In 2016, within the framework of “Volunteerism for development: Promoting volunteerism and civic activism in Kosovo” project, Democracy for Development Institute together with a few nongovernmental organizations formed the “Volunteer for Development” incubator. The main aim of this initiative was the creation of a network of organizations, businesses and institutions that offer support for new organizations in their initial steps of development, and whose goals are to cooperate in addressing the challenges in the field of volunteerism and civic activism.

During the first year of operation, the incubator welcomed 17 grassroot organizations as members, which in one way or another contribute in promoting and developing volunteerism and civic activism in Kosovo. This also marks the beginning of one of the goals of incubator: the membership of grassroot organizations and forming a network of cooperation between them in implementing various activities. During this phase, within the framework of the project, were awarded small grants for new organizations or individuals, whose projects main aim was promoting volunteerism and civic activism in the communities where they operate.

The incubator, as a project itself, will continue to operate and expand as a network of promoting and developing the volunteerism and civic activism. This year marks the beginning of implementing the second phase of recruiting, various businesses operating in Kosovo that in one way or another contribute in the field of volunteerism, be it by financing an activity implemented by another organization, or by organizing humanitarian events that directly or indirectly impact the wellbeing of the community where they operate.

Therefore, on 14th of March 2018 we held the first meeting with some of the most powerful businesswomen in Kosovo to discuss the possibility of their membership in the incubator network and creating the contact between social society and businesses with the possibility of cooperation in holding various activities of volunteerism and civic activism nature in Kosovo.

‘This activity was realized with financial support by British Embassy, Pristina‘