After organizing Green Human Library in south Serbia our partner Generator Vranje organized 4 movie projections in Vranje and Bujanovec targeting especially young people. 

During the movie projections, the participants watched the movie based on interviews with guest speakers of Green Human Library and moreover reflected on green and environmental issues and challenges. 

About the importance of cooperation, inviting media, or working with different stakeholders in our communities. Moreover, we also shared tips on how to stay motivated while working on community engagement, or inspiring stories from the Visegrad and Western Balkan countries, link to the whole debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58kLK5yOjhQ&list=PLgY5APQ9DYCrxC8O6rTHpL_wT2Axrejuy&index=11

Let’s close the year 2022 with our second online talk where we also talk about inspiring stories from the Visegrad and Western Balkan countries as well as we talk what keeps us engaged in our communities...

On Thursday 10th November 2022 there was an online meeting under the project ‘Bridging Communities by Community Empowerment’. 

As the title says, there were discussions about community building and development “We shared our motivation and how we inspire others, we got to know our initiative, our dreams, and we also shared some tricks and tips on how to do the best networking possible and what is the added value of international projects,” describes Ilona, Czech Republic in more details the whole event. 

“I believe we created something unique with my organisation, because we have hosted, for the fourth time now, a chocolate auction, that brings together business people, public bodies and individuals to gather for a good cause. Until then, it was a sci-fi scene to see a connection like this in North Macedonia. “And I believe, we inspired many other initiatives to follow our example and work more on networking important people with the public and others for a creation of a good deed, “ says Katerina representing Macedonian  organization ASK - Skopje. 

“We provide opportunities and mentorship for young people in order that they can implement their own projects later on, we empower them and show them tools of how to do that, even across the border, across the mindset. Working together on one idea, cooperating and finding a solution that would fit all of us, that is how I imagine the future Europe,” explains Andrej from Macedonian organization ‘Youth Alliance Krusevo’ about his work with international projects and youth involvement. 

“When I meet with someone, I always give my best. I commit myself to become the best version of myself in order to bring people together and let them see what I can see. When people cooperate they can reach whatever they set their mind to. And as I could see at an international youth conference, I am sure that those young people will change the World. I am sure that we will make it as humanity, if only all of us have some approach,” adding social entrepreneur Marta. 

Thanks to the Visegrad Fund, Lucie was sent to Kosovo for a study visit. “Neither one of my close friends or I have never been in Kosovo, and it was such an eye opening experience to me. From my history lessons I just knew, there was a war in this region, but no more. Though now, when I could meet with local people and talk to them, see their pain and emotions, it suddenly became much closer to me, and I felt a part of it just being a witness. First, I thought I would come “only” for tasting the food, seeing some cultural events, and visiting some sightseeing, but it was way beyond what I expected, enriching to its core.”

On Tuesday 8th November 2022 there was held an online meeting of partners under the project Community engagement. There were representatives of Czech Republic, Poland, Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary. 

“We discussed not only human libraries and other projects we deliver to our communities, but also shared our motivation and supported each other,” shares Ilona, the holder of the online space for the meeting. 

“My main motivation of being involved in my community is the impact I can observe on local people, on neighbors I know all my life, on school children who might have never been thinking about environmental or cultural topics in their street before. I like to help people build their self esteem and to discover their talents, so that they are later able to do much more than what they have thought before. I like to support people in fulfilling their dreams,” explains Slavica of her motivation in working with young people. 

“We do not have to share the same hobbies, to like the same things, but we live in one space, that we should care about and care about people who take responsibility for it. I love to see everybody laugh and have fun, and bring this enthusiasm to other people as they would have known each other for ages,” talks Darina about her perception of the community she is part of. 

“Every time I go somewhere, I talk to strangers, I get involved in some activity, I learn something new. And it does not have to be any huge knowledge to gain, sometimes it is even the connection I create the best in it. And I love to see this “aha moment” in other people's eyes,” says Zsanett, giving an example of her motivation for community engagement. Active citizenship and activism is one of the ways to bring “real problems” closer to people, but also how to bring people closer together. 

Being more involved can bind people together, can allow them to feel belonging and also to be more open-minded by witnessing stories of other people from their neighborhood. Which was pretty nice to see as well during many human libraries we organize across the Visegrad countries and Western Balkans. 

What is common for all of our realities is that education, communication, empathy and solidarity can be the change. When people fight for their rights, when they are politically active for a better future, when they initiate grassroot organizations, when they are willing to communicate and understand with others from different needs and points of view feeling their interconnectedness, and when young people are involved with compassion, care and social conscious. 

if you will not have an opportunity to join us in 1st online discussion on  8.11. 2022 you can join us for the second on 10.11. 2022.

We will be talking with our guests from Visegrad and Western Balkan countries about the work of civic society organizations, the cooperation between Visegrad and Western Balkan, the common challenges, and also good practices. 

More details: [email protected]

If you are busy on both dates you can watch the discussion later online we will share the links. 

Are you curious to know what’s going on in the Visegrad and Western Balkan countries in the field of community engagement? Join us for the 1st discussion, registration: [email protected]

Online Human Library is LOADING... On Saturday 22. 10. 2022 JOIN US! 

The event will be in English and anyone is welcome to take part. More details:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1197138570863754

Online Human Library event will give an opportunity to meet up with books carrying interesting stories and experiences from the Visegrad and Western Balkan countries.

Here goes a short review of them: a book that is behind organizing Folkowisko Festiwal @festiwalfolkowisko, book that is raising awareness on dyslexia and representing @dyslexia.association.einstein, book that is stands behind #slowwine, book that is coming from south Serbia, exploring Balkans through traditional dishes but also activating people around on environmental and ecological issues, book that is polo dancer, journalist with interest in social communication, book that’s part of Women in Tech and break the stereotype about women and coding, book that is changing life of young people and has passion for social enterprises, book that is advocating for Roma community and making graphic novels, book that is aiming to empower women and youth in Albania…

ONLINE HUMAN LIBRARY is LOADING... You could not maybe join our human libraries in Skopje, Tirana, Prerov, Vranje, or Gorajec, but you can definitely join our online human library. It will take place on 22. 10. 2022 from 14:00 - 17:00. You do not need to register but if you do we will send you a reminder day before the event and we will make sure that you talk with a book that caught your attention. 

Human Library in Tirana took place on 27. 9. 2022, thank you to the team of  @yscorg.al for their work and effort.