Players of Dinamo, coaching staff and Dinamo Foundation bought gifts and brought joy to children and youth

As part of the humanitarian campaign "Blue Gift for Small Victories of Life", initiated by Dinamo's foundation Nema predaje (registration number GZG-HA/OST-25-40), the first team players of GNK Dinamo, members of the coaching staff of the first team, and Dinamo's foundation Nema predaje bought Christmas gifts for 41 residents of the Organized Housing of Caritas Zagreb Archdiocese at Selska 165, where children and young people without appropriate parental care live, or children without anyone to stand behind them and support them.

The youth house named "If they had a life" is one of seven Caritas houses in the City of Zagreb. In addition to the youth house in Selska, there are two more houses that take care of children and young people without appropriate parental care. One house takes care of women and families who have experienced family violence. One house takes care of the homeless, and two take care of children and young people with intellectual disabilities. Therefore, Caritas of the Archdiocese of Zagreb takes care of a whole range of needy groups.

"We help children who are on the verge of leaving the home. These are children from neglected families, who are already in difficult situations, and we teach them in the house primarily how to become independent, how to strengthen themselves and be ready for life," said Suzana Horvat Kutle, head of the Social Care Services Sector at Caritas of the Archdiocese of Zagreb.

“We teach them financial literacy, to keep their rooms tidy, have a gym where they engage in sports, and a kitchen where they cook daily”, says Horvat Kutle.

And their cooking skills are definitely confirmed by the excellent bruschettas with truffle and oregano spread, as well as the cakes made and offered by the residents of the home to the delegation of Dinamo Foundation…

The house provides organized living with comprehensive support for children aged 14 to 18, as well as organized living with occasional support for young people aged 18 and older. They are located on the first and second floors of the house, while on the third and fourth floors there are students coming from difficult material and life circumstances who would not be able to afford to study if Caritas of the Archdiocese of Zagreb had not provided them with free accommodation, as they would not be able to afford it themselves.

“Young people stay as long as they need to. Some stay up to a year after reaching adulthood, some leave us after two, some after four years. During that period, we help them find jobs, persevere in those jobs, and develop life skills they need in today's world. We educate them in financial literacy, teaching them how to save a portion of the money they earn. Our task is to prepare them to the maximum and strengthen them for life. Because their next stop is to move on to independent living,” said Horvat Kutle and continued:

“Many young people have already passed through the house, completed their studies, and lived their dream”.

In addition to the gifts brought to them by members of the first team of GNK Dinamo and Dinamo's foundation for Christmas, we will also host the residents of the Home at a Dinamo match in the spring, when it warms up a bit, for which most of the young people from Selska cheer…

"These are children who have not grown up in their families, who have experienced negative and traumatic experiences throughout their short lives. Caritas has become their family. They are eager for such and similar encounters. Their days in the home pass by because of their school, college, and work obligations. However, during this holiday season, when we all turn to our families, they receive a message that they are not alone, that they are not invisible, but that the community and good people acknowledge them. This gives them a message that there are people who support them and that their lives can continue in a positive direction."

“As a pedagogical tool, we often use these 'small' vouchers. They are assigned on a weekly basis. And this is a great opportunity to teach them how to manage money. Because financial literacy is one of the most important skills they need to know”, Horvat Kutle told us at the end of the interview.

On behalf of the players of GNK Dinamo, members of the coaching staff, and Dinamo's foundation Never Give Up, we want to wish all residents of the house “Da život imaju” a Merry and Blessed Christmas and above all, good health and work so that they are ready to face the upcoming life challenges.

For more information on how you can help the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Zagreb and its organized housing, find it HERE.