This week at COD Jajce was entirely dedicated to Circular Economy Week 2026, held under the theme “Reconnecting in the Tradition of Cooperation.” Unlike in previous years, the NGO The Balkan Forum from Prishtina, Kosovo, organized a series of two-day online webinars together with their partners and our collaborators from the LogEx group.

The first day focused on the Prishtina Sustainable Design Week, which took place in October 2025 in Kosovo’s capital. Nikki Murseli from DYVO Lab presented the journey from the initial idea—developed as early as 2019, inspired by her professional background in design and architecture—to its successful implementation last year. Particularly striking was her approach of viewing Prishtina as a living organism that can only function through the solidarity of its different components. This perspective enabled the creation of a sustainability-focused design week emerging directly from the community.

Murseli emphasized that building connections with people is essential before raising awareness about sustainable living. According to her, environmental pollution originates from broken relationships—with both nature and other people. Through a variety of workshops, events, and gatherings, DYVO Lab not only addressed consumers of design but, more importantly, its producers. The goal was to make the production and disposal of fashion, food, and other goods more sustainable, thereby promoting responsibility for a greener way of living from top to bottom.

While the first day centered on inspiration and education, the second day focused on reconnecting with partner organizations. Alongside Zero Waste Montenegro, Civil North Macedonia, and BGG Albania, COD Jajce also participated, presenting achievements and milestones from the past Circular Economy Week as well as our work in environmental protection. We also shared future plans and initiated new collaborations with organizations across the Balkans.

Overall, this year’s Circular Economy Week provided valuable insights into the work of our partners while also creating space to discuss upcoming projects. Most importantly, it strengthened the foundation for closer cooperation among NGOs across the Balkans in the fields of sustainability and environmental protection.