The WeB4YES initiative has supported several projects from the region, one of which is "TxeONA - empowered brave authentic", implemented by Urban Stream in partnership with Veles - Vladicin Han.
The overall objective of this project is to promote the employability of young girls and women from disadvantaged backgrounds through entrepreneurship education, social skills, career counseling, as well as recommendations for improving public employment policies at the local level in two settings.
In the last period, after trainings in Vrnjacka Banja, where 19 girls from the area of Pozarevac and Vladicin Han received education on entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial skills, starting their own businesses, seeking information on employment and future orientation, as well as the necessary business skills, a number of activities were carried out on practical improvement of knowledge and skills of project participants.
During the three-month mentoring support, the participants conducted a survey on the needs and standpoints of young girls and women from rural areas, which aimed to identify attitudes, needs and status in the following topics and areas:
- Experience in volunteer work and volunteer practices
- Knowledge of the concept and importance of social skills for career development
- Methods and career choices
- Knowledge and attitudes about entrepreneurial skills and entrepreneurship
- Awareness of starting your own business
- Opportunities for young people in rural areas by: gathering place, offering content for young people
- Motivation for living in rural areas and participating in change
- Opportunity to participate in decision making.
The study included 77 young women and girls from rural areas.
During November and December the girls had the opportunity to attend the panel discussions on 25.11.2019. with guests Ivana Nesovic Gojkovic, professor of solo singing, active member of opera and theater "Madlenianum" and Julia Bashic, master of art history, curator, and on December 5, 2019, guests were Ankica Nikolic, head of accounting, Oliver Hajrovic , specialist in medical psychology and Ivana Stojadinovic, Head of the Bank's branch.
During the panel discussion, participants had the opportunity to hear personal and professional stories of our guests, how they chose the professions they deal with, whether they had any obstacles in their career development, did they ever regret the former choice, what is important when choosing a profession as well as what is important for us to be happy in our workplace. They also saw that education provides an opportunity for a person to present his or her abilities and knowledge by performing various tasks.
For the practical application of the acquired knowledge and skills, the project participants organized the development, promotion and sale of the workcrafts they themselves produced. The sale was made within the premises of the School of Economics and Trade in Pozarevac, as well as at the Student Cooperative Fair at the Dositej Obradovic Primary School, all in collaboration with the Kiribingas Student Company, run by Professor Valentina Milanov. This gave the participants the opportunity to go through the process of designing, sourcing materials, making, marketing and selling products. Thereafter, a financial performance check was made, that is, an estimate of the profit they made.
By the decision of the project participants, all proceeds will be paid to assist the treatment of a fellow citizen.
In addition to acquiring the knowledge and skills they have used to generate profits, the participants of the project have adopted and demonstrated the values and virtues that make them responsible to society and able to contribute to their well-being.
