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Improving Cohesion in Pljevlja Through Two Innovative Solutions
At Hotel Franca on March 24 and 25, 2025, the Pljevlja Innovation Lab showed that even a smaller number of applications can produce visionary solutions. To recall, the November 2024 dialogue identified a crisis of trust in institutions, significant environmental burdens from the mining industry, youth outmigration, and a lack of services for persons with disabilities.
Two teams, strengthened by intensive individual mentoring support, presented ideas that address key local challenges, and both were awarded financial support and mentorship for project implementation:
“A Career Post-Career” - a four-phase program by FC “Breznica” for the education of former athletes, obtaining coaching licenses, and mentoring work with youth.
“All for Pljevlja - City of Love and Tolerance” - an interdisciplinary platform by NGO “The Tear of Europe” (NVO „Suza Evrope“) that, through art exhibitions, ecological workshops, and the “Unity Festival,” connects the elderly, persons with disabilities, and rural residents.
In conclusion, the Pljevlja Innovation Lab demonstrated that a qualitative approach and specific local knowledge can compensate for a lack of quantity. The focus on intergenerational solidarity and leveraging human capital creates a direct path to stronger cohesion, while the environmental dimension reminds us that caring for nature and caring for people often go hand in hand.
