Contacts:
Caritas Croatia
Kaptol 26, Zagreb
+385 1 481 20 22
+385 1 481 21 03
caritas.croatia@caritas.hr
www.caritas.hr
News archive - 2008.
The Medžlis Islamic community in Zagreb contributes to the «For 1000 Joys» Christmas campaign
The Medžlis Islamic community (MIZ) in Zagreb makes its contribution to Caritas Croatia’s ‘For 1000 Joys’ Christmas campaign with a donation of 500 kg of frozen beef.
“We are glad that we can help in this way and contribute to this worthwhile campaign organised by Caritas Croatia, an organisation we hold in dear respect. We believe that this donation will serve those who are in need. They are a part of us all regardless of their creed”, the president of MIZ, Zagreb Mirsad Srebreniković said.
// 29. 12. 2008
Children know (2)
Numerous RI teachers, their colleagues and school principles involved in Caritas’ Christmas campaign with their schools and ordered several shipments of this year’s badges are beginning to advise us of how they intend to help those in need with the proceeds collected.
We have received information that hundreds of families have already received aid from funds collected through schools. We are convinced that children and youth recognised the value of this year’s campaign and this has been verified by a story told us by RI teacher from a Zagreb school, “Miroslav Krleža“ on Kaptol, Vesna Palijan which is just up the road from Caritas Croatia’s office. Ms. Palijan invited us to see some of the works prepared by her Grade 6 class, inspired by our message about the importance of speaking well and communicating goodness: “Tell me…Communicate goodness!”
// 19. 12. 2008
MP’s in the Croatian Sabor receive Caritas Croatia’s badges with messages Tell me…wisely, openly, clearly
President of Caritas Croatia, Bishop Josip Mrzljak and Caritas Director, Fr. Ivan Milovčić, sent their Christmas greetings to MP’s in the Croatian Sabor. In addition to an appropriate Christmas Card each MP received a “Tell me…” badge which was this year’s product intended to raise funds for those in need. The badge serves as a mobile phone screen cleaner but its message is a reminder carrying an inspirational thought to communicate well. MP’s were sent messages to speak wisely, openly and clearly.
A special focus for Caritas Croatia’s Christmas campaign this year in addition to raising funds to help the needy in Croatia, is to promote a better quality in communicating – especially amongst young people. This year’s campaign is therefore dedicating to promoting the communication of goodness and as such we made available mobile phone cleaner tags with the slogan “Tell me…” and each with its own special message: gently, encouragingly, healthily, amusingly, optimistically, brightly, openly, clearly, wisely and heartily.
In their Christmas greetings Bishop Mrzljak and Caritas Director Ivan Milovčić said amongst else, “After virtually 400,000 children and youth in primary and secondary schools heartily accepted our campaign and were motivated to communicate good(ness) and after 65256 sms messages that have been arriving daily with lovely messages expressing their option for goodness for themselves and others – we turn to you MP’s in the Croatian Sabor, who with their wisely formulated thoughts transformed into words lead our Homeland while representing Croatian citizens in the Croatian Sabor.
The eyes and ears of Croatian citizens are turned to you. We call on you to accept the invitation to communicate good(ness). May your words in the period leading up to Christmas and throughout all of next year be filled with gentleness, courage, wisdom, clarity and sincerity so that the may become the good news: of the joyful, positive and inspirational message for which we yearn and await. May they be messages of good(ness) with which you will encompass and infect all those in Croatia whose business it is to speak publicly.”
The focus of this year’s “For 1000 Joys” Christmas campaign are families faced with a difficult illness of one of the family, particularly children.
COMPANIES can contribute to the campaign
- Making a payment to our account no. 2340009 – 1510126452 (poziv na broj 08)
- Purchasing Caritas Croatia’s Christmas cards or
- Making a donation in kind with their products or services.
CITIZENS can contribute to the campaign
- Purchasing Caritas Croatia’s Christmas cards or
- Sending an text message to: 65256 (with a nice, inspirational thought or message that they sent someone or received themselves), at the price of 3.05 kuna
// 17. 12. 2008
Caritas Croatia’s sixth Christmas tree sale on Saturday, 13 December 2008 in Zagreb, Sisak, Karlovac, Vinkovci, Vodice, Šibenik, Split, Zadar, Benkovac, Biograd and Labin in support of the “For 1000 Joys” 2008 Christmas campaign.
The 6th “Croatian Forests” Day
The sixth Christmas tree sale was held on Saturday, 13 December 2008 in u Zagreb, Sisak, Karlovac, Vinkovci, Vodice, Šibenik, Split, Zadar, Benkovac, Biograd and Labin in support of the “For 1000 Joys” Christmas campaign organised by Caritas Croatia with the assistance and support of “Croatian Forests”.
The 6th “Croatian Forests” Day
Croatian Forests once again donated 1000 Christmas trees of which the proceeds are contributed to help the poorest families in Croatia. These live Christmas trees with roots are grown each year especially for this purpose which adds an ecological aspect to this charity sale because not one tree for sale was actually cut down. Croatian Forests workers were willing to explain each tree and how to care for it until it is ready to be replanted into the ground.
This is the third year in Zagreb that the trees are sold on Petar Preradović Square (Cvjetni trg). Once again this year leading figures from political life came to support this action including Croatian Government Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Veterans’ Affairs, the Family and Inter-generational Solidarity Jadranka Kosor and Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić. All in all in Zagreb there were 330 trees of various sizes and sorts ranging from a price of 50 – 250 kuna. Around 290 trees were sold during the sale on the Saturday. Ten trees were donated to homes and centres run by the Zagreb Archdiocese Caritas while the remaining 30 trees were sold on the Sunday at the ‘Sv. Mati Slobode’ shrine in Zagreb’s suburb of Jarun .
Information from the other cities trees were sold in all tells us that the sale was successful. Any trees that were left after Saturday’s sale were sold during the week in the premises of the local Caritas office. For any further information please call your local Caritas office.
This year’s Christmas tree sale was organised on the eve of Caritas Sunday, which is always celebrated on the third Sunday of Advent on 14 Decebemer. Each year a new motto is chosen and this year’s is “Love is patient” (1 Cor 13). Caritas Sunday is dedicated to the problems of those in need but also an opportunity for people of good will to make their contributions in churches throughout Croatia to support Caritas which in turn helps al those in need.
// 15. 12. 2008
Children know
Children and youth in primary and secondary schools throughout Croatia have taken this year’s Christmas campaign organised by Caritas Croatia, to heart. RI teacher Blanka Markotić from the “Hugo Badalić” primary school in Slavonski Brod sent us a selection of composition written by her Grade 5 students on the topic…
“My speech this Christmas will be…”.
It’s Thursday. Christmas is coming. My class is collecting money to help Caritas. Each one of us gave 5 kuna. We were given a mobile phone cleaner badge in return. On the wrapping for the badge it was written “Tell me…”, and inside on the badge it wrote GENTLY.
That inspired me to think.
I decided that this Christmas my speech would be gentle, sincere and wise.
I am going to try to argue less and prepare myself for Christmas.
Josipa, Grade 5.b
Today during Religious Instructions we started a really beautiful fund raising campaign to help Caritas.
For each 5 kuna that we donate Cartias gives us a mobile phone cleaner badge.
The 5 kuna then goes to help people in need.
We pulled the badges out and each one had something nice written on it.
Each badge had its own word.
Each of these then words are important in our lives.
I got a badge saying SINCERELY.
We need to be use these words as much as possible by Christmas.
But I’m not going to just use them until Christmas but my entire life.
I wish to be sincere and know I will be.
I’m going to help others.
I’m going to give them my: smile, goodness, things that they may need and do good deeds.
Ena, 5.a
My speech until Christmas is going to be COURAGEOUS.
If my teacher asks me something then I’m not going to be afraid to be courageous and tell her what I know.
If the boys want to fight, I’ll tell them I don’t want to fight.
I’m going to be courageous because people should be and they shouldn’t have to hide in fear.
There are a lot of people in the world who are afraid and they need to muster up the strength to be courageous.
One of the duties in my life will be to help friends in need,
I think I’ll help them to become courageous.
Filip, 5.a
I’m going to be WISE until Christmas.
First I’ll think and they say what I want to. I won’t rush.
If I speak wisely and thoughtfully, I’ll be smarter.
And I’ll help others on the right path.
I’m going to speak thoughtfully and try and be an example for others.
Anita, 5.a
A lot of people are born “normal“,
but some people are born with some problem.
But that doesn’t mean we need to tease them or consider them different from us.
On the contrary, we need to help these people.
They are worthy of respect and care,
even if they are handicapped.
We need to help them to find God’s kingdom.
We, who are healthy, just don’t know how lucky we are.
My speech with all healthy and sick people will
Always be HEALTHY.
Mihael, 5.a
OPTIMISTICAL. My speech will be full of hope and joy.
I’m not going to speak bad things
because when we speak badly this leaves a bad, black trace on our hearts.
When we speak well, this leaves nice traces that will remain
in our hearts until the end of our lives.
If we want to be happy, we need to speak happily to others.
There are many people who are discovering the world of love.
Matea, 5.a
OPEN. I am going to open like a book with a thousand beautiful words.
I’m going to be sincere, fair, open and help people…
It’s not good when a book is closed.
Horrible words and feelings come out of a closed book.
Jesus taught us on earth to be like an open book with a thousand beautiful words.
Vanja, 5.a
My speech until Christmas is going to be COURAGEOUS AND WITTY.
To be courageous means not to be a coward,
and I’m going to do what I think I can but without hurting anyone.
I am going to try and be witty and not be angry, sorry and frowning.
I am going to tell jokes and be happy for Christmas,
so that everyone around me van be happy.
We’re all going to be happy because Christmas brings joy to every home.
Marija, 5.b
My speech is going to be OPEN.
That means that I am going to be open and confident.
I am going to be open in every situation and speak the truth,
and love others just like Jesus taught us.
Martina, 5.a
// 10. 12. 2008
The president of two national Caritases, Cardinal Vinko Puljić and bishp Josip Mrzljak meet in Zagreb
Representatives of two national Caritases, Caritas Croatia (CC) and Caritas Bosnia-Herzegovina (BKB&H) met in Zagreb on Tuesday, 9 December.
President of Caritas Bosnia-Herzegovina and Archbishop of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese Cardinal Vinko Puljić and President of Caritas Croatia, Varaždin Bishop Josip Mrzljak along with the directors of each of these national Caritases, Fr. Ivan Milovčić and Msgr. Bosiljko Rajić respectively and their associates attended the meeting.
The agenda was the coming “Week of Solidarity and Togetherness with the Church and People in Bosnia-Herzegovina” – 2008 and reports about the success of that Lenten appeal which are to be presented at the next session of the Croatian and Bosnian bishops’ conferences. That meeting is scheduled for 26 January 2009, in Zagreb and Caritas Croatia and Bosnia will present their proposals for the Lenten campaign for 2009.
Bishops will be presented with a recommendation that they should try and motivate a larger number of parishes to make their contributions to the campaign, by motivating their parishioners in Croatia with the aim of raising funds for material aid but also to organise more spiritual activities. It is intended that based on the experience of the last Lenten campaign – to organise a pilgrimage of prayer in Croatia and Bosnia with the aim of gathering parishioners together to pray for togetherness in Croatia and Bosnia.
This will be the third “Week of Solidarity and Togetherness with the Church and People in Bosnia-Herzegovina” and it will be held 9 – 15 March 2009.
This campaign aimed at helping the Church and people in B-H is organised under the auspices of Caritas Croatia in response to a decision brought at a session of the two bishops’ conferences in January 2007 when the agenda dealt with possible ways the Catholic Church in Croatia could help the Catholic Church in B-H.
// 09. 12. 2008
Students of the “Žuti brijeg” primary school visit
Caritas Croatia
Students of Grade 6.b from the “Žuti brijeg” primary school in Zagreb’s Dubrava subject visited the Caritas Croatia offices together with their RI teacher Božidar Hadaš.
The students came to personally hand in the money they managed to raise by selling Caritas Croatia’s mobile phone cleaner tags as part of this year’s “For 1000 Joys” Christmas campaign.
CC Director Ivan Milovčić guided them through the premises of CC and explained Caritases activities and other fund raising campaigns.
// 03. 12. 2008
Caritas Croatia’s Christmas campaign launch in Youth City
Communicate good(ness)!
Caritas Croatia’s 2008 “For 1000 Joys” Christmas campaign was launched with a press conference in Zagreb’s Youth City on Tuesday, 2 December 2008. A special programme was organised in cooperation with the Zagreb City Office for Education, Culture and Sports and kindergartens in Zagreb. Zagreb’s Mayor Milan Bandić is expected to attend the launch. The campaign was presented by President of Caritas Croatia, Varaždin Bishop Josip Mrzljak, Caritas Director Fr. Ivan Milovčić and the Christmas campaign’s leader Boris Peterlin.
“We call on everyone gathered here - big and small – and all our Croatians to look around themselves and to recognise those around them who are in need but also to look deep inside themselves to see what each one of us can do. We should do what our hearts tells us. No-one can do everything but each one of us can do something”, Bishop Mrzljak said.
“In the five years that the Christmas campaign has been organised, Caritas Croatia has managed to raise more than 21 million kuna and helped more than 19,000 families. From year to year the amount raised has grown and more town, municipality, county authorities, associations and institutions are contributing to the campaign and we believer that this is confirmation of our efforts to strengthen solidarity with citizens”, Fr. Milovčić said.
“Special focus in this year’s campaign was dedicated to the quality of communication, particularly amongst children and the young. We hope that our speech will be affirmative and will be a means of communicating good(ness) and a means to achieve harmonised relations. We believe that this is a good way of preventing conflicts resulting from poor communication and the violence these conflicts usually result in and that words, can be an inspiration and encouragement so that they do not become the cause of violence. We wish to encourage people – in light of the coming Christmas – that our human values, our words and our speech be filled with gentleness, courage, health, wit, optimism, brightness, openness, clarity, wisdom and sincerity”, the head of the campaign, Boris Peterlin said presenting this year’s campaign.
This year’s Christmas tree sale – which is traditionally organised during the Christmas campaign - will be held on 13 December in several cities in Croatia – Zagreb, Karlovac, Sisak, Vinkovci, Split, Zadar, Benkovac, Biograd and Šibenik. Croatian Forests who have always been a key feature of the sale all these years donated 1,000 trees to Caritas Croatia with the proceeds intended to go to those in need.
This year’s campaign has already attracted the attention of one hundred thousand kindergarten, primary and secondary school children throughout the country. That was one of the main reasons why the campaign was launched this year in cooperation with the Zagreb City Office for Education, Culture and Sports and Zagreb kindergartens and was held in Youth City.
High dignitaries at the launch included Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić, the Head of the Zagreb City Office for Education, Culture and Sports Jelena Pavičić Vukičević, member of the City Assembly responsible for education, culture and sports Duško Ljuština, president of the Zagreb City Assembly Tatjana Holjevac and president of Croatian Forests Darko Vuletić.
With the conclusion of the official programme of the launch, Zagreb kindergarten children from Trnsko, Jabuka and Kolibri kindergartens presented an entertainment programme showing their creativity and art capacities promoting game, health and variety. The programme was professionally conducted by TV speaker Karmela Vukov Colić, while opera singer Sandra Bagarić gave a performance of the song “Neka cijeli ovaj svijet” from the “Jalta, Jalta” musical accompanied on the piano by Darko Domitrović and back up vocals by Lamia Belošević from the “Zvjezdice” children’s choir. A children’s theatre group headed by Danijela Totić presented a puppet play based on the children’s illustrated novel “Božićni san male Ane” (Little Ana’s Christmas Dream). The entire premises were decorated with various stalls decorated by children’s art works that could be bought with the proceeds going towards the Christmas campaign.
// 02. 12. 2008
Caritas Croatia’s “For 1000 Joys” Christmas campaign
You are cordially invited to a press conference and appropriate programme to launch this years, sixth Caritas Croatia “For 1000 Joys” Christmas Campaign which is to be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 2 December 2008 at ‘Youth City’, Granešina bb (Dubrava).
A special programme is being organised in cooperation with the Zagreb City Office for Education, Culture and Sports and kindergartens in Zagreb. Zagreb’s Mayor Milan Bandić is expected to attend the launch.
Speakers about Caritas Croatia’s Christmas campaign will include: President of Caritas Croatia, Varaždin Bishop Josip Mrzljak, Caritas Director Fr. Ivan Milovčić and the Christmas campaign’s leader Boris Peterlin.
“Special focus in this year’s campaign was dedicated to the quality of communication, particularly amongst children and the young. We hope that our speech will be affirmative and will be a means of communicating good(ness) and a means to achieve harmonised relations. We believe that this is a good way of preventing conflicts resulting from poor communication and the violence these conflicts usually result in and that words, can be an inspiration and encouragement so that they do not become the cause of violence. We wish to encourage people – in light of the coming Christmas – that our human values, our words and our speech be filled with gentleness, courage, health, wit, optimism, brightness, openness, clarity, wisdom and sincerity”.
Motivated by the fact that this year’s campaign has already attracted the attention of one hundred thousand kindergarten, primary and secondary school children throughout the country. That was one of the main reasons why the campaign was launched this year in cooperation with the Zagreb City Office for Education, Culture and Sports and Zagreb kindergartens and was held in Youth City.
With the conclusion of the official programme of the launch, which is going to include hundreds of Zagreb’s kindergarten children from Dubrava suburbs an entertainment programme will be presented showing their creativity and art capacities promoting game, health and variety. The programme is going to be was professionally conducted by TV speaker Karmela Vukov Colić, with performances by opera singer Sandra Bagarić and back up vocals by Lamia Belošević from the “Zvjezdice” children’s choir.
At 11 a.m. a children’s theatre group headed by Danijela Totić will present a puppet play based on the children’s illustrated novel “Božićni san male Ane” (Little Ana’s Christmas Dream).
After the official launch the children will remain attending various workshops: scouts, sporting activities, arts & crafts and musical. At the same time stalls will be set up for a Christmas fair with children’s art works that will be sold and all the proceeds will go towards the Christmas campaign. Children were guided in their artistic expression under the guidance of sculptor Ljiljana Graovac.
In addition to our special guests the launch will be attended by about 200 children who will be spending the week in Youth City as part of the “Children in Nature” programme regularly organised by Youth City. The programme will end at 2 p.m.
// 28. 11. 2008
Caritas Croatia takes part at the itnernational “Equal Opportunities, Democracy, European Integration
- Freja Forum”
The Forum was held in Zagreb on 14 to 16 November 2008
The “Equal Opportunities, Democracy, European Integration - Freja Forum” began on Friday, 14 November 2008 in the Zagreb City Hall. This three day conference attended by 200 delegates from various civil society organisations, political, business and public sectors from Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, France, Croatia, Italy, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Sweden was an opportunity to come to a better understanding of the process of accession to the European Union and enhancing European prospects for countries in the region.
The host of the Forum was the Pragma NGO from Zagreb and was organised jointly with partner organisations: The Tenants’ Union from Sweden, Friends from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Business Women from Serbia and Women’s Organisation Macedonia.
The “Freja Forum“ is organised under the auspices of the Croatian Government and City of Zagreb with financial assistance from the City Office for Health, Labour, Social Welfare and Veterans’ Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship as well as International donors: Olof Palme from Sweden and t he Swedish development agency SIDA.
The Forum was greeted by President of the Zagreb City Assembly Tatjana Holjevac, Deputy Mayor of Zagreb Ljiljana Kuhta Jeličić, the head of the Deparment of International Economic Relations and Trade Policy with the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, and Detlev Boeing from the EC General Directorate for Enlargement, Dean of the University of Zagreb Law Department, Serbian Assistant Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Ms. Rada Bukumirić-Katić and Macedonian state advisor for equal opportunities Ms. Elena Grozdanova. Caritas Croatia Director Fr. Ivan Milovčić and his associates attended the forum too.
„The process of accessing the European Union offers many opportunities to contribute and for affirmation for everyone: individuals, associations, institutions, organisations in the business and political sectors. It is not only a privilege but a duty for some. Motivation to set up the “Freja Forum” emerged from civil society organisations longing for freedom of expression without formal procedures. That is why it is important, in fact, vital that everyone participates in decision making that affects the life of all citizens, civil society organisations and NGO’ and this was an opportunity for their voice to be heard where alternatives could be discussed and disagreement to some decisions could be voiced”, Pragma’s President Stela Fišer said.
On Friday morning prior to the official start of the Forum, participants were able to attend a lecture by Prof. Gojko Bežovan from the Social Studies Centre on the topic of “Croatian Housing Policies”.
On Saturday night participants were able to attend a concert by the “Ivan Goran Kovačić" folklore group to mark the group’s 60th anniversary.
Over the weekend various seminars and workshops were organised facilitating active participation for guests from Caritas Croatia.
The Forum was visited by French Ambassador, His Excellency, E. Francois Saint-Poul.
The Freja Forum 2009 will be held in Belgrade
Contact:
Stela Fišer, President: Pragma,
Palmotićeva 7, Zagreb,
tel.: 01 5545 050,
mob: 098 1759 391
web: www.udruga-pragma.hr,
// 18. 11. 2008
50m houses to the Tsunami affected families
at Pallansena - Sri lanka
Joint Project of Caritas Germany, Caritas Croatia
and
the Archdiocese of Colombo
Keys of 50 houses were handed over to the Tsunami affected families at Poruthotawatta, Pallansena by Archbishop Oswald Gomis, Rev. Fr. Ivan Milovčić, Director of Caritas Croatia and together with the representatives of Caritas Croatia Boris Peterlin and Roberta Brusić on 21 October 2008.
The Project was started in 2005, but due to many difficulties of obtaining the necessary assistance from the local government authority, proceedings of the project was delayed. Then His Grace the Archbishop Oswald Gomis took the initiative through the Seth Sarana, Caritas-Colombo and commenced the construction of the houses. These houses are built on 3 lands, 2 land purchased with the Tsunami Funds of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka Hope Trust Fund, Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC and one land was donated by the people of Pallansena Parish.
This housing project named as "Thomas Cardinal Cooray Hosuing Scheme ", was jointly funded by Caritas Germany and Caritas Croatia (Hrvatski Caritas). The total value of the project amounts to 614,000 Euro and Caritas Croatia (Hrvatski Caritas) very generously assisted with 360,000 Euro. Caritas Germany has been working through the Archdiocese of Colombo immediately after Tsunami brought destruction on lives of the people and their property.
His Grace the Archbishop Oswald Gomis addressing the gathering, sincerely thanked German Caritas and Caritas Croatia (Hrvatski Caritas ) for their financial assistance to help the Tsunami affected families at Poruthotawatta in Pallansena Parish. His Grace the Archbishop further said to the occupants, " it is not enough to occupy a beautiful house, it is also necessary that you live an exemplary beautiful Christian life, witnessing to Christ Our Lord."
The Episcopal Vicar for the Northern Region of the Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, Director of Caritas Sri Lanka Very Rev. Fr. Damian Fernando, Director of Caritas Croatia Very Rev. Fr. Ivan Milovčić and the representatives of Caritas Croatia (Hrvatski Caritas ) Boris Peterlin & Roberta Brusić, Archdiocesan Director of Seth Sarana ( Caritas Colombo) Rev. Fr. Jude Raj Fernando and Parish Priest of Pallansena Rev. Fr. Maximus Rodrigopulle were present at the opening ceremony.
Plants were distributed to every family by Seth Sarana under their tree-planting campaign and Holy Bibles were given to every Tsunami affected Catholic family, received from the Aid to the Church in Need in Germany (Kirche in Not / Ostpriesterhilfe ).
Fr. Sunil De Silva
// 25. 10. 2008
Proceeds collected in Croatia helps build 50 houses for Tsunami affected families in Sri Lanka
Caritas Croatia and Deutsche Caritasverband co-financed
the construction of houses
On 21 October Archbishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka Dr. Oswald Gomis officially opened a housing settlement in Pallansena, Sri Lanka with 50 houses built for 50 families who were left homeless after the Tsunami destroyed their homes. The project to construct the houses began in 2006 with the joint funding of Caritas Croatia and Caritas Germany (Deutsche Caritasverband). The official opening was attended by the Director of Caritas Croatia, Fr. Ivan Milovčić.
Pallansena is a fishing settlement near the town of Negombo which is about 40 km away from Colombo on the west coast of Sri Lanka. In addition to constructing these new houses the project involved purchasing land, the construction of interior streets, infrastructure and administrative costs. An additional element of this project is that all the works were conducted by local builders which meant employment for the local population. The total value of the project was 614,000 Euro and Caritas Croatia’s share with proceeds collected from an extensive humanitarian campaign was 360,000 Euro.
The tenants of the new houses will be those most in need amongst families affected by the Tsunami. The selection of beneficiary families was made in cooperation with the parish priest in Pallansena and representatives of the regional Caritas – Seth Sarana as well as Sri Lankan government organisations responsible for “Renewal Programmes” following the Tsunami. The newly constructed housing settlement was named “Cardinal Thomas Cooray“.
Just one day after the tragedy caused by a submarine quake and a destructive wave that hit around a dozen South Asian countries on 26 December 2004, Caritas Croatia launched a national campaign to collect funds and with the kindness of Croatian citizens and companies a total of 5.5 million HRK was collected.
Funds collected in the campaign which with its donations was the largest campaign that CC organised for international aid, was sent to Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and Indonesia.
The largest donation – 4.8 million kuna – by Caritas Croatia was sent to Sri Lanka where over 1.5 million people were left homeless and several thousand children lost one or both their parents and were orphaned. Over 40,000 lost their lives in the tsunami, mostly women and children. As a consequence of the tsunami Sri Lanka’s economy collapsed because their main occupation – fishery – was obviously the hardest hit and over 270,000 people were left without their jobs or any income.
Funds donated by Croatian citizens and companies during the campaign was used to construct houses in Sri Lanka but also to purchase medicines, children’s food, water pumps and purifiers, school uniforms and equipment, fishing boats and nets, gas cookers, mattresses and tents.
Contacts:
Nedjeljko Marković, Caritas Croatia, Ofiice 01/4871 920, 098 1759 390
Maja Škifić, 01/4812 104, 099 4812 211
Roberta Brusić 4871 920, 099 4812 210
// 21. 10. 2008
Christmas Campaign "For 1000 Joys" 2008
Tell me...
This is the sixth year that Caritas Croatia has launched its “For 1000 Joys” with the aim of helping thousands of families in Croatia who are living in poverty and need. Over the past six years we have managed to raise over 21 million kuna and assisted over 19,000 families in Croatia. Beneficiaries are able to receive help through Caritas’ network of more than 2,000 parish and diocesan Caritas organisations as well as primary and secondary schools throughout the country.
Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries of Caritas’ Christmas campaign are families in need all round the country regardless of their religious or national belonging which is in keeping with Caritas’ mission throughout the world. This year’s action will be especially dedicated to families faced with illness where a member of the family is sick and in particular children. With your help we wish to offer these families concrete aid but also encouragement to strengthen them in their hardship and to let them know that despite their pain and problems they are not alone or forgotten.
Objectives
With the “For 1000 Joys” campaign we hope to help families faced with misfortune, poverty, poor living conditions and insufficient means and sources of earnings. However apart from the basic aim of the campaign – to raise funds (money, products or services) to help those in need – we believe our second objective is just as important. We hope to fortify the values of Christmas – love, solidarity, unselfishness, sacrifice, peace and so on. As such this year we decided to bring our attention to how we communicate with others which above all is expressed in our manner of speech so that we promote speaking about good and good speaking. May our words in every day speech be filled with kindness, importance, health, wit, optimism, brightness, openness, clarity, wisdom and heartiness.
Tell me...
In trying to visualise this objective, this year we came up with approrpiate tags- screen wipers that have relevant inspiring words printed on them so that young people can visualise these positive values. The tags have been sent to schools where children can buy them. The tags can be attached to school bas, pencil cases, zippers, jackets, pants, mobile phones or anywhere else that may be handy. The original idea of the tags is a mobile screen wiper.
Screens can be wiped clean quite easily but if someone is careless words can easily cause an unwanted effect and offend someone and turn into verbal aggression and even violence – but this cannot be wiped out so easily nor repaired.
In this pre-Christmas period we hope that our words may become words of proclamation, carrying the good news to people whom we communicate with.
The “For 1000 Joys” campaign in 2008, like in previous years, is being conducted with support from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports in primary and secondary schools throughout Croatia. The tags are being made available to schools where they can be sold to students, staff and their friends and all the proceeds collected will be put to use to reach all those who will not be able to experience the joy of Christmas due to poverty, anxiety and uncertainty.
By spreading the message: “Tell me…(what you wish), clearly, wisely, optimistically, sincerely, mildly, openly, brightly, soundly, resolutely, and wittily”, through the distribution of these tags, we wish to contribute to the culture of communicating positive speech as a means of communicating good and achieving harmonic relations. We believe that this way we will be able to indirectly prevent conflicts that may too easily result from misguided communication.
> Letter to school principles (doc, 160KB)
Once again this year we suggested that 50% of the money collected from the sale of tags be kept by the school and donated to a family in need in their own local community. If, there is a particularly difficult situation in the community all they need do is advise us and in that case – as we have done so in previous years – the remaining 50% may be kept to be donated to that particular family(ies). If they donate the entire amount and consider that further assistance is required they are more than welcome to contact us and we will consider further helping that family according to our abilities.
- uplatama na žiro račun 2340009 – 1510126452 (poziv na broj 08)
- kupnjom prigodnih božićnih čestitaka HC-a ili
- donacijom proizvoda i usluga.
- uplatama na žiro račun 2340009–1510126452 (poziv na broj 08)
- pozivima na donacijski telefon 060 9010 (cijena poziva 6,10 kn).
What can I do?:
COMPANIES too can help our campaign
GRAĐANI se u akciju mogu uključiti
We wish to extend our gratitude to our artistic designer and author of this year’s concept, Ms. Narcisa Vukojević who has been successful all these years in coming up with a creative idea that has made its way to our citizens, children and young people.
In the hope that each and everyone of us will find our own way to positively contribute to creating a better and just world and bringing at least a little joy to our poorest fellow citizens, we at Caritas Croatia wish you a Joyful and Blessed Christmas and a successful New Year!
Privjesci
Contacts:
Boris Peterlin
Christmas Campaign Project Leader
Tel: + 385 (0) 1487 923, + 385 (0) 99 4812 209
E-mail: caritscroatia.mir@zg.t-com.hr
Roberta Brusić
Public Relations Manager
Tel: + 385 (0) 14871923, + 385 (0) 99 4812 210
E-mail: roberta.brusic@caritas.hr
// 19. 10. 2008
Caritas Croatia is helping victims in Georgia
Caritas Croatia immediately sent 100,000 kuna as emergency aid and has started a campaign for Croatian citizens who wish to make a donation to help the displaced population in Georgia.
Columns of displaced persons, seen in the press and on TV, were compelled to abandon their homes in search of safety. The majority fled to the capital Tbilisi.
Caritas Croatia has established direct contact with Caritas Georgia and will support several projects to aid displaced persons in Tbilisi with concrete aid such as:
- Food (through field kitchens run by Caritas),
- Primary health and hygiene requirements,
- Medicines, beds,
- Psycho-social assistance and support for traumatised victims.
- Making a payment to Caritas Croatia’s account
2340009-1100080340, poziv na broj: 288 - Calling our donation line on 060 9010 (price of a call is 6.10 kuna)
Donations to help the victims in Georgia can be made by:
Caritas Croatia immediately sent 100,000 kuna as emergency aid and has started a campaign for Croatian citizens who wish to make a donation to help the displaced population in Georgia whose displacement may last for some time.
Thank you for your solidarity.
// 20. 08. 2008
The Bosnia & Herzegovina campaign to finance 32 projects with a total value of 846,723 kuna!
The projects will be selected in the fields of education, welfare aid and developing family businesses in B&H.
On Wednesday, 23 July 2008, the Steering Committee for the Bosnia and Herzegovina campaign gave its sign of approval for 32 projects from B&H covering the fields of education welfare aid and developing family businesses with a total value of 846,723 kuna...
View a list of the projects approved here.
The Steering Committee was convened for a meeting at Caritas Croatia presided by Varaždin Bishop and President of CC, Msgr. Josip Mrzljak and attended by committee members Božo Prka and Bruno Iljkić, CC Director Fr. Ivan Milovčić, Deputy Director Vice Batarelo and Ms. Suzana Borko.
This is the second year that Caritas Croatia has organised a campaign to help Bosnia and Herzegovina through its “Week of Solidarity and Togetherness with the Church and People in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, with the aim of conducting a national campaign to collect financial assistance as well as informing the public in Croatia about the situation of the people in this neighbouring country and to express their solidarity and togetherness.
Donations could be made via a donation line on 060 9010 or payments to CC’s bank account as well as the proceeds of the collection taken at all Masses throughout Croatia on Sunday, 24 February 2008.
The faithful were able to contribute spiritually in praying for the people in B&H during Masses and the Way of the Cross in churches throughout Croatia.
The campaign was ended with a call for project applications from the fields of education, welfare assistance and developing family businesses that could be submitted by religious and other civil society organisations based in B&H.
// 23. 07. 2008
Caritas Europa Annual Meeting on Communications and Fund Raising – Zagreb, 5 & 6 June
The annual conference of member countries of Caritas Europa on communications and fundraising was held this year in Zagreb, 5 & 6 June at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Institute on Kaptol.
Caritas Europa (CE) was the organiser of the meeting in co-operation and hosted by Caritas Croatia (HC).
The objective of the meeting of experts in communication, the media and fundraising from various European Countries was to exchange experiences, learning and to strengthen Caritas’ resources at the level of the European network in an effort to better achieve its mission – working towards achieving its vision of a more just and fortunate world without discrimination, violence, intolerance and inhumane poverty.
This year delegates represented about ten European countries; Great Britain, The Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Austria, Romania, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In addition to staff from Caritas Croatia this year’s meeting was opened for attendance to delegates from Diocesan Caritas organisations in Croatia.
The meeting was opened with introductory speeches by President of Caritas Europa Fr. Erny Gillen; and on behalf of Caritas Croatia its president Bishop of Varaždin, Josip Mrzljak as well as CC’s Director Fr. Ivan Milovčić.
“Gens Una Sumus – we are one kind, one Church, one family. Each of our Caritas organisations is different and yet valuable and unique.
Each in its own way contributes to the well-being of those in need, marginalised, rightless and together we strive for God’s Kingdom and its values in our common European home to be all the more visible and evident”, Bishop Mrzljak said in his speech.
“Caritas Croatia is relatively young and a small national Caritas that emerged in 1992 after the political changes in these regions when the Croatian Conference of Bishops was founded too. CC’s activities were basically determined by war circumstances and receiving humanitarian aid from abroad which then was of life meaning to the domicile population and for refugees and displaced persons. With the end of the war and with economic circumstances gradually improving CC strived more to exist without foreign aid and turned to finding support from domestic partners, sponsors and donors, coming up with independent programmes and projects”, Fr. Milovčić said in his welcome speech trying to inform participants at the meeting about the circumstances surrounding CC.
“Through our mission we wish to actively witness and announce the Evangelic message of the Church to mankind. As such, in our activities we lean on expertise and professionalism and even more so on the inspiration and motivation of God’s Spirit without whom all our efforts would be empty and futile”, Fr. Milovčić said.
Day 1: Challenges in communication and fundraising in Croatia was the topic of a lecture prepared by guest speakers from Croatia - Prof. Jurica Pavičić from the Economics Faculty, University of Zagreb and Prof. Nikša Alfirević from the Economic Faculty, University of Split. They spoke about the economic indicators of the living standard in Croatia as well as social changes conditioned with transition. They gave an overview of the legislative framework to organise civil society in Croatia pointing out some specifities.
This was followed by a lecture by the head of the Justice and Peace Section at CC Boris Peterlin on A view from the inside about experiences in the field of communication and fundraising. In his presentation he spoke about the challenges facing Caritas during, post-communism, transition and post-war Croatia.
Day 2: Martin Kofler, an expert in marketing in non-profit organisations from Austria gave a lecture highlighting the significance of new technologies – the Internet and internet community, e-mail, blogs, search engines, etc and new ways of collecting funds.
Participants then presented their activities and successful campaigns for international aid in emergency situations. Suggestions were made of how to mark 2010 which has been pronounced European Year against Poverty and Exclusivity and a report was given by Gabriela Sohnleitner from Caritas Austria – a member of the CE Working Group to prepare 2010 about their current activities.
“I hope that the fruits of this meeting and the memories of our pleasant stay in Zagreb will act as an inspiration for further creative activities by the national Caritases from where you have come”, Fr. Erny Gillen said during the closing session of the meeting, thanking CC’s Director Ivan Milovčić for his hospitality.
Caritas Europe was founded in 1971 and consists of 48 Caritas organisation from 44 European countries. CE focuses on solving issues concerning poverty and social exclusiveness, migrations and asylum, humanitarian aid, peace building and motivating development, advocacy and lobbying. CE’s headquarters are in Brussels.
// 05. 06. 2008
Caritas Croatia sends 100,000 kuna to Myanmar
Caritas Croatia helps to care for Myanmar victims
Caritas Croatia (CC) sent 100,000 kuna to the victims in Myanmar. The local Caritas in Myanmar has managed to set up a distribution channel to pass on food, water and medical aid to care for 40,000 of the most vulnerable areas.
The local Caritas is being hampered with its efforts facing water and electricity restrictions even in the capital Yangon as well as a shortage of fuel which makes transport difficult for now into the inland of the country. It is estimated that through its network Caritas Internationalis has collected over one million US dollars in aid.
“We are using all the resources we have available to reach the victims. We are encouraged by the support we are getting from our friends abroad. We are in urgent need of food, water and temporary accommodation and thousands of people require medical attention”, Archbishop of Yangon Charles Bo says.
“We arrived in one destroyed village. We the first people the locals had seen after the storm. I had seen the destruction after the tsunami in Asia and the earthquake in Kashmir but what I saw here was just horrific. Some women from the village told us that the waves ripped children from their arms. While we drifted along in our boat the body of a young boy floated by next to us in the river”, one of our staff members told us when he returned from Phyapon – one of the worst hit areas and an area where the Church has sent its medical staff.
“People don’t have drinking water of food or anywhere to take shelter. Children are eating coconut shells. Bodies are lying around everywhere and the smell is impossible. We saw masses of refugees who had taken cover in churches and monasteries that had no roves”, our staff member said.
- By making a deposit to Caritas Croatia’s account no:
PBZ 2340009-1100080340, poziv na broj 658 - A donation at their local parish noting: Za postradale u Mianmaru
- Calling our donation phone line on 060 9010 (price of a call is 6,10 HRK)
Donations to help the victims of Myanmar can be made::
Caritas Croatia will forward proceeds through its network earmarked for concrete and effective actions to help victims in Myanmar and will inform the public of any actions taken as it has done in the past.
// 14. 05. 2008
Caritas Croatia launches campaign to help earthquake victims in China
On Tuesday, 13 May Caritas Croatia launched a campaign to collect fund to help the victims of the earthquake in China.
An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale hit China on 12 May with the worst hit area being the Sichuan region. More than 12 thousand people were killed in the earthquake and it is estimated that this number could be much higher because precise details are still not available.
- By making a deposit to Caritas Croatia’s account no: PBZ 2340009-1100080340, poziv na broj 135
- Donations at their local parish noting: Za postradale u Kini
- By calling our donation phone line on 060 9010 (price of a call is 6.10 HRK)
Citizens and companies in Croatian can help Caritas Croatia’s campaign :
“It has been only ten days since the tragedy in Myanmar which hit hundreds of thousands of people. However we cannot foresee nor choose the time when tragedy will hit again and we cannot remain indifferent to the horrific damages and number of victims of the earthquake in China.
Caritas Croatia has launched this campaign in the desire to shoe our solidarity and active love for the victims in China”, Caritas Croatia Director Ivan Milovčić said.
// 13. 05. 2008
Caritas Croatian calls for help for victims in Myanmar
Winds that swept through at virtually 200 kilometres an hour cause huge damages to buildings and infrastructure of the capital Yangon (Rangoon) with a population of five million.
Despite the political unitarism of the country – where since 1958 the military have been in power and have prevented a democratic government to take rule and then in 1990 just deepened the country’s isolation which led to the introduction of economic sanctions in 2003 which has made Myanmar one of the poorest countries in the world – the scope of destruction and needs of the population can be witnessed in the government’s readiness to open the country to foreign aid.
“It is vital at the moment to determine the true extent of the number of victims and material damages caused so that we can urgently deploy food, drinking water, medical aid and set up temporary shelter for the victims, primarily children and the elderly”, the Head of the Emergency Relief Aid Section of Caritas Internationalis Dolores Halpin-Bachmann said. Caritas Internationalis is co-ordinating humanitarian aid from 164 national Caritas organisations around the world.
“Experience of previous actions, like those to help the victims of the tsunami in 2004 led us to act as quickly as possible so that we can save thousands of hundreds of people”.
Like so often before Caritas Croatia intends to show its solidarity with those in need and is calling upon all citizens of Croatia and people of good will and sympathetic heart to once again testify their willingness to help those in need even if they are in such a far away country and to come to their aid by offering their donations.
- By making a deposit to Caritas Croatia’s account no:
PBZ 2340009-1100080340, poziv na broj 658 - A donation at their local parish noting: Za postradale u Mianmaru
- Calling our donation phone line on 060 9010 (price of a call is 6,10 HRK)
Donations to help the victims of Myanmar can be made::
Caritas Croatia will forward proceeds through its network earmarked for concrete and effective actions to help victims in Myanmar and will inform the public of any actions taken as it has done in the past.
> Map showing the cyclone’s path
// 06. 05. 2008
Cardinal Puljić presents Prime Minister Sanader with conclusions from recent Economic Forum
On Wednesday, 16 April 2008, Archbishop of Vrhbosnia and President of the Conference of Bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BKBiH) Cardinal Vinko Puljić met with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, and presented the Conclusions from the Economic Forum Opportunities for Development and Economic Incentives in Bosnia and Herzegovina held in Zagreb on 14 March this year.
The Conclusions to the Croatian Government propose the founding of a Croatian Agency for Development and Aid Abroad that would systematically and transparently direct aid to Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries where Croats live as well as those countries that Croatia wishes to stimulate development.
The Conclusions also propose that finances be secured to set up a guarantee fund through which Caritas BKBiH could stimulate micro-loans to support development programmes for trades, small and medium entrepreneurs in B&H.
The Conclusions further propose that funds be approved to conduct research concerning the needs to develop trades, small and medium entrepreneurs and other forms of aid to B&H. These funds, similarly to other forms of aid for B&H would be approved based on scientific-expert and strategic estimates of the future effects of any investment and activity.
The implementation of the Conclusions presented to Prime Minister Sanader will be monitored by a commission consisting of delegates from CC and the Prsten association.
The economic forum held in March this year was organised by Caritas Croatia in co-operation with the Association of Bosnian Croats – Prsten so that experts from various fields of social life in Croatia and B&H could jointly endeavour to find the best solutions to the problems faced by the people and Church in B&H.
The economic forum is part of the activities undertaken by CC within the Week of Solidarity and Togetherness with the Church and People in B&H, organised this year for the second time. The purpose of this national campaign was to raise funds for social and education projects as well as those to develop small family businesses in B&H as well as sensitising the Croatian public about the situation in B&H.
// 16. 04. 2008
Dukat makes worthy donation to Caritas Croatia with 10,000 doses of Dukatela cream spread
On Wednesday, 9 April 2008 Dukat made another worthy donation as part of their humanitarian «Milky Way to Goodness» campaign.
This time Dukat donated 10,000 doses of Dukatela cream spread worth 60,000 kunas and part of the donation went directly to the Zagreb Diocesan Caritas home for children «Sv. Franjo» in Vugrovec.
The remainder of the donation was distributed a few days before to other parts of Croatia into various institutions run by the Caritas Croatia network including homes for the elderly and disabled, abandoned children's homes, field kitchens, disabled children's homes, homeless shelters, elderly households and families on social benefits.
This donation is part of Dukat's continual programme «Milky Way to Goodness» and its latest project «Breakfast wtih Dukatela» with the aim of introducing children and adults to a healthier, delicious and regular breakfast – the day's most important meal.
To make the breakfast even healthier Dukat arranged for a special donation for the home in Vugrovec supplying other products such as chocolate milk, yoghurt, fruit yoghurt and desserts.
Dukat's head of public relations Elena Wolsperger had the honour of presenting the Director of the Zagreb Diocesan Caritas Sr. Jelena Lončar with this valuable donation.
Thirty-five children without adequate parental care aged between 7 and 18 are housed in the «Kuća sv. Franje» children's home in Vugrovec.
// 09. 04. 2008
Economic Forum: Opportunities for development and economic incentives in Bosnia and Herzegovina
On Friday, 14 March 2008, Caritas Croatian (CC) in co-operation with the Association of Bosnian Croats «Prsten» organised an Economic Forum entitled Opportunities for development and economic incentives in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Forum was held at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Institute in Zagreb.
The Forum is part of the activities that Caritas Croatia is implementing within its Lenten campaign Week of Solidarity and Togetherness with the Church and People in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Forum was an opportunity for various experts from different fields of social life in Croatia and B&H, to present and jointly search for better solutions to relieve the problems faced by the people and Church in B&H.
During the introductory session participants were greeted by Archbishop of Zagreb Cardinal Josip Bozanić (Complete speech), Archbishop of Vrhbosnia and President of the Conference of Bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BKBiH) and President of Caritas BK BiH Cardinal Vinko Puljić, followed by Bishop of Đakovo and Srijem and President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops (HBK) Msgr. Marin Srakić and finally Bishop of Varaždin and President of CC Msgr. Josip Mrzljak.
«In order to secure good ideas and suggestions that can come to reality in the foreseeable future we call on you all to utilise this moment so that we can draw some concrete conclusions that will offer the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina a new wave of strength», Bishop Mrzljak said in his welcome speech. (Complete speech)
President Mesić deployed his emissary Dr. Vladimir Lončarević while Finance Minister Ivan Šuker represented Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. Other guests of honour included Science Education and Sports Minister Dr. Dragan Primorac, Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić and the president of the Economic Sector of the «Prsten» association Bruno Iljkić.
In the former session of the Forum offered a preview of activities carried out until now to help B&H and Caritas Director Fr. Ivan Milovčić gave a report of the results of last year's campaign where funds collected were used to fund 37 projects in the field of social security, education and developing small family farms and businesses in B&H. (Complete speech)
Fr. Milovčić explained that in addition to the financial assistance the campaign offered an opportunity to sensitise the public n Croatia towards people who originate from Bosnia and Herzegovina and who have greatly contributed both financially and spiritually to current day Croatia but also the significance of identifying, connecting and networking all those who are willing to help. In conclusion to Fr. Milovčić's presentation a brief documentary was screened portraying the results of the projects that were financed from last year's campaign.
Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Gordan Jandroković spoke about the Croatian Government's efforts and investments of 25 million kunas into education, health and cultural projects in B&H. «Investments into our neighbouring B&H are not only a constitutional but our moral obligation», he said. «Without economic development B&H would not be a stable neighbour which then in turn guarantees our development.»
The suggestion was made to found a combined commission and development agency which was one of the ideas that emerged from previous Forums. This could offer more concrete support and monitoring of development and humanitarian projects earmarked for B&H. Dr. Ivo Lovrinović from the Economics Faculty of the University of Zagreb and Ivan Tolj from Styria International elaborated more on this idea.
«Based on successful examples of similar development agencies in the USA, Austria, Germany, Ireland and Poland, Croatia too could have a similar agency which would be a focal point to combine individual uncoordinated efforts to offer aid for B&H in the fields of education, culture, humanitarian aid and other activities», Dr. Lovrinović said. (pdf presentation)
In the latter session of the forum the president of the Management Board of the Croatian Bank of Reconstruction and Development Anton Kovačev (HBOR) explained that the bank had already invested about 800 million kunas into various loan programmes for small and medium entrepreneurs or other export subsidy and guarantee programmes earmarked for B&H.
«I believe that before the next forum of this kind HBOR's involvement in B&H will have grown to a billion convertible marks», Kovačev said in response to the forthcoming challenges of development and economic incentives in neighbouring B&H. (pdf presentation)
An expose about development support programmes for small family farms and business was presented by Ivan Fureš from CC (pdf presentation) and Dr. Davor Salamon from the Centre for Innovations and Development of Co-operatives (CERIZ) (pdf presentation), while Dr. Drago Čengić from the «Ivo Pilar» Institute of Social Studies spoke about various evaluations of this programme. (pdf presentation)
President of the Croatian Agency for Small Businesses (HAMAG) Tomislav Kovačević spoke about how knowledge and skills gained over the years as Croatia's economy developed were at the same time a great wealth that this institution possessed and was prepared to offer this know-how and skills with the aim of developing the economy in B&H.
Bruno Iljkić from the «Prsten» association gave a concluding speech and invited all those present to be the mouthpiece of these ideas and to relay them to other while Caritas Director Ivan Milovčić announced that a working group would be formed in CC to prepare the conclusions drawn from these presentations and to make suggestions and recommendations that can be used to inform the relevant institutions but also the wider public.
This is the second year that Caritas Croatia has organised The Week of Solidarity and Togetherness with the Church and People in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The objective of the campaign is express solidarity and togetherness with the people and Church in B&H by implementing a national fund raising campaign but also to sensitise the public in Croatia about the dramatic situation in B&H.
// 19. 03. 2008
Caritas Croatia's “For 1000 Joys” 2007 campaing raises 5.4 million kunas to help poor families
In its national Christmas campaign «For 1000 Joys» 2007 to raise funds to help families in need in Croatia, Caritas Croatia managed to raise a total of 5.4 million kunas and forwarded assistance to about 4,000 families around Croatia.
Of that total of 5.4 million, 3.8 million was collected in money and 1.6 million kunas in value for goods and services. This amount includes funds raised via 14 diocesan Caritases as well as hundreds of primary and secondary schools around Croatia that took part in the campaign.
Beneficiaries of Caritas' Christmas campaign are families in need throughout Croatia regardless of their religious or national affiliation which is in keeping with the mission of Caritas throughout the world.
This year's focus for families to receive assistance concentrated on families with inadequate housing conditions and in particular elderly households.
Assistance was offered in finding adequate housing, improving living conditions, supplying household appliances, paying outstanding communal costs and in some cases supplying food and clothing, ensuring a warm meal or helping to pay medical fees.
Once again this year CC's campaign put special emphasis on involving children and teens to help their fellow students in need. Funds were collected in primary and secondary schools through the sale of special stickers designed for their age groups and each school that took part in the campaign was given the opportunity to earmark 50% of the funds they collected to directly help someone in need in their immediate neighbourhood while the remaining 50% was then added to Caritas' campaign funds in general which symbolised their solidarity with those in need in other parts of Croatia.
There were many cases however where schools requested that the entire amount collected by their school be directed in their local community to families faced with particularly difficult situations and for whom this aid was of particular need during Christmas.
We thank our donors – companies that have remained loyal to this campaign for several years – as well as those donors who donated for the first time, small businesses, tradesmen, health clinics and all those citizens who contributed their donations to Caritas' account or responded do our charity telephone line and last but by means not least, all those school children at the primary or secondary level who helped contribute to changing the lives of the poor in their homeland.
We express particular gratitude to the press that reported about the campaign and in that way contributed to its success.
// 11. 03. 2008
The Week of Solidarity and Togetherness with the People and Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Caritas Croatia's Lenten campaign - 2008
Doing little things with lots of love!
During Lent when Christians are invited to live their faith in all its aspects a little more intensively, many believers and people of good will in Croatia direct their good intentions towards their brothers and sisters in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Once again this year, during the second and third Sundays in Lent (18 – 24 February) Caritas Croatia is organising its «Week of Solidarity and Togetherness with the Church and People in Bosnia and Herzegovina».
The aim of this campaign is to express solidarity and togetherness with the people and Church in B&H by implementing a national fund raising campaign to raise financial aid for those in need but also to sensitise the public in Croatia about the difficult circumstances faced by the people and Church in B&H in an attempt to motivate a more informed Croatian public to feel the need to help.
CC's Lenten campaign to help the Church and people in B&H is being organised again this year for the second time based on a decision adopted at the regular annual sitting on 22 January 2007 of the two neighbouring bishops' conferences – Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina – when they discussed how the Catholic Church in Croatia can hope the Catholic Church in B&H.
Citizens can make their contribution at the collection at Mass on the third Sunday in Lent – 24 February 2008. All the proceeds from this collection throughout Croatia will be earmarked for social assistance, education and assisting small businesses in B&H.
You can also make your contribution by simply calling our charity phone:
- 060 9010 (the cost of a call is 6.10 HRK) or
- by making a payment to Caritas Croatia's account no: 2340009-1100080340, poziv na br. 08 at the PBZ
Funds collected are of exceptional importance but this is not the only way to express solidarity.
Many people in Croatia are aware and grateful of the gifts that their fellow citizens from B&H have given by coming to Croatia enriching our country with their faith, culture, knowledge and work. Believers can contribute in solidarity with the Church and people in B&H by dedicating their prayers throughout Lent for those less fortunate and in particular during the Solidarity Week, following in Jesus' path of suffering, helping and comforting our brother and sisters in our neighbourhood just like Simon and Veronica.
During Solidarity Week (17 – 24 February), Liturgical celebrations and rituals – particularly the Way of the Cross – can be especially dedicated to the people and Church in B&H. Caritas Croatia has prepared a leaflet that may help with your prayers.
> Download Leaflet here (2.5MB)
During Solidarity Week bishops too can motivate priests and parishioners in their diocese to choose sister parishes in B&H with the aim of connecting parishes and parish Caritas organisations through joint pilgrimages, joint projects, exchanging experiences, information, knowledge and strengthening voluntarism etc.
CC President Bishop Josip Mrzljak, prepared a special EPISTLE in honour of Solidarity Week in an attempt to motivate pastor sin Croatia that they themselves be the driving force behind parishioners and people of good will to make their contribution to Solidarity Week.
CC director and staff personally attended a different parish each evening during Solidarity Week and prayed together with parishioners in Zagreb dedicated to this cause.
> Pilgrimage of prayer in Zagreb's parishes
> In wake of The Week of Solidarity with the Church and People in B&H
(Interview with Caritas Director Ivan Milovčić)
CC in partnership with the national Caritas of the Conference of Bishops of B&H (BH BiH) will advertise a public tender to award grants. The tender will be open for civil and religious associations to submit project and programmes in the fields of education, social assistance and motivating small businesses (farms) in B&H.
A Project Committee and Steering Committee will evaluate the quality of projects submitted and approve funds and monitor the realisation of projects.
Let's do small things with lots of love and tell our brothers and sisters «You are not alone!»
Your Caritas Croatia
// 08. 02. 2008
- About the Lenten Campaign The Week of Solidarity and Togetherness with the Church and People of Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Msgr. Josip Mrzljak’s epistle marking The Week of Solidarity and Togetherness
with the Church and People of Bosnia-Herzegovina - Pilgrimage of prayer in Zagreb parishes
- Download info material
