The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights held the final event of the project “Step by Step to Your Own Business for Refugees” on Wednesday, October 16.
The project focused on improving labor rights and promoting employment for vulnerable groups within the refugee population, asylum seekers, and individuals under temporary protection in Serbia. The main goals of the project included providing support in the integration process and advocacy, with a special focus on assisting with self-employment.
After the opening remarks by Jelena Ilić, the coordinator of the Asylum and Migration program at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, the first panel followed, where the key results of the project, challenges we faced, and the changes we achieved were presented, all of which significantly contributed to the easier and more successful integration of refugees. The speakers included Andrijana Miljković, a service advisor at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Jelena Čukić, Deputy Registrar at the Serbian Business Registers Agency, Milica Kezić Marčić, Program Manager for Advocacy Initiatives at the Trag Foundation, and Damjan Kerezović, a young researcher on the project.
During the second part of the event, our special guests were refugees who took that brave step forward and started their own businesses in Serbia. Refugees from Ukraine, Elvira Kerekešova, Luidmila Mytko, and Ilona Dvornyk, along with Ahmed Al-Rijebat, a refugee from Iraq, spoke about their entrepreneurial experiences, advice, and recommendations for anyone considering or hesitating to follow the same path. The panel was moderated by Milena Ančić, a service advisor at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights.
At the event, the Handbook for Starting Your Own Business for Refugees was presented, aimed primarily at refugees, asylum seekers, and individuals with temporary protection, but also at anyone interested in entrepreneurship. The handbook “Step by Step to Your Own Business for Refugees” is available in Serbian and Ukrainian and can be downloaded at the following links: handbook in Serbian and handbook in Ukrainian.
A short film was also shown at the event, highlighting the challenges refugees in Serbia face when starting their own businesses, while also encouraging others to take the brave step toward entrepreneurship. You can watch the film here (in Serbian):
The project “Step by Step to Your Own Business for Refugees” is being implemented as part of the public advocacy support program #PokretPolet, which is carried out by the Trag Foundation with financial support from the European Union, in partnership with the Center for Social Policy and in collaboration with the Coalition for the Development of Solidarity Economy (KoRSE).
