The company MAG-MAL from Skelani employed 8 workers through the Economic Empowerment of Youth project.
The company MAG-MAL from Skelani provides metal processing and plastic injection moulding for the regional and EU markets. Established in 2014, it has managed to achieve significant growth over the last two years, and with the support of the Economic Empowerment of Youth project, it was able to hire eight new employees from Srebrenica and the surrounding area. MAG-MAL is an example of how a company can successfully operate in a small community, boosting employment and economic development in places where young people struggle to find work.
The owner of the company, Nebojsa Stevanovic, envisioned a company that would position itself in the market through its knowledge of, and commitment to, new technologies. As a result of good management, clear vision, and the precise identification of market needs, MAG-MAL has quickly grown to be a major regional business.
Nevertheless, this spectacular rise was not without challenges. According to Stevanovic, “The machine industry in the region practically did not exist in the past 30 years. For this reason, it was very difficult to find workers whose skills and knowledge meet the needs of this industry. ” They successfully overcame this problem with the help of the Economic Empowerment of Youth project, implemented by Kolektiv (Posao.ba).
By matching MAG-MAL with young people possessing the drive to succeed, and by financing the training of CNC operators, the project supported the creation of 8 new jobs in its production facility in Skelani. Stevanovic says that the support from the Project came at the right time, since they were just getting CNC production started. As he explains:
“Our priority investments at that time were in the equipment and raw materials, to be able to start production. Kolektiv has helped us during the selection and recruitment of employees, and after that through the co-financing the wages of employees. This helped us reduce the original costs significantly and enabled us to complete the manufacturing process. Projects such as this are particularly important for start-up companies because they significantly reduce the initial costs. Also, the experience that the company Kolektiv has in the selection and recruitment of new employees is invaluable for any company that, in its beginning, has its time and resources focused primarily on the acquisition of equipment and finding new markets.”
Through the project, young people with little experience and minimal qualifications are given a chance to succeed. Through thorough training for high-demand occupations, they are set on the path to a flourishing career.
One of these thriving young people is Bojan Pečenica. Before this project, construction was his only option.
“All my previous work experience was related to the construction work. These were mostly physical, seasonal jobs unrelated to this type of production. The jobs have been short-term and did not provide any sort of security. This kind of knowledge that we have gained is very scarce in our country and we did not have the opportunity to meet with this kind of production before. The job gave me the opportunity to significantly improve my business skills and become more competitive in the labour market.”
Pečenica also points out that the Birač region desperately needs employers to keep young people from moving away, eventually leading to the death of town and cities as they slowly wither. For their part, the youth need material security and hope for a better future.
“The young people from this region mostly work in seasonal jobs and are unable to find a long-term employment. I think that a further support to this type of employment would lead to youth staying in the region, since it would give them some kind of perspective.”
The Economic Empowerment of Youth is a continuation of the Economic Empowerment of Srebrenica project, which the company Kolektiv (Posao.ba) has been implementing since March, 2015 with the financial support of the United Kingdom. The project is being implemented in two regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Birač and Jajce. With the help of partners such as “COD” and the Friends of Srebrenica, as well as the support of the municipal governments, the towns of the area are being revitalised through youth entrepreneurship.