Arhiva Projects - UKorak

Pathways2Resilience: CRIS

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:17:15 +0000

Pathways2Resilience: CRIS

Start of the project

1.1.2026.

End of the project

Not defined

Location

Prigorje

We are preparing solutions for extreme weather events!

We are proud that Prigorje, with the City of Križevci as the project lead, has been selected as one of 62 European regions that will lead the way toward a safer future! Through the Pathways2Resilience programme, we have secured grant funding for the CRIS project.

🤔 What does this mean for the people of Prigorje?

We are witnessing increasingly frequent extreme weather events that affect our everyday lives – from prolonged droughts that threaten crops to heatwaves that impact our health. To address these challenges in a lasting way, we need a comprehensive and expert-driven plan. That is exactly what this project will provide.

Together with our partners, over the next 18 months we will develop solutions covering the entire area – the City of Križevci and the municipalities of Kalnik, Gornja Rijeka, Sveti Ivan Žabno, and Sveti Petar Orehovec.

👉 Why is this important?

This project will lay the foundation for future initiatives and project applications. By developing a Resilience Strategy, Action Plan, and Investment Plan, we are creating the conditions to secure significant funding for infrastructure and concrete investments across Prigorje.

Our goal is clear: to develop a Prigorje that is prepared for the challenges posed by nature and safe for all of us to live in. 🌿💧

Objava Pathways2Resilience: CRIS pojavila se prvi puta na UKorak.

ISKRA –Initiative for Skills, Knowledgeand Regenerative Rural Action

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:09:53 +0000

ISKRA – Initiative for Skills, Knowledge and Regenerative Rural Action

Start of the project

travanj 2026.

End of the project

travanj 2027.

Location

Kolarec

Over the next 13 months, moving hand-in-hand with the changing seasons, we are breathing fresh, regenerative life into our shared community space in Kolarec.

The world around us is shifting rapidly. Yet, in the face of uncertainty, we are making a deliberate choice: instead of anxiety, we choose practical skills; instead of isolation, we choose community, connection and purposeful action.

Walking with the Seasons: What Lies Ahead

Nature teaches us that real, lasting transformation takes time and rhythm. Moving across the four seasons, project ISKRA unfolds in four intentional phases designed for all generations:

Summer – Cultivating Inner Strength: Through hands-on gathering that bring children, youth and adults together, we are nurturing emotional and mental well-being, building internal resilience because we know we weather change best when standing side-by-side.
Autumn – Reclaiming What Was Forgotten: Turning back to our ancestral roots, we focus on rural self-sufficiency from collecting and preserving climate-adapted heritage seeds to traditional seasonal food preservation and autumn remedies.
Winter – Gathering by the Fire: As the cold arrives, we bridge generations by combining the cozy winter traditions, storytelling and indoor craft wisdom of our elders with the fresh, creative energy of our youth.
Spring – Regenerating the Land: As nature wakes, we put our hands into the soil. Practical, regenerative workshops will teach low-impact living, soil restoration and earth care, nurturing the living systems that sustain us.

A Living Spark in Our Village

Iskra means spark. We believe that the knowledge, capacity and resilience needed for a thriving future already exist within our rural community – they simply need a little warmth and care to catch fire again.

Whether you are eager to pick up traditional tools, trade heirloom seeds or simply sit by the fire and share a cup of tea, this space is open to you.

Project Details at a Glance:

Duration: 13 months (Four-season cycle)
Location: Kolarec, Croatia
Supported by: Funded through the Regenerative Communities Fund (Funding Fairer Futures funding cycle) with a direct grant of €3,933

Follow our journey, participate in our seasonal workshops and stay tuned for upcoming dates!

Objava ISKRA –Initiative for Skills, Knowledgeand Regenerative Rural Action pojavila se prvi puta na UKorak.

Erasmus: RARE

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:55:58 +0000

Erasmus: RARE

Vision for Thriving Rural Communities

Across Europe, rural areas are facing depopulation, economic decline, and the loss of local identity and culture. The trend toward urbanization has left many rural communities with limited opportunities, reduced access to services, and a growing sense of isolation.

At the same time, the rise of remote work and digital nomadism is creating new opportunities to revitalize rural areas. The RARE project harnesses these opportunities to support local communities in attracting digital workers, entrepreneurs, and creatives who can contribute to social and economic recovery.

By empowering residents with new skills, resources, and networks, RARE creates the conditions for sustainable growth, cultural preservation, and community-led innovation.

The project is being implemented in Germany, Spain, Croatia, and Italy, bringing together local and international experts to help shape the future of rural Europe.

Objava Erasmus: RARE pojavila se prvi puta na UKorak.

Healthy Childhood Festival

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:03:57 +0000

Healthy Childhood Festival

First Healthy Childhood Festival took place in the heart of Gornja Rijeka, at the branch school in Kolarec.

This festival was a community initiative focused on the holistic development of our youngest members. It is designed as a gathering that celebrates childhood through four key pillars:

Physical Health (nutrition and movement)
Emotional and Mental Wellbeing (support for children and parents/caregivers)
Ecology (living in harmony with nature)
Creativity (imagination without limits)

What was there to experience?

– Interactive workshops and sports activities for children of all ages.
– Talks and presentations by experts.
– Joint activities for parents/caregivers and children.
– An ecological corner and creative zones.
– The opening of Playground that Grows, a project implemented in partnership with the KORAK Association, Sidonija Rubido Erdody Primary School and the Municipality of Gornja Rijeka, co-funded through a donation from the Adris Foundation.

The festival was co-funded by the Regenerative Communities Fund, the Municipality of Gornja Rijeka and the Croatian Electricity Company (HEP), with the support of HDS ZAMP.

Objava Healthy Childhood Festival pojavila se prvi puta na UKorak.

Playground that grows

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:58:33 +0000

Playground that grows

Start of the project

November 2025

End of the project

June 2026.

Location

Kolarec

The “Playground that grows” project aims to establish a multifunctional educational space in nature that combines play, learning, environmental regeneration and community participation.

Through the development of a regenerative educational park in the village of Kolarec, children, parents, teachers and local residents will work together to shape spaces that encourage children’s motor, sensory and emotional development, while also significantly strengthening ecological literacy and intergenerational collaboration.

The project is being implemented through a participatory process consisting of several phases: planning and community engagement; designing different zones (playground, wilderness and quiet zone, sensory zone, and regenerative garden); creating and installing educational and natural elements; and the final activation of the space through an educational festival.

Throughout the process, the project applies a regenerative design approach, smart technologies (sensors and QR-based educational content), natural and recycled materials and volunteer work.

Expected results include:

creating a safe and stimulating outdoor space;
installing at least 10 QR educational points;
involving more than 50 children and 30 adults in project activities;
delivering 4 educational workshops; and
creating a lasting model that can be replicated in other schools and communities.

Partner: Sidonija Rubido Erdody Primary School, Municipality of Gornja Rijeka
Co-funding provided by: Adris Foundation – €5,000

Objava Playground that grows pojavila se prvi puta na UKorak.

Coursera Social Impact – Thriving communities: Prigorje

admin — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:13:28 +0000

Coursera Social Impact – Successful Communities: Prigorje

Start of the project

1.4.2026.

End of the project

Not defined

Location

Online

KORAK Association is proud to announce that through the “Successful Communities: Prigorje” initiative, we have secured 300 free licenses for the world-renowned Coursera learning platform!

This is your opportunity to earn internationally recognized certificates from companies such as Google, IBM, and Meta, as well as leading universities and organizations from around the world – completely free of charge, with our support in the Prigorje region.

This form is the first step toward gaining new knowledge. Please complete it carefully so that we can include you in the selection process.

Who will be given priority?

In line with our goals, priority in the allocation of licenses will be given to:

Young people and unemployed individuals looking for new career paths.
Leaders and members of local associations and clubs who want to strengthen community resilience and develop their skills.
Small business owners, craftspeople, and family farm (OPG) owners (primarily women) who want to transform their businesses toward sustainable models and strengthen their position in the business world.

If your application is approved, you will receive an email invitation as soon as possible, sent directly from Coursera.

IMPORTANT: Please add our email address, korak@ukorak.hr, to your contacts so that our emails do not end up in your spam folder.

Please note: The number of licenses is substantial, but interest is even greater. Apply now! Applicants who are not among the first 300 will be placed on a waiting list.

People aged 16 and over may apply. Applicants under 18 must additionally provide a signed parental consent form by email.

For any questions, please feel free to contact us at: korak@ukorak.hr

All personal data is collected exclusively for the purpose of implementing this program, in accordance with the GDPR.

Objava Coursera Social Impact – Thriving communities: Prigorje pojavila se prvi puta na UKorak.

Village and Nature Through the Eye of a Women

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:21:24 +0000

Village and Nature Through the Eyes of Women

Competition Opens

01.08.2025.

Winners Announced

30.09.2025.

Application Deadline

31.08.2025.

Exhibition of the 20 Best Entries

15.10.2025.

Judging Period

01.09. - 25.09.2025.

Roundtable Discussion

15.10.2025.

“Village and Nature Through the Eyes of Women” is a photography competition inviting women from Koprivnica-Križevci County to capture authentic moments of rural life through the lens of a camera. This project celebrates the connection between women and nature, highlights the beauty of everyday life, and gives a voice to those who are often overlooked – women who create, nurture, and shape rural communities.

The aim of the competition is to showcase women’s perspectives on rural life – whether through scenes of morning rituals, gardening, traditional customs, rural landscapes throughout the seasons, or the modern rural woman who combines tradition with new technologies. Each photograph carries a personal story and contributes to the richness of the collective identity of rural women.

Participation is open exclusively to women from Koprivnica-Križevci County, who may submit up to 3 photographs of their choice from the following categories:

Everyday Life in the Countryside
Natural Beauty Through the Four Seasons
Tradition and Customs
The Modern Woman in a Rural Setting
Agriculture and Gardening
Rural Crafts and Handicrafts

Through this competition, we want to highlight the invisible heroines of rural life: women who care for their families, land, communities, and traditions every day. Their stories are rarely represented in the media, yet we see them every day in the fields, in their homes, through their crafts, and in the care they provide to others. This project puts women’s perspectives on rural life at the forefront and gives them the recognition they deserve.

The competition will culminate in an exhibition of the 20 best entries, taking place on International Day of Rural Women, October 15, 2025, alongside a roundtable discussion on rural women. In addition, the authors of the winning photographs will receive valuable cash prizes and gift packages from local women entrepreneurs, “From Women to Women.”

If you are a woman who loves photography, nature, your local community, and the life you are building there – this competition is for you. You do not need professional equipment, just an authentic perspective and a desire to share your story. The application deadline is August 31, 2025.

📥 For more information, competition rules, and application instructions, see the RULEBOOK.

📧 Applications: natjecaj@ukorak.hr

🖼️ Follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn

Expert Jury

Ana Petek

She has been involved in photography since childhood, with a particular eye for detail and a talent for spontaneously capturing moments. One of her notable projects involved a collaboration with Microsoft, and her work has been presented in several group exhibitions and one solo exhibition. She currently works professionally as a photographer, focusing on a documentary style in wedding and family photography. She is also actively involved in her community through humanitarian photography projects.

Denis Butorac

He graduated from the Department of Photography at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb. In addition to receiving the Dean’s Award and two Rector’s Awards, he has received the Marina Viculin Scholarship and Award, which recognizes artists with outstanding achievements in Croatian photography. In September 2018, he presented his first solo exhibition, Homesick, as part of the 10th edition of the international photography festival Organ Vida. He has exhibited in several solo and group exhibitions in Croatia and abroad. In his artistic practice, he uses photography as a medium to explore themes such as identity, family, and tradition. Through his work, he develops narrative series that combine documentary and conceptual approaches.

Ivana Alerić

Born in Zagreb 43 years ago, she holds a degree in mining engineering but has always devoted her free time to photography. After becoming a mother, photography took on a new meaning for her – creating a visual family legacy through photography. She wanted to document her family story as it truly is, and soon discovered that this approach is known as family documentary photography. She has continuously expanded her photographic knowledge and skills by participating in numerous international educational programs focused on family documentary photography. For the past decade, she has used photography to tell honest, warm, and authentic stories of everyday family life, with an understanding of both the universal and unique nature of every family story. Today, she also shares her extensive experience through her own photography workshops and educational programs. Her work has been recognized in competitions specializing in family documentary photography.

Zdenko Balog

He graduated from the School of Applied Arts and subsequently from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, where he studied Art History and Comparative Literature. He graduated in 1983 and received his master’s degree ten years later from the Department of Visual Communications and Design, with a thesis on The Visual Identity of Fashion Magazines in Croatia. In 2012, he earned his PhD with a dissertation titled The Architectural Heritage of Herman of Celje and Its Reflections in Western Slavonia in the 15th Century. He has been an amateur photographer since elementary school, later developing his skills professionally by documenting his research through photography. Alongside documentary photography, his creative interests focus on people, particularly portrait, street, glamour, and erotic photography. He has repeatedly worked as the official photographer for events and competitions including Miss Supranational Croatia, Miss Sport Croatia, Križevačko veliko spravišče, and the Culture-Shock Festival in Križevci, among others. For eight years, he worked professionally as a photojournalist for Prigorski.hr, and for a shorter period as a photojournalist for Podravski list. He has conducted numerous photography courses organized by the Public Open University (POU) Križevci and the K.V.A.R.K. Association in Križevci. He has held four solo photography exhibitions and is the author of numerous books and studies on art history and cultural history. He has also contributed photographs to several monographs.

Prizes

Third Place

The prize includes:

^€ 50

“From Women to Women” gift package
Certificate of Third Place

Second Place

The prize includes:

^€ 100

“From Women to Women” gift package
Certificate of Second Place

First Place

The prize includes:

^€ 200

“From Women to Women” gift package
Certificate of First Place

Objava Village and Nature Through the Eye of a Women pojavila se prvi puta na UKorak.

CERV program: PLACE

admin — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 12:53:57 +0000

CERV program: PLACE

The “Placemaking for Citizen-led Missions in SE Europe (PLACE)” project helped advance our work in the field of Placemaking for Civic Imagination.

As part of the PLACE project, we designed and implemented a series of local placemaking processes in Slovenia, Croatia and Sicily, alongside international learning and capacity-building events. The project focused on how placemaking can help drive radical change within communities.

Korimako was the coordinator of the PLACE project, with project partners KORAK, PUSH, and Placemaking Europe (in close collaboration with Placemaking Western Balkans).

As a project partner, KORAK contributed its expertise in the following areas:

developing sustainable environments for citizens
strengthening local communities
innovative approaches to public space design
education and community development
sustainable social and economic development of rural areas

The project was funded through the European Union’s “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values” programme and ended in February 2024.

Read the article to learn more: Placemaking Croatia

Objava CERV program: PLACE pojavila se prvi puta na UKorak.

HEP – Light on the Community Path: I’m a Gardener Too!

admin — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:51:21 +0000

HEP – Light on the Community Path: I’m a Gardener Too!

The “I ja vrtlarim!/I’m a Gardener Too!” project was created to enable people with mobility issues to actively participate in gardening at the city garden in Križevci.

The main goal is to empower vulnerable groups to contribute equally to the local community’s sustainability and climate resilience, while simultaneously improving their health and sense of purpose.

Key Achievements:

A 50 m² paved area was built to ensure accessible movement for seniors and people with disabilities.
With the help of 25 volunteers, accessible raised garden beds were constructed for rehabilitation and educational purposes.
The project involves collaboration with the Pensioners’ Association, the Association of Persons with Disabilities and residents of the local elderly care home.
Due to excellent public response and positive feedback, “I ja vrtlarim!” has been established as a permanent, ongoing program within the association.

Objava HEP – Light on the Community Path: I’m a Gardener Too! pojavila se prvi puta na UKorak.

Cleaning action: Majurec

admin — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 12:46:23 +0000

Cleaning Event: Majurec

Environmental cleanup action was held on April 22, 2023.

The environmental cleanup action in the immediate vicinity of a forest was organized by the association KORAK in cooperation with the Majurec Local Committee and the Majurec Volunteer Fire Department (DVD), with the support of Večernji list, CMK Križevci, the City of Križevci and the Križevci Municipal Company. The cleanup site was located on an unclassified road between the villages of Majurec and Veliki Potočec, where an illegal waste disposal site is located. The disposal site is approximately 1.2 km from Majurec and approximately 1.3 km from Veliki Potočec.

The cleanup action was attended by members of the Majurec Volunteer Fire Department (DVD), the associations KORAK and Čisteći Medvjedići, members of the University College of Agriculture in Križevci, members of the “Kalnik” Scout Group, as well as other volunteers from the City of Križevci area.

A total of 14 cubic meters of waste was collected at the site and placed in a container provided by the Križevci Municipal Company. The waste consisted primarily of bulky waste, mixed municipal waste, clothing, textiles and glass.

The cleanup action lasted from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., followed by a social gathering at the Majurec Volunteer Fire Department.

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