In the highlands of the magnificent Durmitor lies the village of Mala Crna Gora. Once bustling with residents and life, today it is home to only about 15 permanent inhabitants, mostly elderly. Yet, thanks to the Dakić family, the village is set to breathe life again. Milorad, who has lived in Belgrade, Podgorica, and Budva, decided to return to his ancestral land. He has two children, and after twenty years, the school in Mala Crna Gora reopened for them. Now, with the aim of revitalizing the village, he has made another remarkable gesture.
“I would like to gift 15,000 square meters of land in the village to a married couple with young preschool-aged children who want to live in the countryside. The estate is in a fairy-tale location above the Sušica Canyon. The only condition is that it must be a married couple with preschool-aged children who truly want to live and work in the village,” Milorad told RINA.
Since posting this offer on the Facebook page Durmitorske Gorske Oči, the reaction has been overwhelming. Many have praised this incredible gesture by the Durmitor local, and numerous potential new neighbors have already expressed interest. Considering that the price per square meter in the area is around 10 euros, Milorad’s generous gift is clearly significant.
“People are reaching out, including a man who returned from the U.S. and wants to live in the village with his family. We’ll see who will become our neighbors. The important thing is that I am not just lending the land—it’s truly a gift, but only to people who will stay in the village with their families. They will have to commit to this legally, so they don’t leave after a few years,” Milorad explained.
He adds that his wife Irina and their children, Monika and Maksim, will happily welcome new friends. Currently, Monika, seven, is the only student at the old school, and this year her brother will join her.
“We wanted to give our children a healthy childhood in untouched nature, to pass on real life values, and that’s why we returned to Mala Crna Gora a few years ago. When it was time for Monika to start school, we thought about what to do and wrote letters and petitions to reopen the school in the village. We found great understanding, especially from the Ministry of Education, which did everything to make it happen. Now we have a school, and we also plan to open a shop selling local food and souvenirs. What matters is that there are people in the village, that it lives,” Milorad said.
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Source: RINA, Foto: RINA