CROATIA National office: Zagreb Population: 4,190,669 Youth population (15-29): 18,1% Email: eurodeskhr@eurodesk.eu
Eurodesk Croatia continued to work closely with the NA in promoting youth mobility, with a focus on youth exchanges, EVS and the European Solidarity Corps. Some of the most significant results of this cooperation were the joint celebration of the European Youth Week, publications and workshops on youth exchanges, a Youthpass online competition, the promotion of Structured Dialogue and the Networks and initiatives information day.
Eurodesk multipliers, the European Commission Representation, EYCA, Erasmus+ beneficiaries and the National Working Group for Structured Dialogue. The event got significant media coverage and was also visited by the Croatian Prime Minister, 2 ministers and other high-level politicians. The Eurodesk officer who was also the NA’s European Youth Week coordinator, took part in the Stakeholders conference on the future of the EU Youth Strategy in (3-4 May, Belgium), together with 3 Croatian change makers. In the frame of Eurodesk Time to Move campaign throughout October multipliers organised 69 events in 29 towns, together with online events campaigns and media appearances. The events ranged from presentations about mobility opportunities, information stands, workshops, quizzes, city games, etc. and informed an estimated number of more than 3,500 young people on the spot, with even greater outreach online. Promotional products and printed publications have been distributed amongst youth – Time to Move backpacks, posters and leaflets about youth mobility opportunities and Eurodesk network and information resources. Out of 22 countries that took part in the campaign, Croatia again achieved excellent results: 5th place in a number of all organized events (online and offline) and 3rd place in timetomove.info website visits. The media coverage during the campaign was remarkable and positive, including 47 articles by 33 various media, as well as features on the national television and the national radio station.
The national network of multipliers in Croatia consists of 17 organisations established in 16 towns and 15 out of 21 Croatian counties, thus ensuring adequate national coverage. The focus in 2017 has been put on the development and management of the network that includes 7 new multipliers that joined the network in 2016. In order to build capacity, provide training, support and advice to multipliers and reinforce a quality youth information system on local, regional and national level, Eurodesk offered the multipliers 2 training opportunities, 1 national meeting, 1 webinar in cooperation with Eurodesk Brussels Link, 5 study visits, as well as covering travel costs for multipliers paricipating in workshops. To raise the visibility of the multipliers’ network, the Eurodesk Award scheme has been fostered and promoted very successfully. The number of nominations from Croatia increased from 1 in 2016 to 6 in 2017 and the International Blind Dates project was the winner of the Mobility Awareness category, while the photo exhibition “Faces of Mobility” was highlighted by the jury as an honourable mention. The representative of the Regional Youth Info Centre Rijeka-UMKI who accepted the Mobility Awareness Award in Brussels was a young person and former EVS volunteer from Romania. To celebrate the success, the Eurodesk officer and the multiplier involved were invited to present the Eurodesk Award on national television. The two biggest campaigns that Eurodesk Croatia participated in were the European Youth Week and Time to Move, both with very wide outreach. During European Youth Week (1-7 May) Eurodesk multipliers organised 36 events throughout the country in more than 20 cities, reaching around 2,000 youth and various stakeholders. The focus of the events was solidarity and the European Solidarity Corps, as well as Erasmus+ and youth participation. The European Youth Week final event was organised on 9 May (Europe day), in close partnership between the NA, the European Commission Representation in the Republic of Croatia and Eurodesk. Over 400 people visited the concert together with the open-air fair with information stands and the photo booth. Many participants left messages on the ‘Wall of solidarity’ and joined hands for Europe in a human chain. The information stands were facilitated by NA staff,
“Thanks to the Eurodesk Awards our phone hasn’t stopped ringing for weeks. We were on national TV three times in one week, not to mention all the radio show appearances, and the trip to Brussels with our volunteer.” Tamara Tokić, Regional Youth Info Center Rijeka - UMKI
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