Belgrade, Serbia — October 23, 2025. The RISE Forum Local Event was successfully held at the Europe House in Belgrade, bringing together young social entrepreneurs, mentors, institutional representatives, and partner organizations to celebrate the achievements of the Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs (RISE) program.
The event was organized by the RYCO Local Branch Office in Serbia, in partnership with Smart Kolektiv, Pulse Group, the French Development Agency (AFD), and with the support of the Embassy of France in Belgrade. The Forum served as a platform for sharing experiences, exploring new ideas, and strengthening cooperation among actors who foster youth-led social innovation in the Western Balkans.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from distinguished guests who emphasized the significance of youth empowerment, innovation, and regional collaboration.
Ms. Natacha Ephimoff, First Counselor and Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the Embassy of France in Belgrade, reaffirmed France’s long-standing commitment to supporting youth cooperation and social innovation in the Western Balkans.
“France remains a dedicated partner of the region’s young changemakers,” Ms. Ephimoff stated. “Through initiatives such as RISE, we witness how creativity and solidarity among youth can contribute not only to social progress but also to peace and mutual understanding across the region.”
Mr. Arnaud Dauphin, Director for Western Balkans at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), highlighted AFD’s role in supporting sustainable development through youth-led entrepreneurship.
“Social entrepreneurship has the power to connect economic growth with social impact,” Mr. Dauphin noted. “The RISE program perfectly embodies this vision — empowering young people to turn innovative ideas into businesses that address community needs and strengthen regional ties.”
Ms. Neda Stanković, Program Manager at Smart Kolektiv, spoke about the transformative role of mentorship and community building in nurturing social enterprises.
“RISE is not only a program — it is a living ecosystem of collaboration, creativity, and support,” Ms. Stanković emphasized. “Through shared learning and guidance, we have seen young people overcome challenges and build enterprises that truly make a difference.”
Finally, Ms. Marija Bulat, Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Serbia, expressed her pride in RYCO’s contribution to fostering youth cooperation and cross-border dialogue through social innovation.
“RISE demonstrates what happens when young people are given trust, support, and the opportunity to lead change,” Ms. Bulat said. “At RYCO, we believe in empowering youth to become agents of reconciliation and sustainable development — and this program is a powerful example of that mission in action.”
Their inspiring words set the tone for a day dedicated to celebrating creativity, solidarity, and the shared ambition to strengthen youth cooperation through social entrepreneurship.
RISE Achievements and Results: Six Years of Regional Impact
Following the opening session, Ms. Ardita Bonati, RISE Project Manager at RYCO, and Ms. Kelly Robin, Deputy Managing Director of Pulse Group, presented the key milestones of the RISE program over the past six years.
They highlighted that over 680 young social entrepreneurs have been supported during the ideation phase, 108 projectshave undergone incubation with the guidance of regional mentors, and 72 teams have received grants to scale their initiatives. The presentation showcased the program’s continued success in bridging youth, innovation, and community impact throughout the Western Balkans.
The Advocacy Panel, titled “Social Entrepreneurship in Serbia – Challenges and Opportunities,” featured distinguished experts:
- Ms. Dina Rakin, Senior Consultant on Social and Solidarity Economy Policies,
- Ms. Irena Đorđević, Head of the Unit for Digitalization, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, and Policy Lead for Social Entrepreneurship, NALED,
- Ms. Dragana Tar, Senior Consultant, SEEDEV.
Moderated by Ms. Ardita Bonati, the discussion explored current trends and challenges within Serbia’s social entrepreneurship ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of developing policies that enable young entrepreneurs to thrive and collaborate.
The session “RISErs’ Success Stories”, moderated by Mr. Lazar Tasić from Smart Kolektiv, showcased inspiring journeys of young entrepreneurs who transformed their social ideas into impactful businesses:
- Bojana Ivanović – Link in Bio
- Andrea Darabašić – Career Launch
- Ivana Popović – DigiLand STEM.
Each story reflected the creativity, persistence, and community engagement that the RISE program promotes. The session reminded everyone that youth-led innovation can be a powerful catalyst for positive change across the region.
The final discussion, “Social Entrepreneurship in Serbia – Mentoring Perspective,” moderated by Mr. Davor Džakula, Local Program Officer at RYCO Serbia, brought together experienced mentors:
- Ms. Dragana Jovčić – Uradi zaradi,
- Ms. Bojana Pražić – Centrala 24,
- Mr. Vladimir Jovanović – SME Support.
They reflected on the value of mentorship in building sustainable enterprises, stressing that personalized support and long-term guidance are essential to helping young entrepreneurs transform their vision into tangible social impact.
The RISE Forum Belgrade 2025 demonstrated the strength of cooperation between institutions, mentors, and youth in advancing social entrepreneurship across the Western Balkans. It served as a vivid reminder that regional solidarity, innovation, and inclusivity are key to creating lasting social change.
Through inspiration, dialogue, and celebration of youth-driven success stories, the event reaffirmed RYCO’s commitment — together with its partners — to empowering young people to shape a more connected, equitable, and sustainable region.