The long-awaited opening of the Children's Week in the Krapina-Zagora County took place on Tuesday in Mač, where the local community gathered to celebrate the occasion. The event was marked by music, dance, and the release of balloons, with the local municipality of Mač and the 'Naša djeca' (Our Children) Association acting as the main hosts.
Deputy County Governor Jasna Petek highlighted that the aim of all activities was to provide children with the opportunity to play and socialise, while encouraging the youngest to express their opinions and actively participate in matters that concern them. She stressed that the initiative aimed to highlight the needs of children and to encourage parents, grandparents, and all other adults to spend more time with children. She added that the events aimed to show children how much they are valued, to listen to what they have to say, and to take their views into account when making decisions that affect their lives. The first full week in October, she noted, is the most joyful and colourful part of the year, as it is dedicated to children.
The president of the Mač branch of the 'Naša djeca' association, Martina Čehulić, expressed her satisfaction that her association had been given the opportunity to host the county opening of the Children's Week. She highlighted that they had prepared numerous workshops and activities, noting that one of the main themes was volunteering and the importance of dedicating time to others. The mayor of Mač, Mladenka Mikulec Šimunec, stated that one should think daily about the happy childhood and happy upbringing of children.
The opening programme was filled with song, dance, recitals, and plays. Children from the Mačić kindergarten presented themselves with a song and dance, after which they recited messages from their screen, speaking about what was important to them. Children from the Mač Primary School, the Ante Kovačić Primary School in Zlatar, the Ljudevit Gaj Primary School in Mihovljan, and the secondary school in Novi Golubec also presented their messages. The children expressed their wishes, thoughts, and messages to adults through drawings, inscriptions, and other creative means on specially made screens.
Students from the Mač Primary School performed a play based on children's games and children's rights, while the first-grade students presented a dance performance. This was followed by a recitation by third and fourth-grade students, and the second grade enriched the programme with a song and dance. A special part of the programme was the performance by the Mač Majorettes, a multiple Croatian, European, and world champion team, who presented themselves with a performance of the junior triad and a solo stick performance. The programme continued with a joint dance to 'Zagorski cug', with children and adults sending a joint message: 'Love to children first!'
The official part of the opening concluded with the release of balloons, symbolically opening the Children's Week in the Krapina-Zagora County. Numerous activities for children will continue throughout the week, with participation from cities, municipalities, local branches of the Croatian Association of Friends of Children, schools, kindergartens, associations, and other organisations.
