The award ceremony for students in craft and shortage occupations in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County for the 2026/27 academic year was held on 15 September 2026 in the premises of DEŠE Dubrovnik. Representatives of the Libertas Foundation from San Pedro presented 14 scholarships to students from the county.
This year’s scholarship recipients come from Dubrovnik, Konavle, Metković, Korčula and Mljet. The scholarships were awarded to students who met the competition requirements, and are intended for those training as hairdressers, confectioners, electromechanics, cosmetologists, waiters, automotive mechatronics technicians, electrical installers and culinary technicians.
The Libertas Foundation has been supporting craft trade students in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County for 25 years. Over the past 25 years, including this year’s scholarships, the foundation has awarded more than 320 scholarships. The scholarships were made possible by generous donations from expatriates, particularly the Benšić, Mrgudić and Hazdovac families.
The aim of the programme is to encourage young people to remain in rural areas, promote craft trades, motivate students to achieve better academic results, and provide financial assistance to families with lower incomes. The purpose of the scholarships is to enable students to remain living and working in their local communities after completing their studies.
The Libertas Foundation is a non-profit organisation established in December 1991 in San Pedro. In addition to supporting young people, the foundation assists various entities in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and throughout Croatia.
Expatriates gathered in the Libertas Foundation seek to help young people, pass on Croatian culture and love for the homeland to new generations, and preserve their identity and connection to their country of origin.
