For over two decades, McDonald’s Serbia has been a committed partner of the Creative Educational Center, supporting the inclusion of young people with intellectual disabilities through joint activities, food donations, and financial aid. The partnership is set to grow further, with plans to expand employment opportunities for young people facing intellectual challenges
This prestigious award, presented by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, was granted to McDonald’s for the project “Integration of Young People with Intellectual Disabilities into the Social Environment,” which the company has been implementing in partnership with the Creative Educational Center for over 20 years. McDonald’s was the first company in Serbia to offer employment opportunities to young people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to lead active and engaged lives within their communities. Over time, this collaboration has resulted in more than 250 individuals working in McDonald’s restaurants across the country.
One year ago, McDonald’s Serbia launched a platform titled “Small Steps Toward Big Changes,” which brings together all of the company’s initiatives focused on environmental protection, the transition to sustainable packaging, and community engagement. In just one year, significant progress has been made. The company continues to reduce its carbon footprint by minimizing restaurant emissions, collaborating with suppliers who also prioritize lower CO₂ output across their supply chains, and inspiring other businesses to join in the fight against climate change. Last year, McDonald’s Serbia also replaced plastic spoons and forks with wooden ones and swapped plastic ice cream cups for eco-friendly cardboard alternatives.
The company is also working actively to reduce energy consumption through scheduled equipment usage and proactive maintenance plans. Waste recycling efforts include used cooking oil and cardboard packaging, further demonstrating McDonald’s commitment to sustainable operations.
McDonald’s continues to support the local community every day through meal and financial donations, student scholarships with the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, and the empowerment of young people with intellectual disabilities in cooperation with the Creative Educational Center
Daily support for the local community comes in many forms: meal donations, funds collected through in-store donation boxes, student scholarships in collaboration with the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, and continued empowerment of young people with intellectual disabilities through long-standing cooperation with the Creative Educational Center.
McDonald’s employee volunteers remain deeply engaged, offering their time and energy to help those in need while also contributing to environmental initiatives such as tree planting and urban greening. In the past year, McDonald’s volunteers participated in revitalizing a sensory garden at the Radivoj Popović Primary School in Zemun. The company also donated educational tools and Montessori learning equipment to the Bubanj School in Niš.