Velika Gorica has entered Children's Week, with the opening ceremony held on Monday at the Interpretive Centre of the Turopolje Museum. This year's edition marks 20 years since the city was granted the status of a Child-Friendly City, one of the first in Croatia to receive it.
The opening was attended by children, educators, teachers, and city officials, with the space at the Interpretive Centre transformed into a hub of children's creativity. Exhibited were works by children from local nurseries and schools, created in response to the 'My City – A City Measured for a Child' art competition, while the opening ceremony featured children's musical performances and a play.
The director of the Turopolje Museum, Margareta Biškup, noted in her opening remarks that while the museum typically speaks of the past, this time it hosted the future of the city. The head of the Department for Preschool Education, Schooling, and Social Services, Lana Krunić Lukinić, stated that the year's programme was designed to encompass children of all ages, from nursery to secondary school. 'This week is dedicated to you, children. A week in which there will be much laughter, in which we will talk about your needs, and most importantly, in which you will have fun and socialise. We have tried to ensure that everyone, from nursery age to high school, feels this Children's Week,' the head declared.
The programme features workshops and nursery performances for the youngest, while the People's Open University will host theatrical and cinematic content for primary and secondary school students. Primary school students will discuss themes from the film screenings with experts, while secondary students will have the opportunity to watch the monodrama 'School' by Teatar Gavran, which addresses the issue of peer bullying. Workshops will also be held in nurseries and schools, and the birthday of the 'Žirek' nursery will be celebrated, with children participating in the creation of time capsules.
A special part of this year's programme is the conference 'VG: Measured for Children and Young People', which will bring together children, young people, and experts to discuss their position and needs in today's society. Topics will include mental health, the digital environment, and the new challenges faced by children and young people.
The head recalled that the mayor had stated last year that the preschool system must be made accessible to all. 'We have been expanding nursery capacity for years and will continue to do so. We are opening a new nursery in Pokupsko in December, and next year a new facility in Kolareva Street,' she said, adding that the goal is for education to be accessible to every child. 'We want education not to be a luxury, and for every child to have the right to education. We are helping parents through free textbooks, extended care, and other programmes, aiming to help every family. Our responsibility is to ensure education for every child, and that is the direction we wish to continue in the coming years, ensuring that every child has the opportunity for an equal upbringing,' she stated.
Velika Gorica was granted the status of a Child-Friendly City in 2006, among the first ten cities in Croatia to do so. The mayor, Krešimir Ačkar, opened the event, congratulating teachers and educators on World Teachers' Day and thanking all those who work daily with children. He reflected on the 20 years since the city received the status of a Child-Friendly City, noting that one of the key values is the ability for children's voices to be heard in city institutions. 'Twenty years ago, the challenges were different, and today they are different. However, what remains the same is the Children's Week, full of listening to our youngest and a rich programme tailored to them. Our students are at the centre, their problems, and the listening to them. It is a week in which what children might not have the chance to say can reach educators, teachers, and the mayor, but perhaps not reach the mayor directly. This week, over these 20 years, has changed that,' said the mayor.
He added that the high level of preschool education and schooling, confirmed by external evaluations that place them at the top, often in the first and best in the Republic of Croatia, speaks volumes about the quality of work of all involved. 'The best possible thanks is that we have been nominated for the best city for preschool education, schooling, and demographics this year,' he said. He also recalled the efforts of Ariana Matague Tintor and Sanda Puljiz Vidović, who launched the Children's Week 20 years ago, and delivered a message to the children: 'I wish you a successful and productive week. Tell us everything that worries you.' The Children's Week will last until 11 October.
