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Spark develops education and entrepreneurship so that young and ambitious people are empowered to lead their post-conflict society into prosperity. We build the capacity of local economic and educational institutions so they can empower their own populations. The organisation actively mobilises support for this within Dutch Society, especially with economic and educational institutions.
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 Independence for SPARK Business Start-up Centers, International SME fair in Belgrade, Job creation initiative, Mitrovica Winter University, Two million documents scanned, TranSPARKency and new opportunities in Zimbabwe...
Find out more about these and other SPARK developments in the new SPARK Winter 2010 Newsletter!
Private Sector for Development
Independence for SPARK Business Start-up Centers in South East Europe
Since April 2007 five SPARK funded Business Start-up Centers (BSCs) in
South East Europe have assisted local start ups with consulting
services and business plan competitions. These BSCs, located in Bitola
(Macedonia), Bar (Montenegro), Zenica (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Kragujevac
(Serbia) and Pristina (Kosovo) are now becoming self-sufficient
centers.
Business supported by BSC Bitola
With SPARK assuming the role of a donor providing technical
assistance the BSCs are expected to become fully independent at the
beginning of 2010. Find out more @ www.spark-online.org
Small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs) research in Southeast Europe
Alternative financing options, and the level of awareness of the
regional target companies, received special attention in a new report
from the YES Foundation in Skopje. Supported by SPARK’s project
Establishment of Business Start-up Centers and Incubators the study
analyzed the availability of risk capital in 7 SEE countries and the
readiness of MSMEs to accept such investments. The outcomes were
presented during the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Skopje held from
16 to 22 November 2009. Find out more @ www.spark-online.org
Job creation initiative in South-East Europe under way
200 new jobs, wage subsidies for youth companies, business skills
education, and new working places are some of the targets for a new job
initiative currently under way in South-East Europe.
Eight innovative and results-oriented projects by local not-for-profit
organisations are being supported by a one year long initiative
supporting Business Start-Up Centres & Incubators in the area. The
initiative was launched in December 2009 by SPARK and it focuses on
direct poverty alleviation by supporting local institutional
initiatives that assist start-up companies and existing SMEs. For a
complete list of the supported organisations that focus on creating
jobs, find out more @ www.spark-online.org
International SME fair in Belgrade
Business plan competition winners and SME’s supported by The Business
start-up Centers from Kragujevac, Bar, Zenica, and Bitola participated
at the international SME fair “Business Baza”, held in Belgrade from 26
to 28 November 2009. Dragana Blažić won second prize in the best
product category, see the Success Story in this newsletter. Find out
more @ www.bsckragujevac.org
Business supported by BCS Kosovo
Study regarding SME Automotive Supplier Networks in Central Serbia presented
Further steps regarding developmental possibilities of the SME
automotive suppliers in Central Serbia are needed according to a study
titled `Development of SME Automotive Supplier Network in Central
Serbia`. The study was carried out by The Regional Agency for Economic
Development of the Sumadija Region and was presented by BSC Kragujevac
on 28 January 2010 to SME`s and the business community. Find out more @
www.bsckragujevac.org
Education for Development
Mitrovica Winter University
The Winter University took place from 23 January to 5 February 2010.
Organized by SPARK, the University and its Student Parliament, this
winter university gathered international and local students from all
corners of the continent for a two week programme. This excellent
learning experience exposes students to a unique and diverse learning
environment.
Diplomacy in action at Mitrovica Winter University 2010
For local students from Mitrovica it is an excellent opportunity to
broaden their horizons and explore different international teaching
methods. Classes in cultural heritage, EU integration, environmental
protection, entrepreneurship and negotiation & diplomacy and web
design provided an inspiring platform for class discussions. The next
Summer University will likely take place in July 2010.
Scholarships for Western Balkan Students
SPARK, together with the King Baudouin Foundation, has created a
scholarship database to promote student mobility of Western Balkan
students.
The database provides students with easy access to information
regarding study abroad opportunities as well as information about
funding. This information gives a greater possibility to Balkan
students, seeking to live and study abroad to experience a different
cultural setting and bring back new knowledge to their home country.
Find out more @ www.S4WB.eu
Two million documents and 50 years of student files scanned
Since May 2008 SPARK, with funds from the Dutch, Austrian and Norwegian
government, has carried out the first ever exchange of University
documents, previously lost due to the conflict, at the Universities of
Pristina and Mitrovica.
Participants at the Liberia Faculty Enrichment Programme
This is a unique project that, when finished, will include around
two million documents from Albanian and Serbian students and
professors. The transfer of the student documents from the University
of Pristina is scheduled to be completed in April while the Mitrovica
digitalization was completed in May last year. Find out more @ www.spark-online.org
SPARK investigates opportunities in Zimbabwe
Together with Business Start-up Centre Bitola, SPARK traveled to
Zimbabwe in February to develop a Youth Entrepreneurship project. The
aim is to create a partnership with local private and public parties
that will have a long term positive impact on the country’s employment
situation for youth.
New SPARK Amsterdam Office location
SPARK Amsterdam has moved its offices to a new location together
with another Dutch not-for-profit organisation, the BiD Network, also
focusing on entrepreneurship and job creation. The new office can be
found in close vicinity to Amsterdam Central Station at De Ruyterkade
107- II, 1011AB.
Engaging students at the Mitrovica Summer University 2008
Students at Mitrovica Summer University 2008
SPARK becomes more transparent
SPARK continues its quest to become the most transparent development
organisation in Europe by opening the TranSPARKency website. Here
donors, interested parties, and the general public can find detailed
evaluations of SPARK activities and find reports on how our aid money
is being used. This follows developments in ISO-certification and the
promotion of brilliant failures, where SPARK discloses mistakes that
can be learned from and shared. All these measures strengthen SPARK and
ensure that transparency continues to be a focal point in our
operations. Find out more @ www.spark-online.org/transparkency
Success Story
A matter of soap
With a degree in international management, and experience as a tour
guide, Dragana Blažić decided to focus on soap. Influenced by a trip to
Greece, where she found natural-based soaps without artificial colors,
she decided to obtain the formula for making the original soap in
France. With the help from BSC Kragujevac, where she was trained in
writing a business plan and eventually became a winner in the business
plan competition, she is now aiming to distribute her soaps to
pharmacies. Dragana notes the importance of the BSC trainings, ‘I was
able to improve my entrepreneurship knowledge, skills and communication
a lot.
Success story BSC Kragujevac
I received a lot of good advice and new ideas for my own business
concept’. She recently won a price for second best product at the
International SME Fair in Belgrade, indicating a bright future for this
entrepreneurial spirit. Find out more @ www.bsckragujevac.org
Quality
We are a new-style, result/impact oriented development organisation and
hold three of the most relevant quality labels. Firstly, we hold the
ISO 9001:2000 management quality label. Secondly, we are registered as
an Entity with General Benefit Objectives making donations tax
deductible. Finally, we hold a “CBF” Certificate, which measures good
governance and reliability of non-profits (CBF is a member of the
International Committee on Fundraising Organisations, ICFO)
Our work is
supported by:
- Netherlands Minister
for Development
Cooperation
- Organisation for
Security and
Cooperation in Europe
- Austrian Development Cooperation
- Federal Republic of Germany
- European Commission
- Royal Norwegian
Embassy Pristina
- Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency
- Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Denmark
- Microsoft
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Last Updated ( Monday, 08 March 2010 )
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