FOR RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL MEASURES - US STEPA STEPANOVIĆ

The Belgrade settlement of Stepa Stepanović was built a decade ago and today it looks significantly different than it was originally intended. The urban planning project for the construction of the settlement included the construction of two kindergartens, two primary schools, roads necessary to connect the settlement, a health center, and markets. All this acted as a guarantee for a comfortable life for apartment buyers. However, the investors gave up on the construction of most of these contents and the citizens were let down and misled. Despite everything, they did not give up the fight for a better quality of life in the settlement. The Association of Tenants of Stepa Stepanović was founded in 2012 and, as they say, it is the only one that advocates for the interests of tenants.

"Considering that we have often witnessed that problems are solved ad hoc despite the existence of systemic solutions, we believe that citizen initiatives are an important factor that encourages the authorities to solve problems for the benefit of citizens." , they say from the association. Their goal is to improve the lives of citizens in this young settlement, as well as to encourage institutions to make decisions about the settlement democratically, and not at the expense of certain groups. One of the problems of the tenants is that there is no room for children from the village in the school and kindergarten, and instead of the health center, an infirmary has been opened. Due to all of the above, a protest walk was organized in March 2017 and June 2018. Having realized that the years are passing and the authorities have no intention of helping them, the citizens of this settlement decided to oppose and self-organize.

One of the problems was the ruined playgrounds, but the citizens decided to provide the children with a safer and more pleasant place to play. The playground was cleaned, the benches were sanded and painted, and with a couple of hardworking hands, everything was fixed.

The citizens say that they have no intention of stopping and that they will solve the problems in the settlement - one by one. At the initiative of interested tenants, they also launched a greening campaign with the help of PUK Zelenilo. Donations were collected for the purchase of planting material and 35 seedlings were purchased. Also, a super neighbor donated 5 more seedlings, so the neighborhood is richer for 40 new seedlings!