August 28, 2010

28. August 2010.

Assistance with Small Business Initiatives in South Serbia

The “HELP” organization launched a campaign related to the project “Decrease of Poverty through Support to Sustainable Local Development in South Serbia” in the territory of the city of Vranje. The project is implemented in the territory of the cities of Nis and Vranje, and of the municipalities of Aleksinac, Bujanovac, Pirot and Presevo. It is funded by the German government and the above-mentioned cities and municipalities. Its overall value is 956.200 EUR, and it will be implemented in the period from July 2010 until December 2011. The value of the part of the project that is implemented in the territory of the city of Vranje is around 130,000 EUR, out of which the city of Vranje participates with around 56,000 EUR.

“HELP” is going to organize the implementation of project activities in co-operation with non – governmental organizations “Edeas” from Bujanovac and “Eneca” from Nis.

The project is aimed at contributing to a sustainable development, including focusing on the enhancement of local economic structures by enabling the creation of new jobs. “HELP” resumes its activities through this project, which envisages the creation of new jobs through development of “start-up” businesses and entrepreneurship. As part of this project activity, support regarding the launching or development of business operations will be provided to 50 clients. Applicants for the funds, those with whom agreements on donations are going to be concluded, shall receive the equipment and material, the average value of which is up to 2,000 EUR. The said amount will be spent on business and expert training according to the needs of the applicants, as well as on business counseling.

In the period from 2004 until now, “HELP”, through four projects implemented in Vranje, supported 273 individual clients and five co-operatives. Two fruit and vegetable- growing co-operatives, a chicken - raising co-operative-incubator “Hibro pulus” and a co-operative for homemade bread and baked goods “Tradicija i preduzetnistvo” (“Tradition and Entrepreneurship”) are from Vranje, while a co-operative – association of cattle-breeders and milk-producers “Prirodno i zdravo” (“Wholesome and Healthy”) is from Surdulica. All of them were founded in the period from 2008 to 2010.