The “Gornji Kraj” Association was founded early in 2007 to encourage and intensify the return and survival on ancient hearths. The organization is comprised of 5 villages of the former municipality of Stolac: Ljubljenica, Stjepan Krst, Gornji Brštanik, Donji Brštanik and Dabrica. All of these villages were almost 100% destroyed and devastated in the last war, and returning is difficult. Until now, not even one fifth of housing has been rebuilt, infrastructure is mostly destroyed, and electricity has not yet arrived in 2 villages (only partially in Ljubljenica, Stjepan Krst and Dabrica). There is a great risk of marked and unmarked minefields, all of which present a grim picture of life in these villages. But we have not given up or gotten tired of rebuilding and returning, and with that aim we have set up an association to break the deadlock and through the institutions of the system, lift this region more easily on its feet and return its prewar splendor! 

 Organization's mission

-              encourage the reconciliation process in BiH;

-              to encourage the process of sustainable return, especially of minorities in BiH, with special emphasis to eastern Herzegovina and  the HNŽ;

-              finding opportunities for the reconstruction of destroyed housing;

-              finding opportunities to rebuild destroyed infrastructure in rural areas as a precondition for sustainable return (roads, electricity, water, telephone...);

-              finding opportunities for sustainable return, with special emphasis on employment in agriculture;

-              finding opportunities for starting small businesses and self-employment, with the aim of employing returnees and socially vulnerable people;

-              development and modernization of agriculture, with special emphasis on organic food production and restoration of livestock;

-              cooperation with relevant organizations and financial institutions in the country and abroad for the successful implementation of development projects at the local level;

-              moderate the use of natural resources, with special emphasis on environmental protection;

-              informing and educating members about new technologies in agriculture;

-              representation and assistance to members of the association in matters relating to personal activities;

-              preservation of natural and cultural heritage;

-              development of rural tourism;

-              performing other activities in accordance with the law.

Udruga „Gornji kraj“ je osnovana početkom 2007. godine da bi potakla i intenzivirala povratak i ostanak na stoljetnim ognjištima. Obuhvaća 5 sela bivše općine Stolac: Ljubljenicu, Stjepan Križ, Gornji Brštanik, Donji Brštanik i Dabricu. Sva sela su u prošlom ratu skoro 100% uništena i devastirana, tako da povratak dosta teško ide. Do sada nije obnovljeno ni 1/5  stambenog fonda, infrastruktura je dosta uništena, električna energija još nije stigla u 2 sela nikako (samo dijelom u Ljubljenicu, Stjepan Križ i Dabricu). Postoji velika opasnost od obilježenih i neobilježenih minskih polja, što sve zajedno predstavlja tešku sliku sadašnjeg života u ovim selima.  Međutim nismo odustali ni posustali od obnove i povratka i s tim ciljem smo osnovali Udrugu, to jest da bi stvari pokrenuli s mrtve točke i da bi kroz institucije sistema lakše digli ovaj kraj na svoje noge i vratili mu prijeratni sjaj!

 

 Misija organizacije

-              poticanje procesa pomirenja na prostoru BiH;

-              poticanje procesa održivog povratka, posebno manjinskih na području BiH, sa posebnim osvrtom na istočnu Hercegovinu i HNŽ;

-              iznalaženje mogućnosti obnove uništenog stambenog fonda;

-              iznalaženja mogućnosti obnove uništene infrastrukture u ruralnim područjima, kao preduvjeta za održiv povratak (putovi, struja, voda, telefon,...);

-              iznalaženja mogućnosti održivog povratka, sa posebnim osvrtom za upošljavanje u poljoprivredi;

-              iznalaženje mogućnosti za pokretanje male privrede i samozapošljavanja, a sve u cilju zapošljavanja povratnika i socijalno ugroženog stanovništva;

-              razvoj i osuvremenjivanje poljoprivrede, sa posebnim osvrtom na ekološku proizvodnju hrane i obnovu stočnog fonda;

-              suradnja sa relevantnim organizacijama i financijskim institucijama u zemlji i inozemstvu radi uspješnog realiziranja razvojnih projekata na lokalnom nivou;

-              umjereno iskorištavanje prirodnih resursa, sa posebnim osvrtom na zaštitu okoliša;

-              informiranje i edukacija članstva o novim tehnologijama u poljoprivredi;

-              zastupanje i pomoć članovima udruge u sporovima iz njihove djelatnosti;

-              očuvanje prirode i kulturne baštine;

-              razvoj seoskog turizma;

-              obavljanje drugih djelatnosti u skladu sa Zakonom.