cohesion between the member organisations as well as for exchange of experiences and suggestions how to make good activities visible and improve those that need improving. An important part of the conclusions is that it is necessary to expand the network through acquiring new members.

Taking Action on Social Inclusion of Older People is a three year regional project with financial support provided through IPA fund of the European Union as well as Austrian Development Agency – ADA. The project is coordinated by the Red Cross of Serbia with technical support provided by Austrian Red Cross. The partners on the project are: Albanian Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Osmijeh NGO, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonian Red Cross and Humanost NGO from Macedonia, as well as the Red Cross of Montenegro.

The main objective of the project is to strengthen the position of older people in the region so they can take part in decision making on matters that concern them, their communities and the society in which they live as well as to improve the image of older people across the region.