Pomelaj was founded as a project in 1997, with the initiative of so-called learning workshops, to provide employment opportunities in rural areas, focusing particularly on entrepreneurs of Slovenia’s rural Prekmurje region. Over time, the initiative developed into a cooperative in 2003, focused on preserving Prekmurje’s traditional crafts, like weaving and local culinary practices, while including marginalized communities. The main purpose of Pomelaj is to revive cultural heritage, foster local craftsmanship, and support the employment of vulnerable groups, making it a unique model of socially responsible rural development in Slovenia.