PIF IMPRESS

UDRUGA ZA PROMICANJE POZITIVNE AFIRMACIJE MLADIH U DRUŠTVU “IMPRESS” DARUVAR

PARTNER IDENTIFICATION FORM

BASIC INFORMATIONS:

PIC NUMBER: 937038819           –            ORGANIZATIONAL ID (OID): 10034305

CONTACT PERSON

LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Impress as an organization is working for over ten years and in its work actively changes and contributes to the community. Both in the local area of ​​the Bjelovar-Bilogora County, the cities of Daruvar, Bjelovar, Grubišno Polje, Zagreb and at the national, European and world levels.

Impress also acts on advocacy policies and has representatives in all bodies from local (City Youth Councils), regional (Regional Youth Councils) and the National – Advisory Board on Youth of the Government of the Republic of Croatia. In addition, we are members of various committees, such as the National Volunteering Committee, the Monitoring Committee of the Operational Program “Effective Human Resources 2014-2020”, Bjelovar-Bilogora County Partnership Council, and various others.

As an organization but also as a team of professionals, we have extensive experience in many fields from formal to non-formal education, while our team members range from university professors, entrepreneurs to young people who are just at beginning their careers to help them reach their full potential.

Some of the most important areas in which we operate are: youthwork, work with children, youth information work, human rights, entrepreneurship and social enterprise, advocacy policies, STEM, innovation, international cooperation, sustainable development, health protection, education, science and research.

Impress is recognizable in all communities where it operates and is also a EURODESK multiplier. Through the project of the Info Center for Youth, supported by the Ministry of demographics, family, youth and social policy, we have been actively engaged in informing and providing credible information to young people for more then five years.

Through projects supported by the Ministry of Science and Education, we work with different age groups from children to young people institutionally and non-institutionally, bringing them closer to the STEM area and encouraging them to develop according to STEM professions. One of our focuses over the past ten years has been empowering women with a desire to focus on the ICT labor market. Through STEM projects, we encourage children, especially girls, to take a further step in their education and then further their careers in the STEM professions.

Our Youth Center provides a number of activities to young people every day that contribute to their development and growth. Numerous workshops, employment clubs, idea development, entrepreneurial ideas development, creativity development encourage children and young people to engage on a daily basis.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE&ACTIVITIES

The Association has implemented more than 150 projects so far at local, regional, national, European and world levels. Given the number of projects and the impact on the community, it was difficult to single out a few, but we did our best through the projects we will show to approximate the cross section of our work.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH WEEK

international summer camp (Best national project in 2016. Awarded by European Parliament and Fundation Charlemagne in Aachen), aim of project is to connect young persons from different countries and discuss various topics related on youth, active citizenship, youth policy, youth politics, youth work, general life of youth. Every year we have different main topic. Furthermore, this camp is a great opportunity for young people to sharpen their skills since they can be part of the organization or lead workshops.

STEM HEROES

Project funded under ministry of Science and Education, its main objective is to promote STEM knowledge amongst children, raise awareness of importance of STEM area. Throughout the project, children go through several workshops within the classroom, and each weekend they have designed additional elective workshops and mathematical tasks through their approach to the world of mathematics.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DAY

day connects all high schools in county and every year on brings together representatives from so they can talk about challenges, new ideas, how to help new generations, present their ideas to their teachers, and to regional government representatives, debate about current situation in education. Also, important topics are what to do after high school, how to choose best university for you, to stay in Croatia. Every year we gather more than 400 participants.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: SPEAK FREE BUT SPEAK NO HATE

even guarantied human right, is not absolute and in some cases can and should be restricted. Hate speech is one of the most frequent examples of abuse of this right and the most used techniques for discrimination of a certain group or individual. Its Online dimension and the potential impact gives new reasons for concern among young people and youth organizations. Electronic media violence and cyber bulling are continuously increasing while hate speech Online has become frequent as a tool for expression of xenophobia, intolerance, prejudices and all sorts of negative feelings and attitudes. Young people are especially vulnerable group when it comes to this problem. Mostly, people are not aware of the real potential consequences, especially hate speech Online because Online surrounding is very specific, without real contact between people. It provides anonymity and feeling of security even something bad has been done. Desired impact was to raise awareness about seriousness of this problem at every level and especially among youth workers and later, indirectly, among young people who will be real beneficiaries of this project. Aim of this project was to empower youth workers, youth leaders and active volunteers, equip them with the competences necessary to recognize and act against such human rights violations and provide them with different tools and methods of non-formal education which they can use in work with young people in their local communities and NGOs. We believe that hate speech is also link to women status as some of them get discriminate based on their gender. It is important to have the discussion with young people to create a safe environment where our girls can grow up being treated with respect in their personal life.

GENDER EQUALITY STARTS NOW

This project was motivated by the increasing need to combat against still existing problem of gender inequality. Although gender equality is a human right, we are still struggling to change the structural foundations of inequality. To achieve gender equality, we need new, productive, strategic partnership that encourage action towards the change, with renewal commitment to bringing positive results. Inspired by this need, the focus of this project was discussing gender equality with partner countries and finding effective methods which will implement gender equality in youth work through networking.

HEALTH WEEK

project created with students from Medical University of Zagreb, each year we gather more then 20 medical students and young doctors and we work on raising awareness about health, prevention and healthy lifestyle. Also we visit nursing homes and we provide the basics of mental health services and counseling for user.

YOUTH CENTER – HOUSE OF OPPORTUNITIES

central place where youth in Daruvar can come and use internet, network with others, meet new people, start their own project, if they need, they can receive free psychological counselling, help with learning, propose new ideas, comment on current situation in local community. Also in YIC there is active info center and EURODESK where young people can come on daily basis to receive credible informations and advices.

EXPERTISE OF THE PERSONS INVOLVED

Our team is created from of people of different backgrounds, so among us you can find university professors, entrepreneurs, students, high school students, doctors, dentists, lawyers…  All share a common goal of working for community development and the well-being of society.

TANJA HERCEG, mag.psych. , PhD student,

president and founder of association, creator of many projects and leader of project Mathematical Heroes, which is funded by Ministry of Science and Education, lecturer on course of Communication skills on “Open Public School Daruvar”, leader of many workshops with children and youth in area of self-confidence, presentation skills, emotions, on of the leaders of International Youth Week, Health Week BBŽ. Moderator of round table on topic of “Violence between youth” where we had many experts and representatives of local and regional government. She was educated by “Udruga Igra” as part of education of volunteers for “Hrabri Telefon”, Policlinics for protection of children (education on suicidal thoughts in children and youth, creative methods in youthwork and children, etc.), Active participant of European programs (Youth in Action, Erasmus plus). Rewarded by University for extracurricular activities and work. Founder of two compagnies, one in the energy area (Energetics, powerplant) and another in psychology and consulting. Now, Tanja Herceg is the president of Advisory board for youth of Croatian Government.

DUBRAVKO ŠOPAR, executive director,

sport pilot, entrepreneur, president of Association of Youth Information Centres in Croatia, active promotor and worker of “No Hate Speech Movement”, creator and leader of many projects. Active advocate on youth politics and policies in Croatia, member of Advisory Board on Youth of the Croatian Government. One of the leaders of project for creating new national youth program, educated as trainer on youth informing and counselling by ERYICA. Coordinator of EVS/ESC program in Impress association.

MELITA PRANIĆ, mag.psych.

coordinator of activities in association, actively helping children and youth with their problems. Conduct psychological counselling in association. She finished mediation, solving conflicts, non-violence education. Before association she was working in hospital where she was conducting psychological testing and counselling. She was participants in two Erasmus projects.

NIKOLINA VOJTA, high school student,

youth leader, involved in children and youth projects and programs in association, she created and implemented many projects from local to regional level and important part of our mobility projects. She initiated group of young people (14-16 years) and created two youth exchanges for them. She is also specialized in sport activities, and she was involved in 7 ERASMUS projects for now, where she played many roles, from participants in her first mobilities to teamleader in her last activity in begining of march.

STELA NOVAKOVIĆ, high school student,

Impress ambassador, one of our young forces. Involved in numerous projects locally. Conducts activities with children, organizes information days, promotes mobility, participates in the Time to move campaign. Through mobility projects, she has been educated on inclusiveness through sport, anti-hate speech, creative methods in working with children and young people. Conducts numerous activities across schools.

TANA MUTOMBO,

was our first EVS, and today part of our team as employee to coordinate the association activities, as the PR of the association and support to our EVS volunteers. She organized a majorette show and an intercultural evening, promoted mobility in high schools (Erasmus+). After her volunteering experience she was employed by Impress and she plays big role in our work. Specially in creativity projects (dance, arts, video, photo, etc.).

RONALDO ROVAZDI,

A new addition to our team. Positioned as a youth information worker and coordinator of youth information activities in the region. Given her great affinity for sports, he is specialized in organizing and planning sporting events, entertainment activities and music concerts. He has extensive experience for outdoor activities.

BOJAN BLAŽEVIĆ,

Logistic and engineering support. Person responsible for designing and implementing STEM activities for children and young people, logistical and organizational support in the implementation and organization of projects, care for dissemination. In charge of photo and video activity tracking and organization of materials online and offline.

LUKA PRGIĆ,

Impress Ambassador, involved in the activities of the association from the very beginning, participated in numerous projects, through mobility projects he was educated on the topic of inclusivity in sports, planning, designing, conducting workshops and activities. Specialized in designing music activities and workshops through rap music.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS (in last two years):