Instead of fleeing to bigger centers, Gracija Požar and Kristijan Piplica decided to return to Knin and build their careers there. Their experiences show how small communities can be fertile ground for entrepreneurial ventures.
While many young people seek happiness in metropolises or abroad, Gracija Požar and Kristijan Piplica took the opposite path. They decided to return to Knin, where they began developing their own projects, proving that success is not reserved only for big cities.
Gracija spent years in Zagreb studying and working as a costume designer, nearly a decade in total. However, strong ties to Knin and a passion from her free time changed her life's direction.
"I studied in Zagreb for a period. Of course, before that I was born and lived in Knin and experienced that, perhaps, the most beautiful childhood period. Again, certain memories bind you. So, let's say that's why I stayed. And before that, we got horses, we had it as a hobby, and that hobby has now become a business," Gracija told Danas.net.hr.
Due to the challenging daily life with two children and frequent travel, she decided to turn her love for horses into income. "Now I'm turning that hobby into a business. Now the hobby is the business, the business is the hobby. I've turned everything around," she added.
Before returning, Kristijan Piplica lived in Austria. Although he was abroad, the sense of connection to family and friends remained strong.
"For me, what remained most was family, friends, and that feeling of being home. In Knin, I truly always feel at home. You miss that sense of freedom that I perhaps didn't have abroad in Austria, and I always dreamed of returning to my city," Kristijan said.
He currently runs two hospitality venues in Knin. One operates seasonally, while the other is open year-round. He launched them three years apart, and one of them is located in a space co-financed by European funds. "So, we young people actually got the opportunity to grow and work for the youth," he emphasized.
Kristijan believes that Knin offers many opportunities but stresses the importance of personal initiative. "Definitely, the city of Knin has potential and work. But a young person must always be the one to be the driver, and adults will be the wind at young people's backs. That always happens in Knin," he said.
Gracija, through her equestrian club, strives to provide younger generations with experiences and memories of growing up like the ones she had. "The city where I grew up, lived through those years that we always associate with childhood. Through my club and the work I do with horses, I hope to give them at least a piece of that, so they too have similar memories to mine," she said.
The decision to return to Knin was met with misunderstanding from Kristijan's family. "My family told me I wasn't normal and asked why I was coming back. That generation is not a generation of risk, and it's not a generation that will make a leap and do something different. They didn't understand it," he recounted.
Over time, the situation completely reversed. "Today, my parents are actually my greatest support in my business and work, organizing festivals and events. Times change. We young people are the drivers, and especially on days like this, we remember that life goes on and we should look to the future, not the past," Kristijan concluded.
Both believe that Knin has a future and hope their stories will inspire other young people to consider staying or returning to their city.
