BILD's Development Program
creating jobs and sustainable income for community organizations
BILD's development program
emphasizes local investment,
self-reliance, and sustainability.
Our development program
focuses specifically on creating
income-generating activities at
local level community
organizations.
In 2002, with start-up funds of
$135,000 from the World Bank,
we initiated our development
program called "Nova Inicijativa"
(The New Initiative).
Today in 2007, in Tuzla, as a
result of our program, there are
13 income-generating
activities at 7 community
organizations that provide 36
self-sustaining jobs and generate
funds for community organization
programs.
Towards these income-generating
activities, BILD invested equipment
and material. Some examples:
• computers, printers,
scanners, copiers, LCD
projector, furniture,
renovation materials for 3
computer centers
(see below)
• auto repair equipment,
compressors, tools, etc.
(see upper left)
• a well and pumping
equipment to provide all the
water needs of Prijateljice's
rug, car, and laundry cleaning
service. Rug, car, and
laundry cleaning equipment.
(see left)
Just as importantly, through the
unique approach of "Nova
Inicijativa", we build the trust,
confidence, and honest productive
relationships that are necessary
for sustainable local level
development.
Through "Nova Inicijativa", as a
requirement for receiving material
aid, community organizations
must provide volunteers to
our community service program .
For each hour a volunteer works,
he or she earns credit towards
material or equipment for their
community organization.
This approach to selecting
recipients of mateiral aid and
developing honest productive
relationships has proven to be
highly effective.
6 community organizations
that applied to our development
program in 2003 now have entirely
self-sustaining income generating
activities and have become
implementing partners.
For example, Prijateljice is our main
implementing partner for our
Chicken project that promotes
reconciliation and helps returnee
families in eastern Bosnia.
To learn more about this approach
to local level development, see our
Or, contact BILD's
Executive Director
Christopher Bragdon at
chris@bild-bih.org
