President Milanović Supports Work of Association of Children and Youth with Disabilities “Zvono” of Belišće

The President Republic Zoran Milanović visited today the inclusive housing project “Zvono” in Belišće, one of the leading organizations in Slavonia specialized in the social care and integration of persons with disabilities, in the social and non-profit entrepreneurship as well as in the education of persons with disabilities.

The work of the Association of Children and Youth with Disabilities “Zvono” of Belišće was presented by the president of the inclusive housing project Mira Anić, the half-day placement manager Božica Šomođi, working assistant Sonja Novoselić and client of the Association Mia Anić. They underlined that the Association has a total of 49 employees and 40 volunteers included in the project that strive to provide assistance to the parents of children and youth with disabilities to become inclusive in the social care system and the educational process.

The Association organizes creative and therapeutic workshops, full or half-day placements for children and youth with disabilities, helps with the purchase of orthopedic aids, organizes fundraisers to assist children and youth with disabilities, organizes housing communities and accommodation for children and youth with disabilities, trains children and youth with disabilities for everyday responsibilities, and helps in the job search for youth, and organizes simple job workshops.

In terms of work and project funding, the Association representatives noted that they are mostly funded through the European Social Fund and relevant ministries. To this day some twenty projects have been carried out, and eight are under way. At the moment about one hundred clients are included in the Association’s projects.

After touring the inclusive housing project “Zvono” and attending the presentation of the work of the Association, President Milanović visited the Rehabilitation and Occupational Camp “Citadela” in the Municipality of Baranjsko Petrovo Selo. After viewing the “Zvono” Association’s facilities in “Citadela” camp that was equipped thanks to EU projects, and after a presentation of the employment of persons with disabilities and social entrepreneurship, President Milanović noted that services and gatherings of this type are more easily available in large cities such as Zagreb or Rijeka.

“If I say that I haven’t seen this kind of activism anywhere, maybe I will hurt someone, but in this part of Croatia, I haven’t. People got together eighteen years ago and are presently employing more than 40 people through European projects and providing assistance to persons with disabilities. It is noble, beautiful and conceived in an intelligent way”, President Milanović stated after the meeting and the tour of the Association.

Alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić. He was joined at the meeting and the tour by Osijek-Baranja County Prefect Ivan Anušić.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić