Municipality

Vrbas

Community

Zmajevo

Title

Establishing Multifunctional Center in Zmajevo

Problem

The community of Zmajevo lacked a facility for hosting any kind of substantial citizens’ gathering including meetings, presentations, lectures, and rehearsals. The community center building could not host gatherings of more than a few dozen people, and music and art groups had to travel to Vrbas in order to hold rehearsals and performances. In addition, two active cooperatives in Zmajevo, “Ekosamp” and “Agrozmaj,” lacked conditions for hosting seminars and other agricultural groups in the region. Zmajevo’s old Cultural Center building used to contain a theatre, cultural events hall, projector room, and facilities used for daily rehearsals of the local cultural association, but years without renovation had left the structure rather dilapidated: the roof was leaking, the heating system did not function well, the interior was in very bad condition, the furniture was falling apart, and the sanitary facilities were out of function. As the building was held by a socially-owned cooperative, the local government was unable to easily make repairs to the facility. Furthermore, part of the large park in front of the building contained the community’s only children’s playground but it was not being used because the equipment was ramshackle and hazardous for children.

Solution

The community organized a campaign and, after nearly one year of consultations, successfully negotiated to transfer ownership of the building to the MZ. The facility was thereby reconstructed to be multifunctional and the children’s playground was renovated.

Impact

Reconstructing the cultural center into a viable Multifunctional Center provides the entire community with a much-needed facility for a wide range of events and gatherings. Young people in Zmajevo now have a space for activities, rather than hanging around the streets or in cafes. The reconstructed Center also provides citizens with a venue capable of hosting larger events, such as open citizens’ meetings and various seminars, particularly in the area of agriculture. Several music and theater associations are also able to hold rehearsals and have performances in the Center, which attracts and enables more young people to take active participation in the associations’ activities. Citizens no longer have to travel to Vrbas for such activities, and, in addition, the projector room serves as a very conducive venue for holding seminars, educational presentations, and film screenings. As such, reconstruction allows the center to generate profit through renting the facility and its office space to agricultural cooperatives and other associations, as well as through ticket sales for performances and film screenings. Finally, children have an adequate and healthier space for play, also allowing parents to spend some leisure time in the renovated park.

Beneficiaries

4,361

USAID Funds

$28,669

Community and Other Contribution

$16,393