IndiJanez began as an informal group in 1994, and we registered as an organization in 1996. Since then, we have grown into one of the most active organizations in the fields of youth work, culture, health and social security. Over the years, we have cultivated strong relationships with institutions and groups in our field, such as the National Institute of Public Health, the Center for Social Work, the Maribor Health Center, the Maribor University Medical Center, the Maribor Youth Crisis Center and others. We also collaborate with educational and research institutions, including most local primary and secondary schools and universities, while our door is always open for additional partnerships.

We are well-versed in working and negotiating with government offices and agencies, as well as lobbying politicians and taking other similar approaches to realize our goals. 

Our Work and Mission Statement

Our organization has served the youth since its inception, and it’s safe to say that we’ve gotten under their skin over the years—and they have certainly gotten under ours. We offer a wide range of workshops, programs and other content that address their needs at home, at school and in their free time, while our cultural activities help co-create and maintain the indispensable local art scene.

In recent years, we have strengthened our social support and psychological services through various sustainable programs. Aimed at students, the Posluh (Listen) program centers diverse perspectives, employing a personalized approach where members of minorities and marginalized groups talk about their experiences in class. The Youth Action Group (Mladinska akcijska skupina or MAS) encourages active citizenship in different areas, from ecology to empathy. Also serving students is the Naj torba ne bo borba (Don’t Let Your Bag be a Drag) program, with the aim of decreasing schoolbag weight.

Our biggest program is the Šteker Center for help and support with excessive use of digital devices, which is listed as a developmental social security program by the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunity. The program offers preventive services in schools across the region and individual counseling at our locations in Maribor and Murska Sobota. Additionally, we organize one of the biggest annual conferences on the excessive use and effects of digital technology, which attracts more than 200 professionals, counselors, teachers and other participants every year. 

Our organization excels at designing and running various types of projects, as well as event organization and partner coordination. Our knowledge and ideas are underlined by years of experience that ranges from original programs to numerous public bids and tenders. 

Organization

As of May 2021, our organization has 8 full-time employees, 5 of which are professionals trained in various fields. We frequently collaborate with outside contributors working part-time or pro bono to cover additional bases. All collaborators are signatories to the Code of Ethics of the Social Chamber of Slovenia and are involved in external supervision by supervisor Suzana Padežanin Lavuger.

We are members of various networks and organizations in Slovenia and abroad. We regularly attend professional conferences, training programs and workshops in different fields.

Facilities

At 70m², our primary office can accommodate a team of up to 9 people and is located on the ground floor of the KC Pekarna administrative building at Ob železnici 16 in Maribor, where we also have access to various shared facilities. Additionally, we oversee the MC Pekarna venue, a space of over 500m².

Our field office and counseling room at Slovenska ulica 44 in Murska Sobota are open at least once a week as of May 2021.