PRONI Center for Social Education actively works in the Republic of Croatia since 1997. In the beginning of 2002, we spread our activities from the area of Eastern Slavonia (Osjecko-baranjska and Vukovarsko-srijemska County) to the areas of Western Croatia (Sisacko-moslavacka County) and Southern Croatia (Sibensko-kninska and Zadarska County).

Generally, our activities are focused on the education of youth leaders and establishing, leading and supporting youth clubs, which function in cooperation with the local community. Our work is based on successful approaches and experiences originated from Western European countries. Other activities are focusing on support to local authorities and groups of citizens towards better mutual understanding as an important condition for development and the benefit of the local communities as a whole.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERADuring 2002 and 2003 PRONI Center implemented several of the activities mentioned above in the areas of Western and Southern Croatia in cooperation with other organizations (like OSCE, our partners from the Netherlands and Sweden as well as with others). As one of the results of the activities of PRONI Center in Western Croatia, Youth Club Glina was established, in a very good cooperation with the local authorities and NGO’s that work in the area. Similar results, but on a larger scale, and in wider area, were reached in the area of Southern Croatia where, again in close cooperation with local authorities and NGO’s, several youth centers were established as well as other activities implemented in close partnerships.

As a logical follow-up of above-mentioned activities, the new project titled “Over the Rainbow” was made. The project is being implemented in the period from January 1st, 2004 to December 31st, 2006 in the areas of Western, Southern and Eastern Croatia (Sisacko-moslavacka, Sibensko-kninska, Zadarska, and Osjecko-baranjska and Vukovarsko-srijemska counties). Alongside PRONI Center, in its implementation are participating two partner organizations of PRONI from the Netherlands, “Kontakt der Kontinenten” (“Contact between continents”, KdK) and “Interchurch peace council” (IKV). The project “Over the Rainbow” has been approved and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Knin

The basic goal of the project is to transfer the experiences, skills and knowledge of PRONI Center and its partners to local communities: to local authorities as well as to youth NGO’s and other NGO’s in the project regions. Strengthening the local community through development of communication and supporting local initiatives is only possible to be realized with increased participation of citizens, especially of young people, in shaping their communities.

The important elements of this new program of activities are:

CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT

  • Targeted, thematic seminars for NGO’s and local authorities with the aim to develop mutual communication and realizing of common projects in the local community – the transfer of the experiences from Eastern Croatia and the Netherlands: the importance of the cooperation in the context of European integration
  • Development of models of dissemination (spreading) of information and models of active participation of the citizens in the local community
  • Awareness raising campaigns on issues of human rights, democracy, return process of refugees and displaced persons, their integration in the local community, civil service, growth of violence, abuse
  • Working visit to Netherlands – exchange of experiences

 

YOUTH & COMMUNITY WORK DEVELOPMENT

  • Training/education for youth leaders and community workers
  • Peer mediation in schools and NGO’s
  • Working visits in Eastern, Southern and Western Croatia
  • Organizing of cultural events with targeted expert input from the Netherlands and Eastern Croatia
  • Strengthening youth and strengthening of the work with youth and, generally, work in the community

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAPACITY BUILDING

  • Capacity building of all forms of local authority with targeted expert input from Netherlands and Eastern Croatia
  • Working visits to Eastern, Southern and Western Croatia

 

COOPERATION LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

  • Support to the implementation of the National Program of Action for Youth
  • Lobby around the theme of decentralization and support best practices in the transfer of task and responsibilities from the national level to the local/regional level
  • Acting in the direction of creating the conditions and bigger possibilities for civil service

 

RETURN PROCESS OF REFUGEES & DISPLACED PERSONS

  • Capacity-building of organizations of refugees, returnees and displaced persons
  • Special attention to the situation and role of women in the society

As it is obvious from above, this is very ambitious project, targeting a wide group of people; therefore, there is a big possibility for involvement of all who are interested in the implementation of some of the activities. We are looking forward to work together with you on the development of the local communities and to explore new areas and ways of cooperation.