Centre for children, youth and family Velika Gorica is the first institution of its kind in Croatia. It was founded by the local community. Centre was established in 2003., and  the intention was to unite and coordinate different programs and actions focused on children, youth, potential and actual parents and all family members. A house, which was rented in Kurilovečka 48, provides conditions for both individual and group work, public discussions, workshops and lectures.

Programs are financed by the city of Velika Gorica, Ministry of family, veterans' affairs and intergenerational solidarity and ZagrebCounty.

Working hours are from 8 AM to 9 PM, Fridays from 8 AM to 4 PM.

All programs are free of charge!!

WHO ARE OUR EMPLOYEES?

Four professionals are employed in the Centre: psychologist Sanda Puljiz (as head-master), a social pedagogues Andreja Pravdić and Sandra Matijević, a social worker (as counsellors) Iva Bačurin, speach therapist Ljerka Skendrović and administrator Dia Dobrinčić.

There are also some part-time associates: leaders of workshops and public discussions, lecturers, supervisors, co-counsellors, coordinators of projects, volunteers and students on practical courses.

Education led by employees of the Centre is mandatory for all workshop leaders and their work is being supervised.

WHO IS OUR TARGET GROUP?

Our programs are tailored for toddlers, primary school children and youth, teenagers, parents and all other family members. Besides these, we also lead programs for professionals who work with children and youth in different areas (education, social welfare, police, justice and health).

HOW TO APPLY?

To be able to attend one of our programs, you need to enrol which you can do by calling 6231-734 or by coming personally to the Centre. Office hours for enrolment are every day from 10 AM to 6 PM. Activity groups are divided into terms: first term starts in September, ends in December, second starts February ends May and third starts June ends July. Specific enrolment is needed for each term. Activities take place in our Centre, but they can also be arranged elsewhere (schools, kindergartens). OUR MISSION In order to provide support for children, youth and families, as well as to encourage them to work on improving the quality of life in the community, we at the Velika Gorica Center for Children, Youth and Family use our experience, expertise, creativity and an open mind in creating a wide variety of new programs. Our mission is being achieved through numerous goals, some of which are:

1. To help our beneficiaries develop necessary life skills

2. To offer opportunities for gaining new skills and knowledge to Centre's beneficiaries

3. To provide support for youth and children with specific difficulties

4. To provide support for children and their parents with speaking and  language disorders and reading and writing difficulties

5. To help our beneficiaries structure their free time, while developing their creativity and specific skills

6. To help the beneficiaries improve their self-concept and self esteem

7. To involve youth designated by the Municipal Court or Municipal Office of State Attorney into individual or group based mandatory counselling

8. To provide continuing professional education, mentoring, individual and group based counselling for our part time associates

9. To encourage the cooperation between the Centre's staff and professionals working with children, youth and families at other institutions and non-governmental organizations.

10. To keep the community informed on the activities of the Centre by developing written materials, presence in electronic media, organizing or taking part in different public events and scientific conferences

OUR PROGRAMS

The Center offers preschool, primary school, adolescent and family programs. The Center organizes educational and specialized courses for those who work with young children and adolescents. If you want to know more about us and our work, you can read our brochures and our book „Working with Children, Youth and Family“.

We have four groups of programs:

Positive development programs

Preventive programs at three levels – universal, selective and indicated

Speaking and language development stimulation programs

Expert programs for children, youth and family.

Programs for positive development

are focused on skill strengthening, new knowledge learning and attitude aquisition to help children, youth and adults in their development.

Panel discussions and lectures are organised for youth and parents to hear about many interesting topics. We also have baby fitness for newborn babies. If your child or the whole family do not know how to spend their free time, we offer different programs for leisure time, creativity development and entertainment. During school holidays we offer a lot of free time structuring programs.

Preventive programs

are for personal strength empowerment and creating stimulative surroundings for risky behaviour prevention.

We offer programs for preschoolers, future firstgraders, teenagers, parents and future parents. At our workshops you can learn about stress management, first and second graders can use our „Warm Nest“ to spend their time before/after school in a safe enviroment. We create programs for people who want to acquire new social skills and become more communicative and gain self-confidence. We also have programs for children with ADHD syndrome and their parents.

The Center also offers individual work – counselling for children, youth, parents and whole families. If you want to improve your relationships, become more effective in communication, learn about yourself or develop your skills – knock on our door! Our experts will be are waiting for you!

Speaking and language development stimulation programs

are programs which aim to develope positive and stimulating communication, speaking and language skills and competencies. Our speech terapist works with children with speaking and language disorders, and reading and writing difficulties. We also work with children with specific diagnostic learning disorders.

Expert programs for children, youth and family

Before they start working in our Center, all associates and students volunteers have to go through a program called “Workshop about Workshop”, which teaches them the workshop management basics. They need professional support for quality work which they obtain through supervision, consultancy, mentoring and education provided by external supervisors and employees.

Our Center is also venue for lectures and wokshops run by a variety of professionals who work with children and youth.