KICK-OFF EVENT  SPACES OF RESILIENCE 3.0: LOCAL INITIATIVE STRENGTHENING PROGRAM

02 Mar KICK-OFF EVENT  SPACES OF RESILIENCE 3.0: LOCAL INITIATIVE STRENGTHENING PROGRAM

On Friday, February 27th at 3 PM, the first meeting was held within the framework of the Spaces of Resilience 3.0 project, which is aimed at strengthening and empowering local initiatives. Participating in this program cycle are 16 organizations and individuals from 8 different local communities across Serbia, who gathered to introduce themselves to one another and exchange ideas regarding their projects.

In the discussion, attendees demonstrated dedication and creativity in developing responses to problems they recognize in their local communities. During the conversation, they realized that they often encounter similar obstacles and difficulties during the development and implementation of projects, and that networking represents an important way to exchange experiences and spread knowledge.

This year’s cycle is characterized by a special focus on organizations working with youth or founded by youth; thus, the list of participants includes the youth media portal Youth Vibes from Niš, a team of young psychologists aiming to improve the mental health of the local community in Kragujevac – Majndset, youth initiatives for empowering cultural events Slavkina deca from Belgrade and TELOK from Kragujevac, among others.

Spaces of Resilience 3.0 represents a unique platform for groups or individuals changing their local communities to develop and strengthen their capacities by providing them with physical space, as well as technical support for meetings, public events, promotions, recording radio shows/podcasts, workshops, and other activities. 

Over the course of one year, the selected organizations and individuals will go through a series of training sessions and workshops where, through work with mentors and using concrete examples, they will learn about various successful practices and acquire practical knowledge and skills necessary for their work and the realization of their activities.

The civil society organizations, associations, civic and local initiatives, citizens’ groups, activists, and individuals whom we will support in 2026 in cooperation with the European Fund for the Balkans are:

• Andrea Besedeš Nađ, Andreini psi, Stara Moravica
• Darko Mandić, Belgrade
• Ivan Dimitrijević, Kulturociklin, Kruševac
• Jana Paunović, Reaktis, Belgrade
• Katarina Radosavljević, Majndset, Kragujevac
• Katarina Simeunović, NFC FilmArt, Požega
• Marija Rkman, Evo ruka, Zemun
• Milica Umeljić, Majndset, Kragujevac
• Natalija Đondović, Kovin
• Nikola Đorđević, Inicijativa mladih aktivista, Sokobanja
• Snežana Mijić, TELOK, Kragujevac
• Snežana Zarev, TOC, Zaječar
• Tamara Lazarević, Slavkina deca, Belgrade
• Tatijana Marikanović, ZAvolontiraj, Zaječar
• Teodora Radojičić, Youth Vibes, Niš
• Valentina Milićević, Žena znači Revolucija!, Belgrade
• Vladimir Jovanović, Slavkina deca, Belgrade

We thank everyone who expressed interest and offer special congratulations to those selected. We encourage all who were not selected to continue following our work, especially our website and social media networks, where we regularly inform the public and audience about all projects and activities of the KROKODIL Association.

The workshops that participants will undergo in the coming weeks are organized into four thematic units:

• Organizational Development and Advocacy (strategic planning, strengthening skills, and learning about tools crucial for initiating changes in laws and regulations).
• Program Capacities (project writing, program design, monitoring, and evaluation).
• Communication Skills and PR (public communication skills, communication strategies, risk PR, storytelling, etc.).

Representation and Networking Capacities (skills in public representation and networking in processes that help change public policies).

At the end of the training and workshop cycle in September, participants will have the opportunity to present their projects and, through mutual voting, choose a project that will receive financial support in the amount of 5,000 Euros, awarded by the European Fund for the Balkans.

The goal of the Spaces of Resilience 3.0 project is to help selected organizations and/or individuals in the further development and strengthening of capacities to increase and empower the inclusion of the public and citizens in advocacy and decision-making processes, democratization processes, the fight for human rights, influence on the creation of public policies, and the promotion of cultural diversity and regional cooperation.

The project Spaces of Resilience 3.0: Local Initiative Strengthening Program is supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the grant is awarded by the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB).

Foto: Vanja Piroški