The Europe Challenge

The Local Challenge 

In Kovin, Serbia, young people often feel excluded from decision-making and powerless in the face of environmental and social challenges. Opportunities to connect imagination with practical action are scarce, and concepts like sustainability and democracy are taught in theory but rarely experienced in daily life. This disconnect fosters disillusionment, youth migration, and weak civic participation. At the same time, Kovin faces high unemployment and a fragile local economy, while its cultural and natural heritage remain underused. The challenge is to empower children and families with the tools, platforms, and support to imagine and co-create the kind of future they want to live in.

The Initiative

ZelenGrad—“Green City”—invites children and families in Kovin to envision and build a better, more sustainable future for their town. Co-created by Kovin Library and the community group Contra Margum, the initiative transforms the library into a civic hub for creativity, learning, and action. Through storytelling workshops, school gardens, community clean-ups, and eco-art installations, children learn how imagination can become tangible change. Parents, educators, and volunteers participate as co-creators, while local schools anchor the activities. Contra Margum coordinates with partners, and the library provides space, resources, and cultural expertise. Together, they turn ZelenGrad into both a shared vision and a practical, lived experience.

What’s Next?

ZelenGrad will inspire children, families, and educators to take pride in their community and see themselves as active shapers of Kovin’s future. Young people will develop creativity, environmental awareness, and teamwork, gaining practical skills in gardening, public art, and civic participation. Families and volunteers will build stronger intergenerational ties, while educators gain tools to integrate sustainability into everyday learning. Public spaces will be cleaner, greener, and more vibrant, reflecting the community’s collective effort. For Kovin Library, ZelenGrad strengthens its role as a civic learning hub, where imagination meets action, trust grows across generations, and residents feel empowered to build a more sustainable town together.

Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.