Water Care in a Creative Way

Turning Serbia’s largest library green with a rooftop garden, eco-workshops and citizen-focused awareness campaigns to promote sustainable water use.

The Local Challenge

In recent years, the Serbian city of Čačak has faced severe issues with its freshwater supply. Over-consumption and pollution have depleted water sources, affecting the surrounding villages too. The public library in Čačak, which serves over 100,000 people, has collaborated with various groups on ecological education and organised an international conference on the circular economy. Now, partnering with the non-governmental organisation Eko-kultur distrikt, the library is promoting sustainable water use by creating Serbias first green library rooftop garden, using rainwater to raise awareness and engage the community in addressing this critical issue. 

 

 The Initiative  

Water Care in a Creative Way is a citizen-focused campaign about water preservation and smart usage in urban and rural areas. Together, the library and Eko-kultur distrikt are running activities including polling citizens, a door-to-door campaign, eco-boards with sustainable information, workshops for children and public lectures hosted on the library’s green roof-top garden. The initiative includes publication of promotional materials and a web application on water issues. Materials are also being translated into English and published online for global dissemination.  

 

What’s Next?

The next steps involve collaborating and networking to enhance the projects impact, highlighting water as essential for sustainable development, eco-friendly activities and tourism. By participating in the Europe Challenge programme, the project partners hope to connect this initiative with similar European experiences – helping to stimulate civic initiatives, increase participation and improve the positive image of Čačak Public Library and other libraries across Europe and beyond. 

 

This is an ongoing Europe Challenge project that will be completed in autumn 2024. Stay tuned for more updates and contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.

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