In the last two months, the Youth Center in Loznica, among other things, thanks to the Business Incubator of the NESESER project, has become the center of various activities that have attracted a large number of young participants through various workshops, educations and creative programs, thus this space confirms its value as a key point for development and support of the local community. Activities are designed to meet the needs of different groups of young people, including children with developmental disabilities, as well as those who want to improve intellectual, language and creative skills. We are proud of the following workshops:

Workshops for children with developmental disabilities

These workshops are intended for children with various developmental disabilities and focus on inclusion, socialization and the development of motor and communication skills. The activities are designed to help children develop self-confidence and a sense of belonging through play, creative tasks and interactive exercises. An expert team of educators and therapists leads these workshops with the support of volunteers. Participants showed great improvement in communication and social interaction.

Workshops for the development of intellectual learning skills

The workshops are designed for children and young people who want to improve their study techniques, concentration and time management. Activities include learning through interactive games, simulations of real problems and creative problem solving. Special emphasis was placed on the skills of critical thinking and logical reasoning, which especially attracted older elementary and high school students. The children praised the practicality of the acquired knowledge and the motivation that is created in such an environment.

Marketing activities and campaigns

Workshops in the field of marketing are intended for young people who want to learn the basic principles of marketing, running campaigns on social networks and the basics of digital promotion. Through practical exercises, participants created their own mini-marketing campaigns for fictional products or events. These workshops emphasize the importance of creativity, teamwork and innovation. The participants pointed out that they learned how to plan a campaign, define a target group and use a budget, which will be useful in their future professional endeavors.

Language workshops

Language workshops include English, German and French language courses, and are especially popular among primary school-age children and young people who are preparing to take international exams. Teaching is interactive and includes simulations of everyday situations, conversation and work on projects. Through games and creative tasks, participants learn not only the language but also the culture of the countries whose language they are studying. Parents expressed great satisfaction with their children’s progress in speech and self-confidence.

Literary workshops

Literary workshops are aimed at developing a love of reading and writing, as well as a critical understanding of literary works. Attendees have the opportunity to discuss famous works, write their own stories and poetry, and occasionally meetings with local writers are organized. A special segment is dedicated to young people who want to develop creative writing skills. The workshops are held in the youth hub of the Youth Center, which further promotes the culture of reading and is open every day from 07:00 to 21:00.

Youth entrepreneurship workshops – Entrepreneurship workshops for young people within the project “Neseser” in cooperation with the Institute for Innovation and Development – IRI

The “Neseser” project offers young people in Loznica the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills through a series of workshops aimed at providing them with not only a theoretical but also a practical understanding of entrepreneurship. The workshops are designed for young people to learn the basic principles of entrepreneurship, develop creativity, innovation and confidence in starting their own businesses.

Objectives of the workshops:

Developing an entrepreneurial spirit: Through various activities, young participants have the opportunity to learn how to recognize business opportunities, how to research the market and how to manage business risks.
Improving business skills: Workshops cover topics such as writing a business plan, marketing strategies, managing finances, as well as key components of a successful business.
Practical application: Young people are given the opportunity to develop their ideas through work in groups and individual tasks and test them in business environment simulations.

Workshop structure:

• Basics of entrepreneurship: The first phase of the workshop includes getting to know the basics of entrepreneurship, explaining what it means to be an entrepreneur, what are the responsibilities, challenges and benefits of entrepreneurial life. Participants learn how to identify business opportunities in their environment.
• Developing a business plan: In the second phase, young participants participate in the creation of business plans. This segment focuses on goal setting, market analysis, financial planning and strategies to achieve business growth.
• Marketing and promotion: One of the key segments is focused on marketing, where participants are introduced to the basics of online and offline promotion, market targeting and the use of social media.
• Financial Management: This part of the workshop helps participants learn basic financial management techniques, including budget tracking, cost and revenue estimation, and calculating business profitability.
• Practical tasks and mentoring: The workshops also include mentoring, where young people can get advice from experienced entrepreneurs and experts, which helps them develop their ideas into real business ventures. The workshops end with presentations of business ideas that participants develop in teams, and the best teams receive prizes and support for further development of their ideas.

Workshops within the “Neseser” project have a positive effect on the development of entrepreneurial skills of young people. Through practical applications and advice from experts, young participants acquire the necessary knowledge that enables them to independently start businesses or become entrepreneurs in the future. Also, the workshops provide an opportunity for networking and cooperation with other young people, which is of great importance for building an entrepreneurial community.

The youth center successfully implements all planned workshops, providing quality programs for children and young people. The variety of activities allows each participant to find something that suits their interests and needs, while expert educators and dedicated volunteers contribute to an atmosphere of support and community.

About the Business Incubator of the NESESER project

The premises of the Second-hand Incubator in Loznica quickly became popular among young people, given its accessibility, modern equipment and the variety of activities it offers. Space occupancy is high, which shows that there is a great demand for such initiatives in this region.

Details on the occupancy of the incubator space:

High occupancy: Most of the workspaces in the incubator are occupied, and many of them are assigned to young entrepreneurs who have started or want to start their own businesses. Also, support programs, such as education and training, attracted a large number of participants, which confirms that there is interest in further learning and business training.
Cooperation with schools and associations: The Incubator cooperates with local educational institutions, such as high schools and associations, which enables greater engagement of young people and increases occupancy of the space. Through workshops, mentoring and practical projects, the incubator becomes an important center for education and professional development.
User dynamics: In the incubator there are not only entrepreneurs, but also young people who come to participate in various programs, such as education related to marketing, entrepreneurship, language skills and the development of intellectual abilities. These programs are well received, and the number of participants is growing week by week.
Flexibility of space: Spaces in the incubator are flexible and adaptable to the needs of users, which allows it to be used simultaneously for different types of activities – from business meetings, education, creative workshops to individual workspaces for entrepreneurs. This flexibility further contributes to high occupancy rates.

The opening of the Business Incubator in Loznica was extremely justified, considering its role in creating support for young entrepreneurs, the development of the local economy and social inclusion. The occupancy of the space is high, which indicates the success of this initiative and the need for further expansion and development of the program. It is expected that the incubator will continue to play a key role in creating new business opportunities and supporting young people in Loznica. The Youth Center is open every day until 21:00, including weekends, which allows flexibility and accessibility for all users.