programs and projects
Tribo Moderna – Capoeira for Tolerance and Non-Violence
The Tribo Moderna program is a preventive program aimed at promoting the development of a culture of peace and non-violence through the Afro-Brazilian art of capoeira, with activities designed for children at risk, their families, and the local community.
“Tribo Moderna” in Portuguese means “modern tribe” and symbolizes the approach of this program, which is based on innovative methods for preventing unacceptable behaviors, using capoeira as a tool for working with children. Capoeira is non-competitive in nature and encourages cooperation, non-violence, and acceptance of differences.
The program is implemented in partnership with the Croatian Social Work Institute and six primary schools:
- Zagreb: A. Cesarac, Ljubljanica, K. Tomislav
- Zaprešić: Lj. Gaj
- Koprivnica: A. N. Gostovinski
- Rijeka: Podmurvice, Centar
Beneficiaries include children at risk, their parents, volunteers, and specific school classes where the program is delivered.
Main activities include capoeira workshops for children, where – alongside physical training – the principles of capoeira philosophy are shared, promoting equality, cooperation, and the importance of the group as support (“modern tribe”). Children learn how to control unpleasant emotions and express them in an acceptable way, how to remain calm in the face of provocation, and how to be themselves while respecting others.
In addition to children’s workshops, parents participate through counseling, workshops, and joint activities with their children. Some children receive extra support through individual work (e.g. learning support) provided by volunteer students of helping professions, while parents can access additional individual support through the counseling center. The work of program leaders and volunteers is supported through supervision and training.
Values of tolerance and non-violence are also promoted in schools and local communities through the International Day for Tolerance, the “Get Moving” campaign, and classroom workshops focused on developing social skills.
The program has been implemented since 2013 and is financially supported by:
- Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Science, Education and Youth
- City of Zagreb – City Office for Social Protection and People with Disabilities
My Strengths – Developing the Psychological Resilience of Youth
The My Strengths program focuses on raising awareness and strengthening personal resources and developing prosocial behavior in at-risk youth, contributing to their psychological resilience. This resilience helps them in everyday functioning, building better relationships, and coping with challenges characteristic of this life stage.
The program was created based on community needs assessments and information provided by partner organizations.
Main activities include:
- individual counseling for young people
- group empowerment and development of social skills
- training for professionals in partner organizations
Partners in the program are:
- Croatian Social Work Institute – Trešnjevka branch office
- Community Service Center Banija (Karlovac)
- Community Service Center Zagreb – Dugave
- Community Service Center Zadar
The program has been implemented since 2022 and is financially supported by:
- Ministry of Science, Education and Youth
- City of Zagreb – City Office for Social Protection and People with Disabilities
Empowered – Parenting Support in Trešnjevka
The Empowered program is carried out in cooperation with the Croatian Social Work Institute – Trešnjevka branch office and is aimed at supporting parents through free individual counseling and psychotherapy.
In the Trešnjevka area there is a clear need for additional social services for parents, and this program provides access to exactly those forms of support that have been recognized as lacking.
Through individual counseling and psychotherapy, we help parents cope more easily with everyday problems, accept the challenges of parenthood, define their own goals more successfully, and develop strategies to achieve them. We work on increasing self-confidence and providing emotional support.
In addition to individual work, we run cycles of parenting school workshops, where parents, together with facilitators, explore important topics such as parenting styles, family communication, goal-setting in raising children, parental roles and expectations, developing children’s self-confidence, and the challenges of parenting in contemporary society.
As part of the program, various creative workshops are also held for parents and children, aiming to encourage family bonding and create a positive family atmosphere.
The program has been implemented since 2021 and is financially supported by:
- Ministry of Demographics and Immigration
- City of Zagreb – City Office for Social Protection and People with Disabilities