CESI

Support, Education and Development of civil initiatives

Project: AVE - 'Active, visible and empowered'

The project started in September 2005 with the aim of promotion of values and role of civil sector in our society, and raising visibility of NGOs.

The key activity of the project was realization and filming of documentary "Look at Me!, directed by Vanja Juranić, in which actors of the movie are talking about their motivation of working in civil sector, about problems they are trying to solve and actions which they are taking, and the ways of how they promote the values of democracy, tolerance, peace, non-violence and gender equality. Through the movie presented individuals who decided to work on: peace building, tolerance, protection of environment, help to persons with disabilities, promotion and protection of health, protection of children rights, help to poor people, advancement of asylum seekers position and on the protection and promotion of woman's human rights. The persons in the movie are pointing on problems and telling to us that it is possible to be engaged and active in our communities (Look at me!)

In the creation of the movie individuals and associations from different parts of Croatia participated: RODA – Parents in Action, Maja Tarle, Green Action – Jagoda Munić, Zagrebački bokci – Mr. Josip Krznarić, RAND – Dragica Aleksa from association Luč, DODIR – Croatian Association of Deafblind Persons – MARIJAN JURENEC, Peace engagement of the participants of war, TIHOMIR PAPIĆ, Center for Peace Studies, EMINA BUŽINKIĆ, Women's Network of Croatia (WNC) – BOJANA GENOV and activists of WNC.

Together with our partners (Center for civil initiatives - Poreč, Women's Association Vukovar, Association for Peace and Human Rights – Baranja and Women's Network of Croatia) we have organized promotions in towns in all regions in Croatia (in the cultural centres, on seminars and workshops, in high schools and elementary schools, during public actions and in the program of film festivals).

After promotions we have organized open discussions on influence and role of NGOs in society, cooperation between sectors, voluntarism of individuals in NGOs, and about perception of NGOs from the public perspective.

"Look at Me!" was also presented on national television HTV and on regional TV stations. Until July 2006, around 500.000 people saw "Look at Me!"