Women’s Center Užice is a civil society organization managed by the principles of tolerance and democratic dialogue. The organization was registered in 1998, as a result of the initiative of 15 local women. The initiative’s aim is to support the local women’s community as well as to strengthen their self-confidence, economically empower them and activate them in exercising their rights and independence.

The first step was to identify the needs and concerns of women, as well as their potentials, while also raising public awareness and increasing the visibility of these issues among policy makers. This is followed by strengthening of women’s economic empowerment and independence, as well as connecting the Center with a network of likeminded organizations on national and regional levels.

Women’s Center in Užice became an important meeting point for women living in towns and villages in the entire area. It has also supported establishment of women’s economic cooperatives, and has been involved in initiatives concerning public health.

When it comes to education, the Center is conducting a number of trainings and programs dealing with development of entrepreneurship among women in the entire Zlatibor county, by creating a platform for collaboration, project development and advocacy.

One of the main projects of the organization – the one which brought the attention of Nova Iskra during the development of the Folkk brand – is the recently completed textile recycling center. The basic idea of the project is to build a model for the inclusion of various groups that are considered vulnerable, through the creation of a work environment that will encourage them and provide motivation for inclusion and social engagement. By collecting and recycling textile, the organization seeks to develop sustainable social services.

As part of this social enterprise, 20 women were introduced to the basic sewing skills and other aspects of working with textile, while some of them will receive further training in order to developg prototypes of products that will be part of their catalogue of promotional and household items. Folkk is proud to be partnering with one of the best social enterprises in Serbia, and that it is able to contribute to the empowerment and independence of some of the most vulnerable social groups in our environment.