About us

ZOE in Greek means a way of living, a lifestyle or the co-existence of all life forms

In 1997, a group of enthusiastic professionals established the Center for Sustainable Development of Rural Communities (ZOE) in Zagreb as a non-governmental and non-profit organisation. Its goal is to provide services that will contribute to the development of rural, primarily mountain, regions of Croatia. ZOE also aims to develop models that are adjusted to the natural, economic and human potentials in the regions where it works.

ZOE has two employees, 15 members and five members on its Counseling Board. In addition to its own resources, ZOE has a number of external associates who respected specialists in the fields of economy, social science, law and agriculture.

Our VISION
Our vision is society where knowledge and innovative ideas create social energy and motivate continued development of rural areas of Croatia.

Our MISSION
All of our activities are aimed toward the development of rural communities, especially the mountain regions of Croatia, and are based upon:

- promoting agriculture, especially ecological agriculture
- preserving tradition and natural resources, especially forest resources
- improving the quality of living conditions for residents in local communities
- developing innovative and creative ideas based upon an "area based approach"
- promoting sustainable tourism
- providing additional education and encouraging active public participation in fundamental decision-making processes
- elevating social energy and returning the will for living in rural areas, especially in the mountain regions

We want to develop models that correspond with human, social, economic and natural potentials of the regions where we work. For us, models mean, in practice tested ideas, where achieved results and experience is always publicly transferred further, through own publications and educational activities.

ZOE wishes, according to its capacities, to provide opportunities to young professionals for active involvement in rural development, through which they can gather new knowledge and skills. In so doing, they can become more competitive in the labour market.

ZOE believes in the professionalism of work, especially towards its users and beneficiaries. Special attention is therefore given to continuous and systematic education for all involved in the implementation of the organisation's projects. ZOE wishes, through the efforts of its employees, members, volunteers and associates, to be recognized as a trusted and high quality partner.

Our GOALS

- gathering together citizens and experts of different professions and profiles, targeting the collection, systematization, development and spread of activities in the fields of education, primarily that related to agriculture and rural development; rural tourism; caring and protection of the natural resources of Croatia; and the promotion (development and improvement) of the quality of life in rural communities.
- encouraging sustainable local community development and linking different sectors within communities.

Members of the COUNSELING BOARD

- Vesna Ljubetić, Graduated on Faculty of Agronomy, University of Zagreb
- Slađana Novota, M. Sc. Aquatic Resource Management, Graduated on King's College, University of London, Biological Sciences
- Đurđica Tomašević, Graduated on Faculty of Economy, University of Zagreb
- Vesna Lončar, Graduated on Faculty of Agronomy, University of Zagreb
- Ivana Laginja, Graduated on Faculty of Agronomy, University of Zagreb

Membership in National and International Organisations

- In December 2002, at the invitation of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), ZOE became a member of the "New Flagship on Education for Rural People." This is an international network for the education of rural populations, which was established by FAO and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- In March 2004, ZOE had become a member of the Social Chamber of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) that is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Bonn (Germany). Founded in 1993, FSC's mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests.

Accomplished Results

The most significant results ZOE has accomplished thus far are:

2005 The new "Manual Green Agenda in Croatia - Theory and Practice", was published in Croatian and English in May 2005 Translated and edited manual "Local Financing in Rural Areas", it will be available on this web page from April 2006 "Reborn" network for rural development and recently registered as formal Croatian Rural Development Network 2004 In October, the sixth anniversary of the Autumn in Lika fair was celebrated. This annual fair of local traditional agricultural products was established and implemented by ZOE in 1999. Two manuals were published: "For Entrepreneurs: Medicinal Plant Production in the Mountain Regions of Croatia" (published in November) and "LEADER, from Initiative to Method: A Guide for Teaching the LEADER Approach" (published in March). In March, ZOE became a member of the National Working Group for the development of a national standard for woods certification - the Forest Stewardship Council standard (FSC). FSC is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Bonn, Germany. 2003 As a part of the project, Education through Video - A Model Illustrating Rural Community Development, a 12-minute film, "The Scent of Marigold," was produced. It is being used in continuing education workshops. ZOE prepared and conducted an inventory of products offered by one hundred family farms in Lika, which are contained in the database that is available on ZOE's web page. Approximately 198 participants attended educational workshops organized by ZOE. In September, the Rural Development Network in Croatia was established, with 11 institutions in the network and another 13 organisations as observers. In the summer, ZOE started a web page on rural development: www.zoe-centar.hr 2002 In December, ZOE became a member of the "New Flagship on Education for Rural People," an international network developed by FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). ZOE established a project for medicinal plant production along ecological principles in the municipality of Lovinac in Lika.