Local Hero Challenge

The project was conceived and created by Impact Hub Zagreb, and is implemented with the support of the United States Embassy in Zagreb.

We want to empower young people to become active in bringing about change in their local communities. Through this interactive, highly participatory, engaging and gamified model based on a series of challenges, we develop soft skills, abilities and self-confidence. Do you know what we are teaching you at the same time? Your own values! With the growth of self-confidence, responsibility and empowerment, you become a Street Hero! This means that you will be able to influence the change of your reality! That you will have the opportunity to become a proactive participant in society as a citizen, employee, entrepreneur and/or leader.

Heroj ulice (Local Hero Challenge) is a free national initiative for youth aged 14–18, designed to empower them as agents of positive change in their local communities. Created by Impact Hub Zagreb and supported by the U.S. Embassy in Croatia, it uses a gamified approach to develop leadership and problem-solving skills.

Core Objectives

• Empower youth to identify and solve community challenges.

• Foster soft skills: creativity, teamwork, critical thinking, and civic responsibility.

• Build confidence in participants to become proactive leaders, entrepreneurs, or engaged citizens.

Program Structure: 4 Key Challenges

1. Team Formation:

   • Create diverse teams (mixed gender, skills like sketching, data analysis, and tool usage).

2. Problem Identification:

   • Research local issues (e.g., mapping community problems, analyzing stakeholders) with mentor guidance.

3. Creative Solutions:

   • Design innovative solutions inspired by random keywords to spark “outside-the-box” thinking.

4. Final Selection:

   • Top 3 teams receive:

     • $1,000 to implement their project.

     • Mentorship (2 hours/week for 1 month)

Participant Profile

Ideal candidates:

• Dream of “changing the world” and enjoy challenges.

• Find joy in helping others and value humility/courage.

• Seek connections with like-minded peers across Croatia

Heroj ulice turns young dreamers into proactive leaders. Through collaboration and real-world problem-solving, participants learn that ‘muscles aren’t essential for victories’—ideas and values are.