PULSE Balkans, The Regional Youth Cooperation Office and IEC Tehnopolis Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of RISE Project
Podgorica, October 31 – PULSE Balkans, in partnership with RYCO and IEC Tehnopolis, celebrated the fifth anniversary of the RISE (Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs) project with an impactful event in Podgorica. Supported by partners including the Agence Française de Développement, the European Union, the RYCO and the French-German Youth Office, RISE is dedicated to fostering reconciliation among young people in the Western Balkans through social entrepreneurship.
The event opened with welcoming addresses from Ms. Lorette Cambianica, Assistant Manager at PULSE Balkans; Ms. Anđela Nikčević, Project Manager at IEC Tehnopolis; Ms. Laurence Levaudel-Clauss, Cooperation and Cultural Action Advisor at the French Embassy; and Mr. Edin Koljenović, head of RYCO LBO in Montenegro. Each speaker highlighted the importance of supporting young social entrepreneurs to create sustainable change in the region.
The RISE project’s presentation illustrated its accomplishments over the past five years in empowering young entrepreneurs and building a stronger social entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Western Balkans. RISE has successfully partnered with six local support organizations and provided valuable resources to young innovators addressing social challenges in their communities.
Laurence Levaudel-Clauss, Cooperation and Cultural Action Advisor at the French Embassy
Anđela Nikčević, project manager at IEC Tehnopolis
Edin Koljenovic, Head of RYCO LBO Montenegro
Ardita Bonatti, project manager at RYCO
Panel discussion on social entrepreneurship in Montenegro
Jovana Đokić presenting her social business: EkoBomba
A panel on social entrepreneurship in Montenegro, moderated by Anđela Nikčević, featured key leaders in the social economy: Božina Stešević, Program Manager at AD ZID; Suzana Stijović, WB Regional Coordinator at COSV; and Jugoslav Radović, Vice President of the European Youth Card. This session highlighted local perspectives and expertise, focusing on the potential of social enterprises to drive economic and social progress in Montenegro.
The event also showcased EkoBomba, a social business incubated by RISE, which aims to contribute to Montenegro’s reforestation efforts. EkoBomba produces seed balls, enriched with natural nutrients and encased in a biodegradable paper membrane, to promote tree growth. With the motto, “If paper can be made from wood, then paper can make a forest,” EkoBomba embodies the innovative spirit fostered by the RISE program “RISE Journey 4”.
The fifth anniversary event in Podgorica celebrated the lasting impact of the RISE project in empowering young people to lead positive social change. PULSE Balkans and its partners remain dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurship across the Western Balkans, creating pathways for sustainable development and cooperation in the region.