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Active Communities: Stories form Local Communities

Lužnica craft works – Women Ethno Village, Babušnica
"The participants gained a lot from this project.  They were trained for a new job that may be carried out independently, and with which they could make a living.  Some of the participants have immediately started with the realization of new ideas...

In Babušnica, a small town in southern Serbia with 5000 inhabitants, more than 1000 women lost their jobs during the past few years.  Their future had been very unpredictable and the possibilities for employment had been scarce, until Karolina Stamenkovic decided to take the matter into her own hands.  As an experienced trainer of craft skills and knitting, she gathered a group of enthusiastic unemployed women aged 35 to 55, because she believed that they deserved a second chance.  She formed a civil society organization entitled “Lužnica craft works – Women Ethno Village” in a garage behind her house.  She there developed a school for strengthening women in developing their skills in the field of old crafts (weaving, knitting, embroidery).  One of the trainers was the curator of Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, who gave them all the relevant information and insights from her profession, as well as the knowledge on reviving the old crafts.  Thanks to a great presentation of their works at the municipal exhibition, the group is negotiating with municipal representatives on a potential support for future projects.

The participants were very motivated to continue their work in the field of old crafts, as well as to start their own enterprises.  At the same time they had to acquire communication skills for future communication with the representatives of the municipality and public institutions.  For the next period they are planning to make a data base with different patterns for weaving, embroidery etc. As an additional support from BCIF they were given the means within the scope of Advanced Community Advocacy Program for an advocacy project for reducing the number of unemployed women through continuous financial support from the municipality.

The participants gained a lot from this project.  They were trained for a new job that may be carried out independently, and with which they could make a living.  Some of the participants have immediately started with the realization of new ideas for offering souvenirs for sale to tourist organizations. – Karolina Stamenkovic, President of “Lužnica craft works” organization.

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