Children from Ukraine are once again spending the summer in Croatia as part of the “Safer Together” project, which offers psychosocial education. The Croatian Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, which is organising the initiative, announced on Saturday that it is co-financing the stay of 200 children with a total of €70,000.
As part of their time in Croatia and along the Adriatic coast, the Ukrainian children are taking part in a rich program that includes educational workshops, excursions, and socialising with their Croatian peers—activities designed to help them momentarily escape the difficult realities they face at home.
The children are accompanied by animators and psychologists and are also receiving mine-risk education.
The stay is being carried out from May 1 to October 31, and includes five groups located in Valbandon, Veli Lošinj, and Novi Vinodolski.
So far this summer, 130 children have taken part in the program, with another 70 expected by the end of the season.
A group of children, aged 9 to 14, recently stayed at the Veli Lošinj Health Resort.
As in previous years, they were welcomed and later seen off by Đurđa Adlešić, activity leader and president of the association Croatia Helps. The Ministry emphasised her continued involvement and her statement:
“I am glad that Croatia shows compassion for Ukraine. We must not become numb to the suffering of children just because it is happening elsewhere. It’s heartwarming to see Croatian and Ukrainian children playing together.”
The group of Ukrainian children also received financial support from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
The formation of the groups is done in cooperation with Ukrainian institutions and partner organisations, the Ministry stated.