The fourth Regional forum of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund awarded the best three business ideas based on the principles of sustainable development, from the Western Balkans region. The Forum took place at National park Prokletije in Kosovo in the period from July 24th to July 26th 2015. The prizes in the amount of 10.000 US dollars were awarded to projects that contribute the most to economic development through innovative, sustainable and ecological local business, according to the opinion of the independent international jury.
Aleksandar Novović from NGO Eco Logic
The first prize went to Association for local development Kamenica from Niš with the idea to revive tourist potential of Kamenica Heights and establishment of international ecological camp for young people “Treehouse camp”. The idea was presented by Dejan Mitić. The camp plans to offer various cultural and sports activities based on cultural and historical heritage of local community and to employ local people.
The second prize is awarded to Biljana Filipovski from Macedonia, representing association “Good land”, for supporting cooperative of small farmers of organic products in the process of licensing organic production.
Aleksandar Novović from NGO Eco Logic from Montenegro won the third prize for the projects “Gardens of Ecologic”.
Regional forum featured winners of national competitions, organized by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund partners – foundations and associations from the region: Trag Foundation from Serbia, Civic Initiatives Forum from Kosovo, Fund for active citizenship from Montenegro, Partners Albania from Albania and Association for social innovations “ARNO” from Macedonia.
Participants from Montenegro with fAKT representatives
Besides NGO Eco Logic from Podgorica, two more ideas from Montenegro participated in the Forum: “Old Watermill”, a project of families Grdinić-Vujačić from Mojkovac, presented by Stevan Grdinić and “Upcycling for future”, a project of NGO Center for Women Rights from Podgorica, presented by Maja Raičević.
During two days of competition, participants had the opportunity to present various ideas: production of herbal soaps, growing and processing herbs and medical plants, bio-gas production, construction of prototype for making pellet out of wooden waste, economic empowering of women victims of domestic violence, organic production of eggs etc.
Participants were presented the movie about the last year’s winners made by Jeta Xharra from BIRN Kosovo and she also gave lecture on the best way to present one’s project.