During the dawn of COVID-19, Katarina Vuckovic saw the effects that the pandemic was having on children’s mental and physical well-being. Katarina noticed that the lockdowns were only worsening children’s dependence on technology, straying further from nature than ever before. In 2020, Katarina opened The Village Loom to foster a direct relationship between kids and the world around them.
On their homestead, The Village Loom offers children a unique alternative to their current institutional education. In their small-group programs, kids have the opportunity to explore wild landscapes, improve their teamwork and leadership skills, and discover the non-human beings that we share the world with. This is done through child-directed games, exploration, cooking, planting, harvesting, and so much more. Their unique and expansive location and year-long programming allows for deep-level learning about the seasonal evolution of nature.
Since they opened in 2020, The Village Loom’s mission has been, “to provide alternatives to current institutional education and provide children and families with access to nature and wild spaces.”
Over their four years of operation, the Village Loom has seen an amazing retention rate. Catering to the same clientele has allowed them to build a greater sense of community and belonging. However, Katarina also recognized the need to share their incredible offerings with more parents around the area.
A decade prior, Katarina participated in multiple Business Centre events and workshops. Through these past experiences, she knew exactly where to turn to help take her business to the next level.
The Village Loom applied and was accepted into the Business Centre’s Starter Company+ Program. Katarina was paired with an experienced mentor who helped her create a 10-year plan and developed steps to achieve it. Her participation also introduced her to marketing, HR, and accounting professionals. These industry experts helped foster a greater understanding of each of these pivotal fields.
Upon completion of the program, The Village Loom received a $5000 grant, which will be used to fund multiple business objectives. It will pay for their incorporation, upgrading their equipment, the creation of Google Ads, and procuring new materials.
The Starter Company+ program saw Katarina gain more than just knowledge and additional funding. It also helped decrease her stress in terms of website development, social media marketing, human resources, and accounting.
Katarina's growth as an entrepreneur throughout her time with the Business Centre is obvious. When asked what she would tell herself when she first started her business, Katarina exclaimed, “It’s going to be a challenge. There’s a lot of uncertainty. You don’t have that guaranteed paycheque, especially in the first little while. Trust in yourself and in your vision!”
So, if you’ve had enough with your child sitting in front of a screen all day, check out The Village Loom. There, your child will develop a love of nurture and learn what it means to be a kid.
"The Starter Company+ Program has been terrific on so many levels. Just from the basics of getting participants to create a 10-year vision and then work backwards from that vision really got me thinking a little more deeply about what I want to do in the long run." — Katarina Vuckovic