OUR PROJECTS

VET school students from passive and rural areas need access to real educational opportunities, to become competent in their chosen areas. The vision of our project is to develop a digital mentoring and internship program, which will provide students with the opportunity to participate in a real business environment. Through this program, they will gain invaluable experience and skills, which will mean something to them in their further careers. We believe that it is essential that all students have equal access to education and equal chances of success. The key results of the project are:

1. Developed methodology for digital mentoring and practices.
2. Developed educational program for students, high school professors and business mentors.
3. Developed guides and online resources for students, high school teachers and business mentors.
4. Developed and tested web portal for online practices and mentoring.

 The goals we want to achieve are:

• Increase the participation of high school students in the real business environment.
• Empower high schools to participate in digital internship and mentoring programs.
• Improve the quality of education in secondary vocational schools, through innovation.
• Improve cooperation between secondary vocational schools and companies.

To improve employability and employment of youth with metal processing vocations in Kragujevac, through improvement and preparation for further replication of the innovative model of youth employment based on overcoming the gap between current target group competences and employers’ needs and requirements.

Results:

• Innovative model for youth employability and employment is tested and improved in metal processing sector in Kragujevac;
• Innovative model for youth employability and employment is evaluated, fully developed and prepared for implementation and further expansion;

Location: Kragujevac

Lead, partners: Business Development Centre, Polytechnic school, Milanovic engineering company, Gorenje MDM Company and Unior Components Company

Value: 24 891 CHF

Duration: 02/2016 – 06/2016

To improve competitiveness and sustainability of Roma business initiatives, as well as promotion and facilitation of further employment of Roma. The target group is 18 enterprises with the best practices in Roma in selected by OSCE Steering Committee in the previous stage of the project “Technical Assistance to Roma Inclusion“.

Results: 1 Provided consultancy and mentoring support to 18 selected enterprises aiming at increasing their competitiveness and ensuring sustainability and 1.1 Assessment of needs for provision of consultancy and mentoring; 1.2. Provision of consultancy support 1.3 Provision of mentoring support 1.4  Promoted and facilitated Roma employment opportunities in Serbia. 2.1 Entrepreneurs` fair and 2.2 Meetings with companies with CSR practices. Business consultancy and mentoring will provide necessary guidance and information to ensure development and growth of selected enterprises and, consequently, sustainability of created jobs for Roma men and women. Planned meetings with companies with CSR practice will research and identify potential for new employment of Roma in order, while the entrepreneurs` fair will enable promotion of Roma employment opportunities, and thus will raise awareness of relevant local and national stakeholders regarding challenges and opportunities for Roma inclusion in the labour market and society, as a whole.

Location: Serbia

Lead, partners: Business Innovation programs, Business Development Centre, GM Consulting

Value: 5 632 342,29 RSD

Duration: 01/2016 – 06/2016

1 Increased level of knowledge of: a) local actors from public, private and civic sector, in relation to national priorities in the field of social inclusion and poverty reduction, as well as their roles in the process of implementation of national priorities; b) citizens, on relevant local employment policies and measures, in particular for hard to employ groups, citizens` rights and available services.

2 Developed local legal framework for establishing and implementation of Local Entrepreneurship Development Support Programme, in order to create conditions for new jobs creation, and consequently employment/self-employment of hard to employ groups, through drafting and adoption of the Rulebook and Decision on the establishment of the program.

3 Improved process of planning local policies and measures in the field of employment of hard to employ groups, through development of list of priority measures and projects.

4 Strengthen capacities of Knic Municipality for reaching out EU funds, through development of at least 2 project proposals aimed at improving employability chances of hard to employ groups.    SC

5 Enabled peer sharing experiences and transfer of best practices between local communities in Sumadija district, in the field of creation and implementation of local employment policies.

Location: Knic municipality and Sumadija district

Lead, partners: Business Development Center Kragujevac, Knic Municipality

Value: 11 969 EUR

Duration: 07/2015 – 07/2016

To generate new employment of youth in ICT sector, through improvement of knowledge and skills in line with identified needs of employers-members of ICT Cluster of Central Serbia.

Results:

• Improved professional capacities of 18 youth for employment and self-employment in ICT sector – 18 young, unemployed people involved in ICT trainings for iOS, Android and Web applications.
• Implemented employment program of young ICT experts in companies – Cluster members. Upon trainings completed, 14 participans expected to be involved in on the job practice in ICT companies – Cluster members and 10 of them employed in the end of the project.
• Initiative for introduction of piloted youth employment program into local employment policy in Kragujevac towards local authorities and Local Employment Council implemented.

Location: Kragujevac

Lead, partners:  Business Development Center Kragujevac, ICT Cluster of Central Serbia

Value: 1 157 980 RSD

Duration: 08/2015 – 02/2016

To create conditions for active participation of relevant social partners from Northern Kosovo in social dialog and decision making processes on national level.

Results:

• Improved capacities of relevant social partners for effective social dialog
• Established northern Kosovo civic-public social network
• Raised awareness of relevant stakeholders on importance of social dialog for socio-economic development and on EU best practices

Location: Kosovo

Lead, partners: Center of Employers Initiative Kosovska Mitrovica, Business Development Center Kragujevac

Value: 60 769.80 EUR

Duration: 01/2015 – 07/2016

To improve the process of local employment action plan development process through involving youth in decision making, ensuring wide  consultative process in local, youth employment policy making, based on data, obtained through monitoring of local action plans implementation and assessment of applied employment measures effectiveness.

Results:

• Organized three workshops with 40 participants – youth representatives, drawn conclusions on selection methods for legitimate youth representative in local employment councils. Developed mechanism of youth participation in local employment policy making processes.
• Organized seminar for local employment councils from three targeted municipalities, where improved decision of constituting local employment councils and rules of procedure were drafted.
• Youth representative is appointed to Local employment council in all three targeted municipalities by adopting of improved decision on local employment council constitution.

Location: Čačak, Kraljevo, Gornji Milanovac

Lead, partner: Business Development Centre Kragujevac, Association Suadeo

Value: 1 400 000,00 RSD

Duration: 04/2015 – 11/2015

To create the mechanism for effective collaboration between secondary technical schools and relevant employers, especially in the field of improvement of practical teaching and practice in Kragujevac.

Results:  

1. Mapped fields for improvement of practical teaching and practice in secondary technical schools in accordance with employers’ needs.
2. Raised awareness of the secondary technical schools on legal possibilities for improvement of practical teaching, practice and collaboration with employers.
3. Established continual institutional dialog between representatives of employers, secondary technical schools and other relevant local institutions.

Location: Kragujevac, Serbia

Lead, partners: Business Development centre, Grad Kragujevac, Polytechnics school

Value: 12.000 eur

Duration: 07/2015 – 12/2015

To improve process of local youth employment policies creation in Cacak, Kraljevo and Gornji Milanovac, through identification of current effective local employment measures, but as well innovative, new ones, by facilitating and fostering wider dialog between youth, civic and business sector and Local employment councils.

Results: 1) Prepared report with recommendations for improvement of local employment policy making processes, based on conducted survey on 3 project locations, with the aim to conduct analysis of youth employment effects of so far applied employment measures, financed through Local action employment plans in 2012. 2) Identified and proposed new, innovative measures and initiatives for increasing employment of youth through 3 consultative events with all relevant stakeholders at local level. održane 3 konsultativne radionice. 3) Drafted and presented in public practical policy paper – Proposal of practical youth employment policies in Cacak, Kraljevo and Gornji Milanovac, with aim to influence improvement of local employment policy making processes.

Location: Čačak, Kraljevo, Gornji Milanovac

Lead, partners: Business Development Center Kragujevac, Association Suadeo

Value:1 473 360,00 RSD

Duration: 05/2014 – 11/2014

To support employment of Roma people in Serbia

Results:

• 50 participants – representatives of businesses applied for support, attended the training for business plan and assessed by the assessor in the field
• 25 business initiatives supported by grants for further business development
• 50 Roma people employed

Location: Serbia

Lead, partners: GM Consulting, Business Development Centre, Business innovation programs

Value: 20.000 eur

Duration: 05/2014 – 09/2014

To improve housing conditions of the most damaged households and families in Svilajnac, through provision of housing packages.  Indicator: at least 40 the most vulnerable families improved housing situation. The action directly affected improvement of housing conditions of the most damaged households and families in Svilajnac though provision of 63 housing packages to the most vulnerable families.

Result: Improved housing conditions for  63 the most vulnerable families in Svilajnac damaged by flood, through provision of housing material packages.

Lead, partners: Business development Centre Kragujevac, Municipality of Svilajnac

Location: Svilajnac

Value: 40 200 EUR

Duration: 10/2014 – 03/2015

To develop rural tourism as a form of entrepreneurship and small family businesses in rural areas of Kragujevac and Sumadija

Results: – Improved capacities and competitiveness of existing and potential rural tourism entrepreneurs through tailor made training program for 15 participants, organized 3 days study visit to EU, provided financial incentives for the top five business plans – Raised awareness, knowledge and motivation of citizens in rural areas for rural tourism, organized two motivational seminars for 40 participants – Developed and widely promoted unique touristic offer of Šumadija, through  preparation and printing of brochure about tourist offer Šumadije, which will be widely distributed at trade shows, organized promotion of touristic households on at least 2 touristic fairs in Serbia, improved website of Tourist Organization Kragujevac, organized one day press visit to the most interesting rural tourism households. – Developed and adopted Kragujevac Tourism Development Strategy

Location: Kragujevac, Knić, Raca, Topola, Rekovac

Lead, partners: Business Development Center Kragujevac, City Tourist Organization Kragujevac and the City of Kragujevac

Value: 60.000 EUR

Duration: 11/2013 – 11/2014

To increase the level of participation of civil society and youth in the creation of youth employment policies in the municipalities of Cacak, Kraljevo and Gornji Milanovac

Results:

1. Strengthened capacity of 15 CSOs youth Cacak, Kraljevo and Gornji Milanovac (cluster members” Youth on the move”) – to participate in the Creation of an employment policy of youth, through the training program
2. Developed and presented to the public a report with recommendations and proposals for the development of sustainable and functional youth employment policies at the local level; conducted desk analysis and focus groups with key local stakeholders in order to prepare the report.
3. Drafted joint CSO cluster strategy to advocate proposals for the development of effective youth employment policies at the local level and the involvement of CSOs in the planning.

Location: Cacak, Kraljevo, Gornji Milanovac

Lead, partners: Business Development Center Kragujevac (formerly SPARK BSC), Association Suadeo Čačak

Value: 8.000 EUR Duration: 07/2013-11/2013

To increase the employability of young people with disabilities in the City of Kragujevac

Results: 1 Improved professional capacity of young people with disabilities, employment/self-adopted new craft skills, business knowledge and skills, as well as the knowledge and skills of job search.

• A total of 20 young people with disabilities been trained in computer control, pedicures and manicures, as well as an assistant cook.
• A total of 60 young people with disabilities, as well as 12 people from the general population attended training for business, technical and entrepreneurial skills and 2 trainings in business communications, trainings on computer basics and 2 trainings business for beginners.
• A total of 20 young people with disabilities and 4 of the general population attended training job search skills

2 Improved self-esteem of youth with disabilities for active participation in social and economic life of the community and labor market inclusion.

• 15 young people with disabilities participated in the workshop-support groups, 10 workshops were held during the project.
• Supported employment of selected youth trough organization of on the job practice and assisting in establishing contacts with potential employers. 5 selected candidates were offered with professional practice with the possibility of eventual employment.

Location: Kragujevac

Lead, partners: Business Development Center Kragujevac (formerly SPARK BSC), NGOs Sunce

Value: 26.960 Euro

Duration: 08/2012 – 02/2013

To create an institutional mechanism for effective cooperation and partnership between civil society organizations, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders in the development and promotion of youth entrepreneurship in the region Šumadija and Pomoravlje.

Results:

1. Improved capacity of civil society organizations and informal groups of young people to promote youth entrepreneurship in the region Šumadija and Pomoravlje; Set of 5 training was successfully completed by 17 civil society organizations from the region Šumadija and Pomoravlje, which had acquired a set of basic knowledge and skills needed for the promotion of youth entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial culture among young people in their communities. Trained 17 peer educators, youth entrepreneurship, which will continue in their communities and among their peers to promote entrepreneurship as a legitimate career choice for young people. The project has implemented a three-day study visit to the Netherlands in order to transfer knowledge and best practices of organizations from the European Union in the development and promotion of youth entrepreneurship.
2. Developed and adopted the Action plan for youth entrepreneurship in Kragujevac; One of the most important results of our project is to establish sustainable mechanisms for cooperation between civil society and the public sector in the local community and develop a Local Action Plan for Youth Entrepreneurship in Kragujevac for 2012 – 2015th years.
3. Raised awareness on the best EU and national practices related to promotion of ​​youth entrepreneurship. The project has implemented a three-day study visit to the Netherlands in order to transfer knowledge and best practices of organizations from the European Union in the development and promotion of youth entrepreneurship. A total of 16 project participants – representatives of civil society organizations and the City of Kragujevac – visited important institutions and organizations in Amsterdam and Utrecht, which in various ways in the development and promotion of entrepreneurship among young people, including: Vrije Universiteit – Amsterdam Center for Entrepreneurship, Hogeschool Amsterdam

Location: Central Serbia

Lead, partners: Business Development Center Kragujevac (formerly SPARK BSC), City of Kragujevac, Association Sunce from Kragujevac, Foundation SPARK Netherlands

Value: 129 319 euro

Duration: 06/2011 – 06/2012

To provide the necessary support to women in rural parts of Novi Sad and Nis in the preparation of business plans, the establishment of new and expansion of existing companies in the agribusiness sector.

Results:

• 45 women from rural areas of Nis and Novi Sad completed five-day training program for women in agribusiness
• 45 women from rural areas developed business plans for programs of financial assistance

Location: Novi Sad, Niš

Lead, partners: Business Development Center Kragujevac, Association Sunce

Value: $ 10,000

Duration: 03/2012-06/2012

Support for the social integration of refugees and internally displaced persons through the development of housing solutions, self-employment and support economic activity

• Support to the most vulnerable groups of internally internally displaced persons through the development of housing solutions, and improving the living conditions of economic programs

Results: 1 260 refugees and internally displaced persons successfully completed the craft, IT and business skills training 2 20 refugees and internally displaced persons supported with income generation packages and started their businesses

Location: Kragujevac Lead, partner: Group 484, Business Development Center Kragujevac

Duration: 2011