LET'S HELP DOKKIKA CONTINUE TO LIVE FOR CHILDREN

I am a 'grown-up' curious girl who has been part of the most beautiful Osijek children's project for more than 15 years, which has grown into a strong and inspiring organization - the Children's Creative Center DOKKICA.

I watched as an organization that has been through the years, through thousands of children, parents, young people, teachers, experts and volunteers, grew from an idea and a great desire for children in our city to have a place that sees, hears and encourages them.

I'm reaching out to you today because this story needs help.

DOKKICA was created from the belief that every child has potential that deserves to be recognized and developed.

Over the years, we have created programs, projects, workshops, festivals, educations and other content that enabled children to learn, explore, create, develop self-confidence, social and life skills and find their place in the community.

We have specifically developed services and support programs for children with developmental disabilities, children at risk, and their parents and families.

DOKKICA became a place where children, parents, experts, schools, kindergartens, institutions, volunteers and the entire community met.

We created. We moved. We connected.

And they showed how much a local community organization can do when there are people behind it who believe in children.

Over the years, DOKKICA and its work have been publicly awarded six times, and we have numerous successfully implemented local, national, and international projects and collaborations behind us.

We launched author programs and projects, children's festivals, educational and creative programs, children's participation activities, parent support programs, and initiatives that connected children with schools, experts, and the community.

The greatest reward was a child who found a friend here, a child who succeeded for the first time in something they couldn't do before, a parent who received support, a child who discovered their talent, or simply a place where they could be who they are.

The photos you see with this campaign are just a small part of those 15 years.

There is a story behind each of them.

After 15 years of continuous work, a situation occurred that we could not have predicted. The loss of key sources of funding put DOKKICA in an extremely difficult financial situation and jeopardized the organization's continued work.

We are doing everything we can.

We are reducing costs, looking for new sources of funding, talking to donors and partners, and trying to find a sustainable way for DOKKICA to continue.

But this time we can't do it alone.

So I decided to do something that is not easy for us: ask people for help. We want to raise €90,000. That is a big amount.

But behind it lies a great goal: to stabilize DOKKICA and provide it with a new beginning.

The collected funds are intended to settle existing obligations, stabilize operations and create conditions for the continuation and development of programs and services for children and parents.

We especially want to preserve and further develop what we believe is extremely necessary for our community: support for children with developmental disabilities and children at risk, support for their parents, and programs that develop children's potential.

A great goal becomes possible when there are many of us.

And perhaps there will be companies, entrepreneurs, and donors among us who will decide to take on a larger part of this journey.

Every amount counts. Because behind every donation is the same message: I want DOKKICA to stay!

Why am I doing this?

Because after 15 years spent with this organization, I know how much it is worth.

I know how much knowledge, work, sleepless nights, volunteering, creativity, and love is woven into it.

But more importantly – I know how many children's stories are woven into DOKKIC. I can't calmly watch as everything that so many people built disappears without trying to save it.

That's why today I'm not asking for help just on my own behalf or just on behalf of one organization.

I'm looking for it for a place that has been there for children for 15 years.

If DOKKICA has ever touched the life of your family, if your child has been to our workshop, festival, program or therapy service, if you have been our volunteer, collaborator or friend – help us now.

If you've never met DOKKICA, but you believe that children deserve places like this – become a part of our story right now.

Donate if you can.

Share the campaign if you can't.

Send it to a person or company you believe could help.

Because maybe one of your shares will lead this story to the person who can change its outcome.

For the children who are yet to come.

For their families.

To develop their potential.

To many more years, DOKKICE.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!