Ten single moms from five Serbian cities have received grants to start or expand their own business through project “Strengthening human rights and economic empowerment of single mothers in Serbia”, implemented by Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation and funded by European Union via its EIDHR programme.
Apart from the funds necessary to buy equipment, raw materials and attend education and training, these single moms have also been provided with mentor support by business consultant who would assist them in developing their business ideas, as well as in creating and implementing their business plans.
We present their stories.
1. Vesna Ilic, 43, from Nis is a single mom of a nine-year-old boy. She has for years dreamed of opening a salon, but has always been one step short of succeeding. She entered the Single Moms competition and opened her own beauty salon.
2. Veroslava Kocic, 44, is a single mom of three from Nis. As a hobby, Veroslava and her two sons have been making ornamental items of behaton. They have decorated their garden with beautiful drinking fountains, ornamental objects and flower pots. Thanks to funding won in the competition, they have turned their hobby into small family business that would provide her and her two sons with jobs.
3. Daliborka Smolovic, 41, from Kragujevac is a single mom of a seven-year-old girl. She is a baker and has for years made and sold cakes and desserts. Her desire was to open her own bakery and had been for several years saving money and buying parts of equipment. Thanks to the funds received, her small shop in Aerodrom neighbourhood in Kragujevac has already started its operation. SM bakery offers cakes and desserts, sweet and savoury pastries, while Daliborka was given a chance to do what she likes most.
4. Svetlana Rankovic, 41, from Kragujevac is a single mom of two boys. Given that she has been unemployed for years, she decided to start her own business. Thanks to support of the Single Moms competition, Svetlana has launched a catering service.
5. Snezana Svedic, 33, from Novi Sad is a single mom of two girls. Snezana is a trained kindergarten teacher who has been out of work for years but has seized the opportunity and entered a retraining programme available to persons registered at National Employment Service. After finishing her training, she became a beautician and applied for competition with an idea of opening a beauty salon. She has since received necessary equipment and started her own business.
6. Vesna Krcmar (39) from Novi Sad is a single mom who has for several years owned and managed company Olson and Johanson, which specialises in cosmetic services and trainings. Aware of difficulties faced by single moms, she signed up for funds willing to expand her business and hire another single mother.
7. Biljana Cakić (36) from Leskovac has three sons. Despite her degree in Serbian Language and Literature, Biljana has for years been engaged in fitness. She applied for the competition with the aim to open her own fitness club. Thanks to funds, she has acquired necessary equipment and started her business. Only two months after the opening, Biljana has managed gather a group of ten ladies who practice three times a week. Besides, Biljana is a personal and strength coach. See more about her club at https://www.facebook.com/pages/AERO-BIX/742761592478316?fref=ts
8. Marina Cuk (40) from Belgrade has recently become a proud owner of a health food store, “Kadifica“. Marina is a displaced person and a single mom of two girls, aged nine and four. Following her husband’s death she lost her job and had to take the initiative and start her own business. As a grantee, Marina could afford necessary equipment for her shop and start a business. Apart form hers, there are no other healthy food stores in Zemun polje where her shop is located, and with a school and a residential area nearby, “Kadifica” is slowly becoming a local store gladly visited by neighbours.
9. Ljubica Stojanovic (36) from Belgrade is a single mom of boy named Luka who suffers from autism. Having in mind her responsibilities, to Ljubica, it is highly important she has a job with a flexible working schedule. Ljubica graduated in Economy but has been out of work for years. She entered the competition for single moms with the aim to start a firm specialised in providing accounting and consulting services in order to have a steady job which can be done from home. Ljubica received necessary IT equipment and underwent a training in accounting.
10. Vesna Stosic (33) is a single mom from Belgrade who has, after entering the competition, started her own sole proprietorship business that specialises in sewing and selling. Sewing has for years been a hobby for Vesna, a single mom of two girls. She has sawn over 300 different types of dresses before deciding to turn her hobby into a business idea, subsequently supported by the Foundation within competition. Three months ago, she opened her shop in Kralj Aleksandar Boulevard, equipped via funds received in the competition.
