We do need an education: youth participation programmes as a method in archaeology dissemination

Community archaeology, as a part of public archaeology, is primarily based on the need to include diverse subjects in the interpretation of the past, implying the mutual education of archaeological heritage professionals and the community itself. The focus of such an approach is particularly the younger population, targeted through schools and teachers, as an involvement priority. Though we cannot talk about the systematic development of the community archaeology in Serbia, there have been some lasting benefits achieved through participatory programmes targeted at the education of youth. They could serve as representative models for the development of a suitable methodology that we have recognized as a possible addition to the archaeology dissemination, which is missing in the general education in Serbia. On this occasion, we will point out some practices conducted in the Viminacium archaeological park, through children’s camps and work- shops, the Young Romans programme and tourism student internships. Thanks to maintaining the continuous process of their realization and widening the scope of partners` network as well as insisting on permanent cooperation with the representatives of the official formal education, the benefits of this methodology can be raised to the national level. Thus the knowledge about archaeology and the values of cultural heritage can be implemented into the formal educational system from the earliest age to student days, which would ensure that those with appropriate interest may choose the professions related to heritage more easily. In addition, the whole genera