Blatology is one of the two winning teams of the 3rd cycle of the RISE support program that entered the incubation phase. Their mission is to preserve the traditional technique of constructing houses using natural materials while offering educational programs to aid individuals in reconnecting with nature. In an interview with members of the Blatology team, we talked about their experience on the RISE journey, discussed the obstacles they encountered and explored their plans for the future.
Last year in October you applied with your idea for the RISE call, after which you went through the cycle of the idea development, and now the incubation phase begins. During both cycles you have been working intensively with mentors, trainers, and other participants. How important is this whole process and could you single out some key moments in this program that influenced you.
First of all, we would like to express our deep gratitude for participating in the program. The entire program of the first phase was very useful, and the organization and support were commendable. The lecturers were exceptional, highly knowledgeable in their respective fields, and attending their lectures was a real pleasure. Their wealth of experience allowed us to learn a lot. Developing a business model and preparing a pitch is something that we would single out as the most useful from the first phase of the program. We realized that these tools are essential for mapping out our processes and achieving our goals, and we intend to return to them repeatedly. Without such a structure and homework, it would have been challenging to address all the necessary aspects for our further development. As we embark on the second phase, we are confident that it will hold even greater significance for us, considering the foundation of knowledge we have already acquired, which we will leverage to attain the best possible results. Once again, we extend our appreciation to all the lecturers, and we hope to maintain contact and potentially collaborate in the future!
What is the main driving factor for you, what motivated you to embark on this venture (starting your idea) and what keeps you motivated every day to continue?
Our main motivation is to return to a healthy way of life in harmony with nature, which nowadays for city people generally implies a radical change in behavior and in the way of performing daily activities. We also aim to preserve tradition and cultural heritage, old crafts and skills that are an integral part of our legacy. Through our activities, we promote the restoration of old neglected estates and mud houses and also to encourage returning to villages. The current urban lifestyle is entirely unsustainable, and it is necessary to immediately create conditions that will enable the regeneration of the planet. Our main motivation is to develop estate and create a sustainable center for the transmission and preservation of knowledge and skills. With this, we aim to inspire all those who dream of pursuing their aspirations but hesitate to begin due to doubts about its feasibility.
Many young people dream about their ventures, but often never try. In your opinion, was it worth the effort and what are the biggest advantages of that effort? Why is it good to “take matters into your own hands”?
The world around us is entrusted to our care; it is not our possession. Thus, it becomes our responsibility to contemplate how we will ultimately return it, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The change starts with each individual and catalyzes a cascading effect. Let’s think and do good for each other, forging a realm that epitomizes harmonious coexistence for all living beings.
We believe in the imperative for young people to actively engage and take charge in rectifying the inadequacies prevalent in today’s society. It is essential to continuously assess and enhance established values, laws, methodologies, and approaches to work. Every product we utilize and every action we undertake should strive for minimal environmental impact. The world around us is entrusted to our care; it is not our possession. Thus, it becomes our responsibility to contemplate how we will ultimately return it, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The change starts with each individual and catalyzes a cascading effect. Let’s think and do good for each other, forging a realm that epitomizes harmonious coexistence for all living beings.
After attending the RISE program, mentoring and financial support, what are your next steps and plans? How do you see Blatology in two years?
Currently, alongside RISE, we are actively engaged in one Erasmus project, carrying out several work actions throughout the summer season. We are also diligently preparing workshops, leaving long-term planning for the winter, considering the rapid pace at which everything is unfolding. What we do know for certain is that we will persist in pursuing our passion, continuously striving to acquire further knowledge and skills to share with the world. Within two years, our goal is to secure the majority of the funds for the estate and identify suitable locations for the center.
What are your experiences from the Bootcamp, where you had the opportunity to meet other participants from the region who have different ideas, but are united by the same desire to achieve a positive impact? How important are these acquaintances to you?
We are delighted to have had the opportunity to participate in the training. We learned a lot from the well-prepared lecturers who were patient in addressing all our questions and provided concrete tools that we can directly apply within our organization.
The young people we met were inspiring, motivated, and willingly shared their knowledge and experiences. This has encouraged us to continue working towards our goals and further develop our ideas and vision.
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RISE – Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs is a support program for young social entrepreneurs implemented by Smart Kolektiv within Serbia. The RISE program takes place simultaneously in six Balkan countries with the aim of enabling motivated and dedicated young people to develop their ideas and make the region a better place.
The project is supported by the Agence Française de Développement, the European Union; Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ), PULSE (Groupe SOS), South East European Youth Network (SEEYN), ARNO, Balkan Green Foundation, Nešto Više, Smart Kolektiv, IEC Tehnopolis and Yunus Social Business Balkans.
More about RISE program >> https://www.risewb.org/
