On April 30th, a workshop was held in the courtyard of the “Dimitrije Tucović” Primary School in Čajetina, bringing together beneficiaries of the “Zračak” Day Care Center for children and youth with developmental disabilities and members of the school’s Environmental Club. The workshop was part of the “Inclusion in Action” program, implemented within the framework of the “Green Initiative for the Local Community” project, led by the Zlatiborski Krug association in partnership with the Association of Teachers “Opstanak” from Užice, and in cooperation with the local governments of Užice and Čajetina.
The first two workshops addressed topics related to environmental protection, waste separation, and various recycling methods. The third and final workshop focused on composting techniques and proper compost maintenance. The program facilitators—biology teachers and leaders of the school’s Environmental Club, Snežana Tučić and MA Zorica Milosavljević, who is also the coordinator of the “Green Initiative for the Local Community” project—provided both theoretical instruction and practical demonstrations of the composting process. Participants learned how to transform organic waste into a nutrient-rich resource for gardens or yards.
During the hands-on segment of the workshop, participants gathered grass clippings, leaves, and twigs, and layered them in the school’s mini composter along with pre-prepared egg shells, potato peels, and apple cores.
According to MA Zorica Milosavljević, President of the Zlatiborski Krug association, the “Inclusion in Action” program adds significant value to the overall project by integrating social inclusion as an essential component of sustainable development. By involving beneficiaries of the Čajetina Day Care Center in the project’s educational aspects, the initiative fosters and promotes equality in the acquisition and transmission of knowledge. In addition to participating in carbon footprint measurement activities in Čajetina, the Day Care beneficiaries found particular value in this inclusive program, which was specifically designed with their needs in mind.
The program was delivered across three workshops, conducted voluntarily and without financial compensation by the facilitators, and supported by professional staff from the “Zračak” Day Care Center.
With the successful completion of the third workshop, the “Inclusion in Action” program has come to a close. Participants have gained knowledge and practical skills that will benefit them not only in school, but also in everyday life—significantly enhancing the self-confidence and life skills of the Day Care beneficiaries.