Telekom Srbija supports female entrepreneurship and activism
Telekom Srbija has launched a new project entitled “UdruŽene” with an aim to support female entrepreneurship, and the affirmation and empowerment of women for the purpose of their active participation in the development of local communities. Symbolically presented ahead of Women’s Day on 8 March, the UdruŽene project is implemented in cooperation with the Committee for Gender Equality of the Vojvodina government, and is primarily dedicated to women’s associations in local communities, i.e. the promotion of cultural heritage and female creativity.
The director of the PR Department of Telekom Srbija, Marija Bošković, said that the socially responsible activities of the Telekom Srbija company were primarily directed at the creation of a business environment which would promote digital innovations, strengthening of the educational system and support for entrepreneurship. “As a company which advocates the gender equal treatment of women in all aspects of the business and living environment, Telekom Srbija has been recognized for its additional support to women for the purpose of promoting female entrepreneurship, primarily technological entrepreneurship, because it is the future of our core activity. In order to achieve this, however, we must not forget or neglect our tradition and roots and women engaged in traditional professions, because it is their perseverance in their work which is helping us build our future”, said Marija Bošković.
Since the largest number of women’s associations are organized exactly on the territory of Vojvodina, Telekom Srbija will present its cooperation with twenty women’s associations from this part of Serbia during the first phase of the project, and support them in their mission of preserving, fostering and promoting tradition, old crafts and humanitarian work.
“The Committee for Gender Equality is clearly committed to the need to enhance the position of women and improve local communities in general, so that cooperation with Telekom Srbija is key in achieving preconditions for creating and implementing activities which are aimed at improving the position of women, especially women living in villages. Such an example of socially responsible operations implemented by Telekom Srbija shows that all of us have to take care of our attitude toward the social community, its needs, security, quality of life and the social situation”, said Mia Strajin, the chairperson of the Committee for Gender Equality of the Vojvodina government.
The project began by a visit to Višnjićevo (Šid) and Čerević (Beočin), where the company presented its cooperation with the women’s associations “Filip Višnjić” from Višnjićevo, “Morovićanke” from Morović and “Moje Selance” from Ćerević. The activities of these associations contribute to enriching the everyday life of women from these villages, offering them an opportunity for growth and empowerment through work and socializing. “We are grateful that the Telekom Srbija company has recognized the importance of women’s associations not only for local culture, but also for the self-actualization of women who live in villages and smaller communities”, said Gordana Škorić, the chairperson of the Women’s Association “Filip Višnjić”.
Craftwork such as weaving, embroidery, knitting, painting on canvas, crocheting, making jewelry and folk costumes, and the preservation of the domestic traditional cuisine are only some of the activities by which women who participate in the UdruŽene project preserve local customs and foster the tradition of the Serbian people and other peoples living in our country. Some of the associations thus create a recognizable brand and, precisely through association, they have made their first steps in entrepreneurship.
