Stories of people protecting rivers, planting trees, recycling waste, and driving change were brought to life through the lenses of citizens at the photo exhibition “The Greenest Examples of the Western Balkans”, officially opened in Skopje today.

Hosted within Skopje Design Week at Public Room – a regional event celebrating design, innovation, and sustainability, which is also part of the NextGen Design network, a European platform connecting design festivals committed to sustainable solutions.

The exhibition is organized by the EU4Green project, which supports the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans through different pillars such as depollution of air, water and soil, waste management, and biodiversity. It also highlights the importance of local engagement in advancing the region’s green transition.

The exhibition presents 15 winning photo stories, selected from 138 submissions received from all six Western Balkan economies – North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo*, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Each photograph tells an authentic story of people, challenges, and initiatives that contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.

Among the top stories are works by Bojana Aleksievska and Blagoj Trajkov from North Macedonia. Aleksievska’s photo story captures the natural beauty and authentic spirit of the Mariovo region and the village of Zovjik, while Trajkov’s series highlights the rich biodiversity of the Demir Kapija municipality and the importance of preserving nature at the local level.