Eco Fest Budva – Be the change you want to see in the world!

Although it was raining at the Montenegrin coast for days, which was threatening Eco Fest Budva to be postponed, the festival was still held thanks to the enthusiasm and will of young people who responded in a great number to the invitation of the organizers. Initially planned outdoors, due to rain the festival was held in the Budva Youth Club, on the first floor of TQ Plaza, which hosted volunteers from Podgorica, Cetinje, Tivat and Kotor. Throughout the day, together with their friends from Budva, volunteers conducted a number of important activities, from making a pupil’s corner, eco workshops and screenings of the film about permaculture to the lecture "Cap for Life", journalist workshop "Reporter from the field", flash mob and dancing. The planned painting of the mural is postponed for the sunny days, when they will gather again at the location of Savičić Potok, and they will give a new life to this ruined and abandoned place. The organizers of the festival: Budva Foundation, NGO "Naša Akcija", NGO "Sedma sila mladih", Budva Youth Club and TQ Plaza, began the action by creating a corner with use of recycled materials, which will be installed in the hall of high school "Danilo Kiš". After a long time, in a pleasant and positive atmosphere, the benches were finished and the youngsters were satisfied with the successful action. Afternoon activities included educational workshops in the club. Although tired of everyday engagement, volunteers were very pleased with the Permaculture Film Screening, holding a lecture on "Every Canister Counted" and "Cap for Life". The festival has humanitarian character, because during its lifetime, TQ Plaza collected money for the treatment of 10-year- old Maša Bašić from Bijelo polje. The activities of the festival continued today in the garage of TQ Plaza, where painting of tires and pallets for the pupil's corner is under way. The atmosphere is more than interesting, and a hard working team continues to do its job in a good mood. The organizers of the festival think that such and similar activities aim at connecting and cooperation of organizations and youth from different cities and areas of activity, as well as encouraging activism. The festival was conceived as a form of informal education and motivation for future projects, which will be aimed at landscaping the territory of Budva municipality that is losing green spaces due to massive urbanization, and to creation of the environment in which young people can make their "sanctuaries" and enjoy them. Goran Marinovic, president of the Budva Foundation, said that the goal of the festival was to send a clear message that young people are a new energy that is awake and promised that the painting of the mural will show in the following days that with a small intervention and great will, one completely passé space can be transformed. Patricia Pobric, president of the NGO "Naša akcija", said that she was very satisfied with the achieved results, despite the rain that wasn’t helping. She emphasized that all organizations participating in the festival have different dynamics of operations and tasks, but that it is a pleasure to work together. "Naša akcija” is always there to provide voluntary and logistical support to other organizations, Pobric said. Katarina Vukadinović, representative of the Youth Office of the Municipality of Budva, believes that the Eco Fest should remind us of ecological sustainability and recycling, and that this is one of the most important aspects of activism. She believes that the real activism begins only after getting your hands dirty and seeing the fruits of your labor. Zorica Radenovic, the president of the NGO "Sedma sila mladih", said that such actions are hope for the future of young people. She thinks that there is a worrying passivity in the society, but fortunately there are those who are willing to come from other cities despite bad weather and get down to work. "This encourages us to continue to support those who are active and socially useful, as opposed to the majority who are still" waiting for something, "concluded Radenović. Tina Crepulja, PR of TQ Plaza said she was proud of the fact that as a socially responsible company took a part in the campaign. She pointed out that the common goal is to enrich the appearance of the city they live in. Sava Buljancevic, an activist of "Naša akcija“, said his team was quick and efficient, and that there are many good reasons why he is a member of such a hardworking team. His friend Marija Vlahović, a member of the Student's Parliament of high school "Danilo Kis" said that young people from Budva should be more active and to contribute more to the community, and that Eco Fest is a good opportunity to do so. The ending of Eco Fest campaign is will include a travel exhibition of photographs and accompanying materials that will be presented at TQ Plazi in mid-May, and later will be organized in schools and cultural institutions that would like to support the project and motivate the Budva’s young people to do similar actions. Collaborators on the project "Eco Fest Budva" are: Tourist Organization of Budva, Union of Montenegro high schools, Eco school "Danilo Kis", Student’s Parliament of high school “Danilo Kis”, LTD “Klikovac”, restaurant “Kuzina” and hotel “Palma” Jaz. Prepared by: Reporters of “Krug mladih