President Milanović Receives Delegation of “Zajednica Susret“ Humanitarian Organization

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today representatives and clients of the “Zajednica Susret“ humanitarian organization on the occasion of their thirty years of service and activity.

This non-government and non-profit organization that deals with the treatment of drug, alcohol, gambling and other forms of addiction was presented at the meeting with President Milanović. It is the first association to deal with addictions in Croatia, and was founded in 1992 for the prevention of substance abuse, provision of social services and assistance to persons with substance use disorders.

Furthermore, it was noted that the organization strives to achieve social justice and equal opportunities for persons with substance use disorders to have the right to a new life after leaving the hell of addiction. The programme is run thanks to the cooperation between persons with substance use disorders, their families and the “Zajednica Susret” organization. The organization has two counselling centres, in Zagreb and in Split, and separate institutions “Dom za ovisnike Zajednica Susret” (Home for Persons with Substance Use Disorders) and the Parents’ Association “Zajednica Susret” – Zagreb.

The director of the “Dom za ovisnike” Bernardica Juretić Rožman said that the organization carries out psychosocial treatment by means of the therapeutic community method according to the philosophy “Projekt Čovjek” (Progetto Uomo – Project Man) that originated in Italy in the 1970s, and is adapted to Croatian circumstances. She explained that the Programme, which runs in the therapeutic centres of Ivanovac and the reception centre of Cista Velika, is based on the organization’s philosophy of life and work and the only goal is to get to know oneself, confirm the values of interpersonal relations and mutual solidarity.

Besides the president of the “Zajednica Susret“ humanitarian organization Miroslava Rožanković and the director of the “Dom za ovisnike Zajednica Susret“ Bernardica Juretić Rožman, also attending the meeting in the Office of the President of the Republic were the head of professional work in the “Dom za ovisnike Zajednica Susret“ Dragana Mandić Subotić, the coordinator of the reception centre in Cista Velika Tea Klapirić, operator in the “Dom za ovisnike Zajednica Susret“ Toni Grgić, operator in the therapeutic centre in Ivanovac Mario Plazibat, coordinator of project activities in the “Zajednica Susret“ humanitarian organization Ivana Šantek as well as clients of the therapeutic centres Petra Dragić Ježovita, Marijana Zgazivoda, Karlo Belamarić and Joško Limić.

Alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas