Centre for community development in Croatia

Name: Centre for community development in Croatia
Start: 2026-02-19
End: 2028-08-31
Location: Gvozd, Croatia

Code: 3adb5922-0d7b-11f1-8b4c-fa163ef8d720 Copied

Croatia Culture Education Children Social work Culture Education +3 Permanent

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

Suncokret - Centre for Community Development is a Croatian non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 2004 as a response to the psychosocial needs of a rural community. Suncokret runs a Community Center and a Local Volunteer centre project strength in rural Croatia, where we empower socially excluded children, youth, and the elderly in an isolated, impoverished, and ethnically divided post-war and post- earthquake region. Through our programs, we provide innovative, inclusive, and enriching activities for more than 200 local residents, enhancing their resilience, well-
being, and quality of life. Each initiative is designed to meet real community needs and address local challenges.
This rural area of Croatia was deeply affected by the 1990s war, leaving behind lasting ethnic divisions and economic hardship. Further devastation came with the 2020 earthquakes during the COVID-19 lockdown, worsening social and economic instability.
The region now faces depopulation, loss of social cohesion, and limited opportunities for youth, who often leave in search of better prospects—though many express a desire to return. Our community urgently needs renewed solidarity, inclusion, and sustainable opportunities to rebuild a stronger, more connected future. For over 21 years, Suncokret has been promoting social inclusion, lifelong learning, and community resilience through free non-formal education and creative opportunities otherwise unavailable in the area.
Our activities include:
• International volunteer camps and long-term volunteer placements
• Non-formal educational programs for children and youth
• Intergenerational activities promoting understanding and cooperation
• Sustainability workshops in eco-gardening, permaculture, and biodiversity

Together, these efforts empower individuals, revitalize the community, and foster hope and connection in a region striving to recover and thrive.

💼 What the programme involves

Expected tasks of the volunteer:
Suncokret works to provide educational and recreational activities in areas where such opportunities are otherwise limited. Our mission also focuses on promoting social inclusion for marginalized returnees, refugees, and internally displaced persons. Through our programs, we engage local children and youth with fewer opportunities, emphasizing inclusion, personal growth, and community development.
Our volunteer program encourages informal and non-formal learning, mobility, and intercultural dialogue. Volunteers and local youth have the opportunity to learn from each other, broaden their perspectives, and develop new competencies and skills.
Volunteers will work daily with socially excluded rural children and youth, sharing cultures, experiences, and knowledge through creative, non-formal, and informal educational methods. Additionally, Suncokret hosts several international volunteer camps each summer, offering ESC volunteers the chance to participate, collaborate, and connect with young people from around the world.
During the project, volunteers will be involved in some of the following activities:

1. Daily educational and non-formal learning workshops, such as:
o Language learning
o Photo and video editing, journalism, newsletter creation, social media
o Arts and crafts
o Non formal learning and homework help
o Sports activities
o Sustainability, eco-construction, and eco-gardening
o Recreational games and creative play

2. Local community actions supporting social inclusion and development.

3. Office and organizational support tasks, giving volunteers the chance to learn how a community development NGO operates.

4. Independent initiatives and personal projects, developed with the guidance and support of Suncokret staff.

5. Promotion of the program and activities, solidarity, and volunteerism. Volunteers will present their countries and cultures and share their personal motivations for volunteering. They will also introduce their home countries, cultures, and traditions to the local community.

6. Community outreach and collaboration, including visits to local schools, day-care centers, and activities supporting individuals affected by the December 2020 earthquakes. Volunteers may also collaborate with partner organizations in Glina (e.g., in the day-care center or library), providing non-formal learning activities, assisting the elderly, and organizing programs for children and youth impacted by the earthquakes.

● How many hours per week would you like them to spend volunteering?
On average, a volunteer works 24 hours a week

🏠 Accommodation on site

Accommodation Details
• Type: Private room and shared room in a shared flat a small and big dorm with bunk beds (accommodation type depends on availability)
• Bathroom: Shared
• Kitchen: Shared
• Description: The small shared house consists of two bedrooms, a kitchenette, and a bathroom. Next door, there is a larger volunteer house with a spacious kitchen, living room, and additional shared amenities. The accommodation is within walking distance of the community center. It is a shared living environment, where volunteers typically share rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and common spaces with others. During volunteer camps or special activities, there may be temporary periods of shared accommodation with larger groups.

Volunteers are expected to maintain cleanliness and order in the house, cooperating with others in daily chores. A cleaning deposit of 25 EUR is required upon arrival. This deposit will be refunded at the end of the stay if the accommodation is left clean and in good condition. If not, the deposit will be used to cover cleaning costs.

Policies and House Rules
Suncokret maintains a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and has specific rules regarding alcohol and smoking, which all volunteers must agree to before arrival.

🍲 Food

Volunteers are responsible for their own food and living costs and managing their food budget, purchasing groceries, and preparing their own meals. We cook together on occasion and create intercultural activities for which the organization provides the groceries and materials.

📍 About the location

Vrginmost is a small rural town in a post-war region of continental Croatia, known for its welcoming community and peaceful surroundings. The town offers basic amenities, including one restaurant, several cafés, a supermarket, a local marketplace, and several small shops. The day care and elementary school serves about 100 children from Vrginmost and nearby villages.
There are football and basketball courts, playgrounds and park, a river, and the Suncokret Community Centre and Local Volunteer Centre, which plays a vital role in local life.

🎒 Leisure activities

Nestled among hills, forests, and rivers, Vrginmost is surrounded by beautiful nature, ideal for hiking, cycling, and walking. The area also features forest trails and a small lake for swimming during summer. While located in Croatia’s continental heartland, it remains a great base for exploring the country’s diverse regions and culture.

⚠️ Requirements

At Suncokret Community Center, we create a vibrant space where children can learn, grow, and have fun after school. We offer support with their homework, but that's just the beginning! We play games, organize exciting activities, and encourage creativity in all forms—whether through sports, art, music, dance, baking, cooking, or gardening. There's always something new to explore!

But our mission goes beyond just fun and games. We care deeply about the environment, which is why we run eco-gardening projects, nurture our organic gardens and orchards, and sometimes even dive into eco-construction. It’s about making a positive impact on both the kids and the world around us.

We’re looking for passionate, open-hearted volunteers who love working with children and are eager to share their skills and ideas. If you want to make a real difference, learn from others, and be part of a community that’s all about growth—then come join us! Together, we can create a space where everyone thrives.

● Would you like the volunteer to write you a letter of motivation?
Yes, we require a CV and letter of motivation

🤝 Meeting point

Usually, volunteers arrive on their own. We send a detailed information pack including travel information and bus schedules. Sometimes volunteers want pick up at eg. the airport and then we organize a local driver and the cost is 70E. For groups we can also help organize a van or bus to pick them up and the price depends on the size of the group

ℹ️ Additional information

Duration of the program: 2 weeks to 4 months

Upon arrival, volunteers will be introduced to:
• Suncokret’s orientation and introduction to the project
• Activity work schedule
• Working rules and procedures
• House and accommodation guidelines
• Shared responsibility and cleaning routines

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.