A Walk Through the Pekarna Autonomous Zone

At CEDRA, we continue our activities as part of the project Young People for Decent Work, the Common Good and the Environment. We invite you to a guided walk through the Pekarna Autonomous Zone and its surroundings. Through this local example, we will explore how people organise collectively around shared needs and interests, how community spaces are created and sustained, and why solidarity, cooperation and active participation in local life matter. We will learn about Pekarna’s activities and reflect on the importance of accessible spaces where young people can meet, engage in cultural and creative activities, and take collective action. During the walk, we will also explore the connection between urban development and the environmental crisis. Looking at changes in Pekarna’s surroundings, we will discuss gentrification, increasingly dense construction and the loss of green spaces, as well as their effects on quality of life and summer heat in the city. We will visit examples of community-led greening with climbing plants and shrubs, and explore the importance of mature trees that provide shade and make outdoor activities possible. We will then continue to the nearby Magdalenski Park, where its Miyawaki mini-forest will serve as a starting point for discussing the role of urban greenery in supporting biodiversity and adapting to climate change. The walk will be followed by a guided discussion on how young people can help preserve and shape shared spaces and influence the development of their local environment. Particular attention will be given to self-organisation, solidarity and collective responses to environmental and social challenges.