Entrepreneurship is a driving force in any economy’s success, but regulations and barriers often hold business owners back. This is why the Center for Anti-Authoritarian Studies (CAAS), an Atlas Network partner based in Belgrade, is empowering business owners through their media based project, Pravo na rad (Right to Work). The project, which featured a documentary and a week-long gallery exhibit, aimed to raise awareness about how entrepreneurs reduce poverty and the detrimental obstacles they face along the way.
Pravo na rad, which told the story of overregulation and high taxes from the perspective of 3 small Serbian entrepreneurs, earned 93,000 views and 100 shares on Facebook, in addition to being aired on local television. CAAS also held an open call for photographs depicting entrepreneurs in their daily struggles, gaining 100 submissions from across the country. A collection of 54 of the photographs were featured at a prominent gallery in Belgrade, which attracted 170 attendees, including 3 members of Parliament who promised to fight for reform. The exhibition was also featured in 10 media outlets around the country.
CAAS won the 2018 Think Tank Shark Tank competition for their Selfie Citizen Journalism Project, which highlighted the importance of free speech in Serbia. The Pravo na rad film has allowed CAAS to build relationships with prominent, traditional media across Serbia. The organization is now expanding their efforts to a country-wide tour, where they will screen Pravo na rad in the hometowns of the featured business owners.
The Center for Anti-Authoritarian Studies Pravo na rad campaign has been supported by Atlas Network grants.