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APERO Job Shadowing Activity Report
Participant Information
Name: Anastasia
Sending organization: Smokinya Foundation
Host organization: Magnet House
Country / City of placement: Veliki Gaj, Serbia
Dates of activity: 4-7 December 2025
Total days attended: 4
In the civil society sector, dreaming of “our own space” is kind of universal. A place where people can meet, learn, feel safe, and where an organisation can actually grow roots. In an environment where you never know where your next grant is coming from, trying to build something permanent feels almost rebellious. Owning or developing a dedicated space is often the missing link for organisations trying to move from project-based survival to long-term sustainability.
In 2023, Smokinya made the first steps towards this goal by acquiring an abandoned school in rural Bulgaria. This year, we are actively seeking inspiration and knowledge from those who are a few steps ahead on the same journey. As part of a job shadowing partnership across Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Serbia, we’re diving into one place that is just about to achieve that golden balance between community impact and organisational sustainability – Magnet House (www.magnet.house) in Veliki Gaj, Serbia.
Magnet House started from the idea of meaning and impact. Now it’s a fully operational training center and community space in rural Serbia, located in a distant village with 300 inhabitants that seems to be frozen in time. And yet, this is exactly where something alive and future-oriented is growing, bringing together generations and contrasting cultures.
How they got there
After years of working in the NGO sector, a small team of changemakers set their sights on rural Serbia. This region is full of untapped potential, yet often left out of the fast-moving world of development. In villages where modern progress barely reaches and life moves at its own pace there are an abundance of stunning, underused properties at accessible prices.
The vision was never just about buying a space. It was about building something lasting, a base that supports their work, creates livelihoods, and opens opportunities for collaborators, partners, and communities both nearby and abroad. What they are working toward is an ecosystem that sustains itself, grows over time, and continues to give back to everyone involved.
A space like Magnet House is bringing new energy to the local community as well. One of their main focuses is creating opportunities for local women, helping bring their talents and skills into the spotlight. In almost every project, the team looks for ways to involve them, whether by inviting them to cook for events or take part in workshops and gatherings. These small but intentional actions open a window to new experiences and help build connection and curiosity within a community that is often quite closed off.
Horizontal governance
The question naturally comes up: how does this actually work? Lifting a place like this from the ground up and creating a functioning center is a lot of work, responsibility, money, and it’s often leading to burnout. The Magnet team has gone through its hard times too. Shortly after starting, the COVID pandemic hit and delayed their development by years. But in the last two, they’ve been steadily growing.
Currently, the team operates through a horizontal management structure. Collaborators bring in project ideas, take full ownership of them, and lead the implementation. Other members offer support based on their availability and expertise. When a project is happening, roles are distributed within the team, one person always takes on the hosting role, while others support with cooking, logistics, or communication.
Team members are compensated for their work through project budgets, which allows each person to stay motivated, financially supported, and actively involved. The house is rented under a clear legal agreement that protects both the organisation and the owners. While no one lives there full-time, the team steps in when projects are running. They also occasionally involve people from the local village for support, especially when external funding allows it.
The path to independence
Magnet House is steadily moving toward a model that relies less on project base finances and more on its own capacity to generate income and host meaningful experiences year-round. The goal is to become a full-time training center where creative and educational ideas can thrive and the space can develop further.
One of their first steps is developing weekend retreats. These are self-funded three-day experiences open to individuals or small groups, combining workshops on mindfulness, art, and personal development. The format allows for experimentation, income generation, and visibility without the administrative load of international projects.
Another direction is the “roommate agreement” concept. Other organisations are invited to become part of the house’s ecosystem, not just as guests but as co-users of the space. They can organise and run their own activities at Magnet House, while benefiting from a stable and well-equipped environment. One of the biggest advantages is the team that understands non-formal education and knows how to create a safe and supportive space for learning.
“Alliance for Participation, Empowerment, and Resilient Organizations” – KA210-YOUTH project about NGOs who have, or want to have soon, a venue for hosting events, trainings, residencies, volunteering and other educational programs, both for youth and adults. Project identification card.
Objectives
The project brings together five organizations to exchange practices on establishing and managing rural centers for sustainable community spaces. We aim to share methods for involving youth in decision-making, explore diverse financial strategies to strengthen financial resilience, and exchange knowledge on diversifying activities and civic involvement across different contexts.
Activities
We will conduct job shadowing activities across five countries, where participants will observe the regular activities of partner organizations, focusing on best practices in managing rural centers, youth engagement, and financial sustainability. The project includes workshops and hands-on learning to help partners achieve the objectives. Regular online meetings will ensure collaboration, and an evaluation meeting will review outcomes and plan future steps.
Impact
The project will result in the implementation of new methods for managing rural centers, youth participation in decision-making, and diversified funding strategies across the five partner organizations. Each partner will apply specific practices learned from job shadowing, improving their operations. The project will also create a foundation for future collaboration and long-term partnerships between organizations.
Project timeline
Start date 01-03-2025
End date 30-06-2026
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Website of the coordinator: CITIZENS LAB, Berlin
Should you have a question, contact us: info@smokinya.com.
This project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
