Program
Economic
Empowerment
Building lasting livelihoods for Serbian families from Krajina — through capital, skills, and community support.
Building lasting livelihoods for Serbian families from Krajina — through capital, skills, and community support.
About the Program
Displacement disrupts more than location — it shatters livelihoods, professional networks, and economic foundations built over decades. Many Krajina Serbs who fled in 1995 or returned in subsequent years found that the economic infrastructure they had known was gone. Starting over with no capital, limited networks, and the psychological burden of displacement is an enormous challenge.
Our Economic Empowerment Program was designed to lower these barriers. Through a combination of microfinance loans, vocational skills training, business development support, and market access programs, we give entrepreneurs and workers the tools they need to build sustainable incomes.
Since launching, we have supported over 120 small businesses and employment initiatives — from artisan workshops and small-scale food production to service businesses and agricultural enterprises. Our model prioritizes dignity: we offer grants where needed, but primarily loans repaid into a revolving fund that helps the next participant.
How We Help
Low-interest business loans ranging from €500 to €15,000, with flexible repayment terms suited to each business's income cycle. Repaid funds go directly back into our revolving loan fund.
Short-course practical training in high-demand trades — carpentry, welding, electrical work, tailoring, food processing, and digital skills — partnered with local training centers.
One-on-one mentoring from experienced business owners in our network — covering business planning, accounting, marketing, and navigating local regulations. Six-month structured program.
Connecting producers with buyers through our annual Krajina Market Fair, online marketplace listings, and partnerships with regional cooperatives and retailers.
Success Story
Dragan fled Krajina with his family in 1995. He spent years working odd jobs in Belgrade, always dreaming of starting a woodworking business. But without capital, it stayed a dream.
In 2019, he received a €4,000 microfinance loan from our program. Today, he employs two people in his workshop producing handmade furniture sold to customers across Serbia and, increasingly, to the diaspora abroad.
"The loan gave me the start. The mentorship gave me the knowledge. But it was the belief — someone finally believing I could do this — that gave me the courage."
If you are of Krajina Serbian heritage and looking to build or grow a livelihood, we want to hear from you. Contact us to discuss which of our programs is the right fit.