Suncokret Center for Community Development

National Network
Croatie
Address

Trg F Tuđmana 4
44410 Vrginmost
Croatie

Telephone
+385 44 881 523
Fax
+385 44 881 523
E-Mail
suncokret_gvozd@yahoo.com
Mobile Phone
+385 098 649 398
Mobile Phone (other)
+385 098 9294 065
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2004
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
  2. Democracy and community development
  3. Environment/Sustainable development
  4. Human rights
  5. Youth and education
General Information
We are a non governmental non profit association. In 2015 we had 11 employed and 130 volunteers. Our budget for 2015 was 425 000 kuna. Our sources of funding are national and international donors such as the ministry of education, ministry of social policy and youth, ministry of health, Croatian Employment Service, EU funds, National foundation for civil society development etc. International donors in the past have been the American Embassy, Good Planet, Colas, Kids Earth Fund, CNF-CEE, UNDP/UNV. Suncokret runs daily non-formal afterschool education projects, social inclusion and community development projects. In addition, we also run a local volunteer center and hold international volunteer camps. We conduct edcuational, skill and capacity building projects. Our youth participate in Erasmus exchanges and projects and we also host EVS volunteers. We are partners with the Gvozd Municipality, Gvozd elementary school and day care, the local Red Cross and BLANK NGO based in Zagreb, Kids Earth Fund Croatia and Kids Earth Fund Japan.
Mission and Objectives

Suncokret - Centre for Community Development is a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded as a response to the psychosocial needs of an ethnically mixed postwar community. Suncokret undertakes community development programs and projects. The aim is to address negative psychological, social and cultural postwar consequences; to increase social inclusion and improve the quality of life for all community members, especially for the most deprived members of society; to promote community rebuilding, and support development of a sustainable democratic civil society.
Suncokret bases its activities on the work with individuals, families, groups and whole community on the principles of active participation and empowerment while supporting positive initiatives, initiating co-operation as well as mutual respect of differences. Suncokret is committed to establishing the building of democracy, citizen initiative and participation, community development, volunteerism and altruism, shared responsibility, equal opportunities for all regardless of their gender, religion or nationality.

Main Projects / Activities

We run both a volunteer center and a community center where we work with socially excluded individuals and local children and youth and. At the volunteer center we host 130 international volunteers per year that parcitipate in our activities. We also have organic gardens, a new orchard where we teach sustainability and about preserving the environment. At the community center we provide after school programs for the local children in the community (from Bosnian Croat refugee and Serb returnee families) where we provide everything from educational activities, non-formal education (childrens rights, health and hygiene), psychosocial workshops, tutoring, homework help to games, sports, fun and creative workshops, arts and crafts.  arts and crafts activities. We also publish our own local news magazines, hold documentary film workshops and numerous other activities. We promote volunteerism, democracy building, sustainable community development and especially focus on social inclusion. We have an Info Centre/ Internet Club, we host EVS-European Voluntary Service volunteers, we organize multicultural cooperation and youth exchange and nvironmental actions and education. We hold computer literacy courses for children and adults and arts and crafts workshops for children and youth. We hold yearly film making and photo workshops and we publish the only local newsmagazine. We have held courses in English and other languages. We have conducted music workshops and other entertainment activities and sports and recreational activities and gym. In addition, we provide practical support and assistance to the local community.

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

 We are a small organization that has worked hard in the postwar community and over the years have created a community center and a volunteer center. Our organization has aimed to promote intercultural dialogue, social inclusion, and contributed to civil society development in a rural postwar area. We could contribute with our experience and knowledge in the field of postwar development and social inclusion and volunteer promotion. In addition, for us as an organization it is essential to keep learning, networking and growing capacity and membership in your network would assist us in these goals.

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

Our organization works to achieve active citizenship and social inclusion in an ethnically divided postwar community. We strive to promote civil society development, access to information and promotion of tolerance and respect in a postwar area.We promote social inclusion, tolerance building and non-violence. Our youth have now expressed ideas of wanting to engage in social entrepreneurship projects to engage the local community, promote rural development and local employment possibilities. From what we have learned about the ALF it seems that being we have similar ideas and activities and share the same values as the foundation and being part of this network would be a great asset and a way to connect, network and cooperate with other NGOs, organizations and institutions.

Contact (1) Full Name
Mr. Predrag Mraović
Job Title
President of NGO
Head of the organisation
Mr. Predrag Mraović
Contact (2) Full Name
Maja Turniški, Ph.D.
Job Title (2)
Program manager