On May 30th, the final event of the project Green Initiative in the Local Community was held at the National Library in Čajetina. The project was implemented over the past year in Čajetina and Užice as part of the Local Sustainable Development Fund program, carried out by the organizations Zlatiborski krug from Čajetina and the Teachers’ Association “Opstanak” from Užice, in cooperation with the local governments of Čajetina and Užice.

The core components of the project included public advocacy for the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into local public policies, the introduction of innovative solutions to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, and an educational program for upper-grade primary school students in Užice and Čajetina.

As part of the advocacy efforts, two roundtable discussions and two public lectures were organized in Užice and Čajetina, focusing on the integration of SDGs into local strategic documents. A series of meetings with local government representatives was held, and an analysis of the previous Local Environmental Action Plans (LEAPs) for Čajetina and Užice was conducted, with a focus on spatial planning and biodiversity. Zlatiborski krug prepared and submitted a formal request to the Municipal Administration for the development of an Environmental Protection Program.

Within the component on innovative solutions for climate change mitigation, two bus stops in Čajetina and Zlatibor were greened through the installation of floral arrangements and equipped with solar panels and mobile phone charging stations. In addition, art and literary competitions were conducted for upper-grade students from Užice and Čajetina primary schools, aiming to collect the most innovative ideas for reducing the negative environmental impacts of climate change.

The educational part of the project included a training program delivered through three half-day workshops for upper-grade primary school students in Užice and Čajetina. This was followed by hands-on activities, including two carbon footprint measurement workshops at busy intersections in both towns.

An additional segment of the educational program was the implementation of the volunteer initiative Inclusion in Action, involving three joint workshops between members of the eco-club of “Dimitrije Tucović” Primary School and users of the Day Care Center for children with developmental disabilities “Zračak” in Čajetina.

During a brief presentation attended by representatives of local governments, educational institutions, public enterprises, and the media all implemented activities and achieved results were presented. In addition to planned activities, the project evolved to include further initiatives that enhanced its value and visibility, such as its presentation at the National Teachers’ Workshop held as part of the Climate Package project at the United Nations Building in Belgrade on May 27th.

Closing the event, the project team members thanked all individuals and institutions that supported the project’s implementation. Students from Užice and Čajetina who authored the winning entries in the art and literary competitions were awarded diplomas and valuable prizes.