Udruga srednjoškolaca Hrvatske (USRED) / Croatian Pupils' Association (CPA)

Udruga srednjoškolaca Hrvatske (USRED) or Croatian Pupils’ Association (CPA) is a leading national non-profit organization representing Croatian high school pupils. Our vision is to be at the forefront of organizing and promoting the interests of high school pupils in Croatia. Our mission is to improve the secondary education system and create new opportunities for the holistic development of pupils in collaboration with relevant stakeholders from the public and private sectors. Since its establishment in 2011, USRED has positioned itself as the most relevant civil society actor advocating for the interests and rights of high school pupils.

USRED's main areas of interest are policy-making and youth work, particularly non-formal and informal education as supplements to the formal school curriculum. Recognizing that schools may not adequately equip pupils with the knowledge necessary to navigate real-world issues, USRED aims to provide additional opportunities for education in critical thinking, creativity, financial and digital literacy, civic education, intercultural dialogue, sustainable development, personal development, and more.

USRED is headquartered in Zagreb, with members, volunteers, and beneficiaries spread across Croatia. With approximately 140,000 high school pupils in the country, USRED has established a network of schools for cooperation, presenting impressive potential for participation in different international projects. Our team includes over 30 dedicated volunteers who contribute articles to the "usred.hr" website, a news outlet covering topics relevant to high school pupils.

Moreover, USRED has a full-time staff responsible for conducting the organization's activities, along with a team of experienced NGO activists who develop new projects and establish partnerships.

Over the past twelve years, USRED has successfully implemented numerous local, national, and European projects. Each November, we commemorate International Students' Day with sporting, cultural, and educational events organized throughout Croatia. Our long-running campaign, "VoteNow #16+," advocates for lowering the legal voting age from 18 to 16. USRED has extensive experience in Youth in Action and Erasmus+ projects, including the 2013 project "Equality and Tolerance Against Violence" and the 2022 project "Youth Organizations as Advocates Against Islamophobia." Additionally, USRED played a founding role in establishing EUPAS (European Pupils' Association) in 2015, a European-level umbrella organization for national high school pupils' organizations. As a partner organization, USRED was involved in the ESF-funded project "Network for Youth Activation" from 2020 to 2022.

USRED has gained widespread recognition in the media as a voice representing the interests of high school pupils on numerous occasions, including curriculum reform, teachers' strikes, public transportation issues, pupils' working rights, and the prestigious Oscar of Knowledge award. Our organization is renowned nationwide for advocating to improve the position of high school pupils within society and raising awareness of the challenges they face in their everyday lives.

Looking ahead, USRED's main objectives are as follows:
1. Strengthening our international partnership network by adding new organizations to it.
2. Establishing long-term partnerships with European counterparts.
3. Developing and submitting outstanding project ideas to Erasmus+, ESC, and related programs.
4. Providing European pupils with an opportunity to increase their knowledge and enhance their skills in a multicultural setting.
5. Sharing USRED's good practices with other organizations.
6. Influencing policy-making at national and European levels regarding relevant topics affecting pupils.

We are open to exploring collaboration opportunities with your organization. Feel free to get in touch with us by emailing erasmus@usred.hr. We anticipate your message and will respond promptly to discuss further possibilities.