COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF CROATIAN DEFENDERS TREATED from post-traumatic stress disorder REPUBLIC OF CROATIAN

In the period from 16. do 18. December 2022. representatives of ZUHBLPTSPRH visited the Single Organization of Veterans "Union of Veterans", Sarajevo Canton. On that occasion, they took part in the Round Table, the topic of which was "Cooperation and exchange of membership experiences related to the issue of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder". The representatives of the Community hosted the representatives of the JOB "Union of Veterans" Canton of Sarajevo in Zagreb, and further cooperation and a common approach in solving open issues in the World Veterans Federation, of which both associations are members, was agreed upon..

conference 9. Knowledge center for social development called "Knowledge through the challenges of the future" was held 25. November 2022. in the Academia Hotel in Zagreb. 9. The Knowledge Center for Social Development gathers 14 the association of veterans and victims of the Homeland War and that: Union of county communities, associations and members of HVIDR of the Republic of Croatia, Union of associations of families of detained and missing Croatian veterans, Association of children of dead and missing Croatian defenders of the Homeland War, Association of volunteers and veterans of the Homeland War of the Republic of Croatia, Association of Croatian volunteers of the Homeland War, Association of Croatian Guards Veterans Associations, Association of special police from the Homeland War, Veterans Association 4. Guard brigades, Association 5. guard brigade "Falcons", Croatian Officers' Corps - a community of associations, Union of associations of Croatian civilian victims of the Croatian Homeland War, Association of defenders and veterans of the military police from the Homeland War, Union of associations of Croatian veterans treated for post-traumatic stress disorder of the Republic of Croatia and Association of the Frankopan Battalion. Area of ​​activity 9. The aim of the Knowledge Center for Social Development is to improve the quality of life of Croatian veterans and victims of the Homeland War, and during 2022. year through activities development cooperation and analysisNational development strategies of Croatia do 2030. The, the emphasis is on vand programmatic connection of all Knowledge Centers in creationInclusive and solidary Croatia, Digital Croatia and Green and sustainable Croatia. It's a conference, with an introductory presentation, welcomed by the coordinator of international and intersectoral cooperation of the National Foundation for the Development of Civil Society, g. Pavle Schramadei, emphasizing the importance of connecting all Knowledge Centers, as well as the representative of the Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Minister of Croatian Veterans Mr. Tom Medveda, head of the independent sector for strategic planning and EU projects of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, Mrs. Lina Lena Soukup, who then held a lecture on the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia 2030. in the field of action 9. knowledge center. Lecture on the topic of the National Plan for the creation of a stimulating environment for the development of civil society by 2021. do 2027.(models of CD sustainability and resilience) was held by Mrs. Helena Beus, authorized to perform the duties of the director of the Office for Associations of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, while the lecture is on "Accessibility of digital contents and services” held by Mrs. Tamara Horvat Klemen and Mr. Željko Holik, Central State Office for the Development of the Digital Society. On the subject of multi-programme linking of Knowledge Centers in the area of ​​Inclusive and Solidarity Croatia, lecture entitled "Accessibility as a prerequisite for the inclusion of persons with disabilities” was held by Mr. Ratmir Đanić, dipl.ing. – 8. knowledge center, while the lecture on "Solidarity in the community" was held by Drago Lelas from the MoSt Association. Lecture on the topic “Management of material in digital form” was held by Mr. Kristijan Karajić, archival consultant, Head of the Department for Digital Materials –  Croatian State Archives. On the topic of transfer of specific knowledge in the area of ​​Solidarna and inclusive Croatia, lecture entitled "Solidarity and responsibility – humanitarian actions of veterans and victims of the Homeland War, was held by Mrs. Sandra Rapčak Škomrlj, deputy coordinator 9. Knowledge Center of Mrs. Danijela Perić. In the area of ​​Green and sustainable Croatia, the lecture was given by Mr. Dario Duić, Secretary General of the Association of Croatian Homeland War Volunteers Presentation of the activities of the EU project Analysis of social factors affecting the quality of life of the veteran population - guidelines for the future, Thematic network defenders, was presented by the president of the Association of Associations of Veterans of the Croatian Guards, Mr. Siniša Troha. G. Troha also presented guidelines on the Work Activity of veterans, the importance and need for stronger involvement in social entrepreneurship.

The post is funded by the European Social Fund, Operational Program "Effective Human Resources" 2014.-2020. within the project "Analysis of social factors that affect the quality of life of the veteran population - guidelines for the future". The Association of Veterans of Croatian Guards is the project leader, and the Association of Croatian Veterans Treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder of the Republic of Croatia is a partner organization. The competition runs from 15.11. do 20.11.2022. The, and full-time employment is based on a certain period of time 4 month (from 01. December 2022. year to 31. March 2023. The). -more here-

At the invitation of the member association UHBL-PTSP "Sveti Vlaho" Dubrovnik Dubrovnik-Neretva County, the representative office of ZUHBLPTSPRH participated 5. i 6. October in Dubrovnik on the program of commemorating the heaviest attack on Dubrovnik and Day of Defenders of Dubrovnik. With the delegations of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, Ministries of Croatian veterans, representatives of the city authorities and associations resulting from the Homeland War laid wreaths and lit candles on the monuments of the fallen Croatian veterans at the City Cemetery in Dubrovnik Boninovo, Dubrovnik fortress and Muslim cemetery.

At the end of October, as part of the project Psychological empowerment of PTSD veterans and their family members, a spiritual renewal of the Community members was held. A pilgrimage to Medjugorje was organized and we are glad that the turnout of the participants was already traditionally high and that a place higher up on the bus was once again sought after.. This is an indication that Croatian veterans and their family members are very eager for such activities.

The fourth structured dialogue of the Veterans Thematic Network was held in the County Palace in Varaždin, on this "Councilor (it is) activity of Croatian veterans and involvement in social entrepreneurship" Structured dialogues are conducted within the framework of the project "Analysis of social factors affecting the quality of life of the veteran population – guidelines for the future" which was co-financed by the European Union as part of the European Social Fund, and the holder is the Association of Associations of Veterans of Croatian Guards together with partners from civil society and the academic community. Today's event was hosted by the partner association of the Special Police Unit RODA, and the organizer Antun Berljak, a former veteran who showed by his example how we can change our social environment for the better, because with quality action at the local level, we also influence positive changes in society as a whole. Those present were greeted at the beginning by Dražen Vitez, the president of the SJP Association "Roda", then the president of the County Assembly, Ph.D. Josip Križanić as well as Deputy Mayor of Varaždin Miroslav Marković. General information about the project and its implementation was presented by its project manager Ida Maček. The purpose of the project is to contribute to the quality of life of Croatian veterans and victims of the Homeland War. Activities include the establishment of a thematic network, public opinion poll, six scientific researches and creation of several scientific and professional articles. The results of the project are guidelines for the development of public policies that are presented to decision makers during six structured dialogues, each organized in a different city in order to achieve regional equality of involvement in the process of creating public policies.. Through the cooperation of organized civil society with the academic community and scientific research institutions, new ones were built, that is, deepening the existing ones, competence, knowledge and skills in civil society organizations that have thus become competent for the quality transfer of social needs into professional analyzes based on arguments and evidence that can be used to advocate the improvement of public policies in various areas of social and economic development. Scientific and professional collaborators on the project, Ph.D. Nenad Pokos from the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, mag. oec. Alen Halilović and mag. psych. Ivana Maslov together came to the conclusion that veterans' cooperatives and associations are recognized as one of the key organizations that can actively contribute to the development of social innovations that will directly affect the employment of vulnerable groups, which include Croatian veterans and victims of the Homeland War. One of the key proposals is the transformation of veterans' cooperatives into social enterprises, which will provide an opportunity for sustainable business, the possibility of employing young staff and reinvesting profits in the development of the local community with the aim of providing equal opportunities to Croatian veterans and victims of the Homeland War and their family members. The biggest obstacles to the business of social entrepreneurs are the lack of financial capital, but also the lack of business skills of social entrepreneurs and the low public visibility of social entrepreneurship, as well as the lack of awareness of social entrepreneurship as a business that creates additional social value in addition to economic value (employment of vulnerable groups, provision of social services, ecological sustainability). The solution to this problem can be seen through the development of a network of support services (the same can be implemented through thematic networks that work with a target group of Croatian veterans and victims of the Homeland War and their family members) which can provide the necessary information, enable education and the creation of necessary skills and the exchange of experiences of good practice. It is also proposed to create special development funds as specific sources of financing. Stjepan Horvat, a veteran veteran entrepreneur who employs Croatian veterans, expressed his opinion on the topic, then Mirjana Jerebić- representative of the city society of the red cross Ludbreg and Branka Šaško - director of the regional office of the HZZ Varaždin. The organizers hereby once again thank all Croatian veterans from the area of ​​Varaždin County who spared their time to participate in survey research and focus groups and to express their opinion on the prepared guidelines with their own relevant suggestions..

On opening day 18. sports games in Kraljevica, Scott Cove, a lecture was held on the topic "Physical activity in the prevention of diseases of Croatian veterans and their family members" led by professor, Master of Science, lecturer, educator and scientist Allen Bartoš. The presentation was attended by Croatian veterans who were also competitors in sports games. In his presentation, Professor Bartoš highlighted the post-war period and the impact of war on man, then moving on to studies and analyzes on the importance of physical activity in disease prevention. Such educational lectures represent an important link in the prevention of numerous diseases, anxiety states and provide support in treatment and coping with post-war events and problems that Croatian veterans and their family members deal with on a daily basis. After the lecture, there was a discussion about health and the health problems faced by Croatian veterans. A parallel was drawn in health problems between war and peacekeeping missions, citing the example of Scandinavian countries participating in peacekeeping missions. The discussion also focused on the issue of Croatian veterans exercising their rights.  

In mid-September, representatives of the Community participated in 79. anniversaries of the revolt of Croatian and Bosniak soldiers against Nazi officers. A solemn commemoration was held on the field of Croatian martyrs. The commemoration was attended by representatives of local and provincial authorities, and the representatives of Croatia were the military envoy of the Republic of Croatia in France, Colonel Sandra Jonjić, and representatives of the Association of Croatian Veterans Treated for PTSD of the Republic of Croatia.

Dana 24. September 2022. years were held 18. the ZUHBL PTSP RH sports games were again held in Uvala Scott this year (Kraljevica). It took part in them 13 branch office, who competed in four darts disciplines, table tennis, chess and archery. The official opening of the games was attended by the representative of the Minister of Croatian Veterans, Secretary of State dr. sc. Spiro Janovic, and the representative of the Prefect of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Zlatko Komadine, Zlatko Mikulec. After the appropriate address of the guests, State Secretary Janović opened 18. sports games and wished the competitors success. At the end of the competition, trophies and medals were awarded.
results:
Shah: 1. UHBL PTSD Zagreb County; 2. UHBL PTSD Sisak-Moslavina County; 3. UHBL PTSD Krapina-Zagorje
Individually the best: Zlatko Vlahovic (KZŽ)
Darts: 1. UHBL PTSD Zagreb County; 2. UHBL PTSD Koprivnica-Križevci; 3. UHBL PTSD Zagreb
Individually the best: Ivica Belan (ZŽ)
Shooting: 1. UHBL PTSD Wexford County; 2. HBDRL PTSD Međimurje County; 3. UHBL PTSD Zagreb County
Individually the best: Anton Đerek (VSŽ)
Table tennis: 1. UHBL PTSD Zagreb County; 2. UHBL PTSD Wexford County: 3. UHBL PTSD Koprivnica-Križevci
Individually the best: Zlatko Jankovic (VSŽ)
Total conqueror 18. of sports games ZUHBL PTSP RH is UHBL PTSP Zagreb County.
Congratulations to all the competitors and medal winners.

Minister Medved supported the organization of this year's conference and stated that it is a good opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience on current veteran issues.. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved with colleagues, 17. August 2022. in the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, he held a meeting with the president of the Standing Committee for European Affairs of the World Veterans Federation, Birgerom Kjerom Hansenom, representative of the Danish Association of Veterans, Ann-Christinom Salquist, representatives of the Association of Associations of Croatian veterans treated for PTSD and veterans of the Croatian Homeland War (President Tihomir Trešćec secretary Ivica Turić) and Dražen Jožef, representative of the Association of Volunteers and Veterans of the Homeland War. The meeting discussed the organization and preparations for holding the conference and the meeting of the Standing Committee for European Affairs at the World Veterans Federation, which will be held in Zagreb this year. Minister Medved supported the organization of this year's conference and stated that it is a good opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience on current veteran issues and an opportunity for the Republic of Croatia to show its experience in working with veterans and their associations., with an emphasis on the Croatian model of searching for missing persons, assistance to veterans in the challenges of coping with the consequences of the pandemic and earthquake, as well as models for preserving the health of Croatian veterans and their rehabilitation. Birger Kjer Hansen thanked Minister Medved for his support and for recognizing the importance of this project.