Reintegrate II – 10 self-employment grants awarded in Pirot

At the Good Neighbor Club in Pirot, equipment for self-employment was ceremoniously awarded to 10 beneficiaries of this project. The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Pirot, Mr. Vladan Vasić, as well as the Director of the Initiative for Development and Cooperation, Mr. Miodrag Nedeljković, along with his associates.

Through the self-employment component, beneficiaries received grants in the form of equipment and machinery to start their own businesses, along with mentoring support and advisory services for successful business operations. All beneficiaries expressed their readiness to register their businesses, with supported occupations including tailoring workshops, decorative item production, greenhouse farming, and other activities. This program has further enriched Pirot’s service sector while enabling project beneficiaries to secure stable incomes for themselves and their families.

Since the beginning of the project, a total of 38 unemployed individuals from hard-to-employ groups have been hired by 16 employers, supported through grants aimed at job creation and business growth, with total financial assistance provided for purchasing machinery and equipment.

Through various project activities, more than 600 beneficiaries—returnees and other individuals from vulnerable social groups—received support in Pirot, strengthening their economic and social standing.

The project is led by the German organization ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund), with the Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC) from Belgrade as the implementation partner. The project covers the districts of Pirot, Rasina, and Raška, with the local partner in Pirot being the Ternipe Association. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with support and co-financing from the City of Pirot.