Croatia, located in southeast Europe, has a population of roughly 3.8 million. As of 2024, every fifth person is at risk of poverty. In 2023, “the poverty risk rate stood at 19.3%,” with seniors and single parents most at risk. The poverty risk rate for women is 38.8% and 29.3% for men. For households with children, the poverty risk rate is 24.4% for single parents and 20.5% for a two-adult household. Those who experience poverty in Croatia struggle to meet their financial obligations.

In 2021, the poverty risk rate for a single-person household was 3,000 Kuna per month ($435) and 6,300 Kuna per month ($913) for a two-adult, two-child household. This is why the charities operating in Croatia are important to the Croatians experiencing or at risk of poverty. Charities operating in Croatia provide safety for those experiencing domestic violence, shelter for those who are homeless and humanitarian aid after war or disaster are essential to those who otherwise cannot afford to seek the services they need.

DOMINE

Established in 2002, the nonprofit organization DOMINE focuses on promoting women’s rights and the development of society. DOMINE focuses on economic and political empowerment of women, prevention of gender-based violence, health care for women and more. In Split-Dalmatia, a county of Croatia in which DOMINE was established, it developed and published the first feminist library. Two of the ongoing projects by DOMINE are “COVID-19: helping women victims of violence” and “Safe housing for women victims of violence.”

Caritas Croatia

In response to the Croatian Homeland War of the early 1990s, Caritas Croatia was founded in 1992, providing victims clothing, shelter, food and medicine. Caritas Croatia continues its work today to end poverty and provide humanitarian aid. Caritas does advocacy work in poverty reduction as well as providing disaster response both domestically and internationally. It works globally and collaborates with Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis.

In 2002, Caritas Croatia sent money and volunteers to help with disaster response to a flood in the Czech Republic and assisted the U.S. in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. Domestically, Caritas Croatia works with the diocesan offices to strengthen family counselling centres and advocates for those who have disrupted education due to social stigma, from having diseases such as HIV.

Krug Ijubavi (Circle of Love)

Established in Croatia in 2017, Circle of Love provides children with education, shelter, health care and more, in Croatia and globally. It advocates for children’s rights and safety in family homes and organizations. Circle of Love in Croatia started with the goal of providing 40 children with education, surpassing the goal by more than 600 children. It also provides support and training to families who have children with disabilities to help them, the children, live the most fulfilling life they can. It also has taken the endeavors of building schools and constructing a safe house for abused children.

SOS Children’s Villages

SOS Children’s Villages has been operating in Croatia since 1992. The organization supports children who are without parental care or at risk of losing parental care. In Croatia, a fifth of all children (those under 18 years), are at risk of poverty. There are 3,500 children in SOS care, with some as young as three entering the institution’s care. SOS helps with giving early childhood education and by providing the care they need to help them transition into adulthood successfully.

Depaul Croatia

Depaul Croatia focuses on taking care of those experiencing homelessness, where in Croatia there are roughly 2,000 people who are currently homeless. The organization provides food, hygiene provisions and health care services alongside implementing programs such as rehabilitation for alcohol users. They have also implemented a program that helps increase the employability of those who are homeless. Depaul participates in outreach work, reaching the homeless through the streets, hospitals and prisons.

One of the services Depaul provides is the Haven House: a day center for the homeless as well as other marginalized groups, offering holistic help. More than 70 people use the Haven House’s daily services.

These charities operating in Croatia, along with many others, improve the quality of life for those who need the services they can provide.

– Rachel Padden

Rachel is based in Baltimore, MD, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr