EU PROGRES

Today, European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Michael Davenport, handed over sewing machines and other learning tools to the Textile and Leather Design School in Novi Pazar, as support to education to strengthen textile, footwear and clothing industry, as well as furniture and equipment for kindergarten Poletarac in Tutin. These projects were financially supported by the European Union through European Partnership with Municipalities Programme EU PROGRES.

As part of a 67,935 EUR project funded through EU PROGRES, two classrooms in the Textile and Leather Design School, which installed sewing machines, cutting machines, irons and other devices. Modern learning tools will improve regular classes for students, and simultaneously serve as additional education, training and development for adults to facilitate job search in textile, footwear and clothing industry in Novi Pazar, Raška, Sjenica and Tutin.

“Unemployment is high in this area, but it is encouraging that the local industry is increasingly looking for qualified workforce. I am happy to see that the School in partnership with clusters Asstex and NP Shoes and Sandžak Regional Development Agency SEDA recognized the need to start the programme of professional development, which is practical, work oriented and focused on textile, clothing and footwear industry. This means that the young people that go through this school will be able to find employment fast. However, adults looking for work will also benefit from this programme, especially those from marginalised groups, who will through extracurricular courses have the opportunity to acquire professional skills demanded on the market. In addition, the School will have the opportunity to earn revenue with the installed machines – because it will be able to provide cutting and sewing services,” Ambassador Davenport said.

“This project will support the workforce in Novi Pazar and surrounding municipalities to master modern skills and access new qualifications, which will contribute to higher employment rate in this area,” Meho Mahmutović, Novi Pazar Mayor said.

Kindergarten Poletarac in Tutin received new space, equipped with beds, tables, chairs, shelves and other furniture. Fifty children on the waiting list will be immediately enrolled in this kindergarten, which will employ additional 13 workers. With new equipment, the kindergarten will receive between 12 and 15 children with disabilities. The size of the new space is 650 square meters, and it will provide room for between 80 and 100 little ones. This project was financially supported by the European Union and Swiss Government through EU PROGRES with 161,300 EUR.

“Kindergarten is a special place for each child, because it is the place where the education process begins. Because of the high number of youth in Tutin, I think it is a wealthy municipality with high human potentials. I hope that the kindergarten built by the European Union and equipped together with our Swiss partners, will represent our modest contribution by investing in those potentials,” Davenport said.

“Our community wishes to direct all resources towards education. If we wish our children to be successful, we need to provide them with conditions for good quality learning. This is why the European Union can be proud of the funds well spent for this purpose,” Mayor of Tutin, Šemsudin Kučević, said.