With Burja Across Europe within the Erasmus+ Program

Between the Neretva River and the Ideas of the Local Community

In mid-July, members of Institute Burja set off on an Erasmus+ staff mobility to the Neretva River valley. In Metković, we were hosted by the organization Udruga Dobra.

Udruga Dobra from Metković is a non-governmental organization that has been actively working for more than twenty years in community development, non-formal education, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups. Their work is based on connecting people, culture, and place, with an emphasis on sustainable development, social justice, and the preservation of local cultural and natural heritage.

They organize numerous educational, creative, and volunteer programs for children, youth, and adults, paying special attention to those often overlooked, persons with fewer opportunities. Their activities range from field research and heritage interpretation to community art projects, green initiatives, and cross-border cooperation.

With their locally focused approach, Udruga Dobra successfully weaves tradition and innovation. They create a space where knowledge grows from everyday life. Their openness to collaboration and understanding of the needs of the local community have made them a reliable partner in many international projects. Their approach teaches us how small initiatives can create big changes, both in people and in places.

The home of the hosting organization is Metković, a picturesque town in southern Croatia, in the heart of the Neretva valley, just next to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated by the river that pulses life through the entire region, shaping a unique natural and cultural space. The town, known for its hospitality, connection to nature, and rich history, is an important regional center that charms every visitor with its calmness and lively local vibe.

The Neretva valley is known for its fertile soil, plantations of mandarins, citrus fruits, and vegetables, as well as an exceptional ornithological reserve attracting numerous naturalists and bird lovers. This unique landscape with river arms, wetlands, and embankments creates an environment that is both a natural jewel and a place to live. Here, tradition, nature, and humans meet in everyday work on the land, crafts, local cuisine, and numerous initiatives for the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.

Just a few kilometers from Metković, in the village of Vid, stands the Archaeological Museum Narona, built directly on the remains of a Roman temple dedicated to Emperor Augustus. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in Croatia, where an impressive collection of ancient statues, mosaics, and other relics were discovered, testifying that Narona in Roman times was a significant urban and trading center. Today, the museum is an exceptional example of the fusion of archaeology, architecture, and heritage interpretation, offering visitors an authentic connection to the past.

The purpose of our mobility was clear. We wanted to learn about the organization’s work in adult education, creative community work, and environmentally friendly practices, while establishing new collaborations for future projects.

Meeting mentor Nebojša Jerković and members of Udruga Dobra immediately impressed us with their authenticity and dedication. The organization operates within a community that truly cares about its people and place. They presented their projects, target groups, and working methods that combine cultural heritage, non-formal education, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups.

The entire mobility was marked by creativity and sustainable thinking. Especially valuable was the opportunity to observe methods based on cooperation, adaptation, and strengthening individual confidence. We visited a valuable olive grove that the organization members managed to cultivate ecologically. In this way, we felt how local activation and ecology together open space for conversations about the future. The hosts explained that multi-generational projects exist in their work with nature. With the olive grove of over 3000 trees, this is certainly the case. We also visited the Archaeological Museum Narona, where museum director Toni Glučina introduced us to the life of the community during the time of Emperor Augustus.

Every day of mobility ended with reflection. We took time to talk, exchange impressions, and consider how to transfer what we saw into our own environment. These reflections were one of the strongest elements of the mobility. They became a space where bonds are strengthened, ideas are born, and knowledge is actively shaped.

Part of the mobility was dedicated to the future. Together with partners, we drafted a plan for possible future group mobility for adult learners from Slovenia. Ideas abounded—from organizing outdoor workshops, workshops with local artists, to exploring natural and cultural heritage through participatory methods—all in the spirit of green transition and community inclusion.

Besides planning, we met various local actors who co-create cultural and educational life in the region. We were surprised by their openness to cooperation, willingness to co-create, and the general energy sometimes missing in more institutional settings. Together we considered how to join forces in European projects and how to create learning environments based on local resources, intercultural dialogue, and creativity.

To sum up, we gained a lot from this mobility. In the area of green competences, we saw what green transition means in practice. We learned new ways to integrate environmental responsibility into education and how to link ecology with everyday work with adults. We also learned new approaches to preserving cultural and natural heritage. We learned concrete methods for developing participatory workshops and leading group processes.

Social competences were also at the forefront. Intercultural dialogue, communication, collaboration with local partners, reflection, and networking skills. These are all skills that we at Zavod Burja want to strengthen both among our staff and adult learners. That is why such mobilities are valuable. They allow us contact with reality because they connect theory and practice and create links between people.

The mobility in Metković was a beautiful new experience that we will carry forward. As participants, mentors, program creators, and partners who believe in the power of cooperation. And we believe that big common projects can emerge from small local stories.