In a time when entrepreneurship often requires courage, perseverance, and significant financial resources, the support of the right partners can be the key to success. Through various projects aimed at empowering women, the European Union provides just that – opportunities for women to develop their business ideas, acquire necessary skills, and secure economic independence.
Ana Đikanović from Bar successfully runs “Špajz,” a store of homemade food. Her entrepreneurial story would not have been possible without the support of the European Union through the project Skills for Jobs Albania – Montenegro, which enabled her to acquire the necessary equipment.
“I had the idea, but without more serious financial support I would not have been able to realize it. Through this project, the European Union enabled me to purchase refrigeration showcases, meat slicers, and printers – everything I needed to start the business,” says Ana.
Although she had previously not been familiar with financing opportunities for women entrepreneurs, thanks to this project Ana discovered how important such opportunities are.
“I had no experience whatsoever, it was the first time I applied for such a call, and it meant a lot to me personally. I didn’t know that such funds existed, that women could even be financed. Then, when you entered into the whole story and the networking of women, it took on a completely different meaning,” Ana explains.
For Ana, the support of the European Union was not only financial – it allowed her to turn her idea into a successful business and recognize the importance of mutual cooperation among women in entrepreneurship. What meant a lot to her was that at every step of writing the project and implementing it, she could consult with a mentor, who provided her with guidance and advice, making it easier to plan the development of her business and avoid potential mistakes. She also thought about how her idea could help other entrepreneurs.
“This is, above all, a store of homemade food, something I knew from experience was missing in Bar. When we talk about homemade food, we are talking about products from rural farms in Montenegro. These are products that are harder to market, though of very high quality, and consumers often have difficulty accessing them. We recognized that the Bar market lacked a link between producers and consumers, so we connected good producers and placed their products here,” Đikanović explains.
Ana is not the only woman who has realized her entrepreneurial vision with EU support. Through projects such as Stronger, Wool, Skilled Women’s Workforce for Better Future, Zanatlija, or The Women’s Side of Quality, many women have had the opportunity to gain new knowledge, establish businesses, and secure a stable future for themselves and their families.
These inspiring stories prove that when women are given an opportunity, they not only achieve their dreams but also contribute to the development of their communities.
This is one of four stories, within the campaign of the Ministry of European Affairs on the occasion of International Women’s Day, created through the EU4ME project, with the financial support of the European Union.
Author: Ana Palibrk