In February of 2018, the SOLIDARNA Foundation opened the Desa i Jerko Baković Fund thanks to a generous donation from Mrs. Desa Baković who decided to donate 600 000 kn to the SOLIDARNA Foundation to start a program to support the education of children in poverty.
The Fund provides financial, material and professional support to the education of children and young people in poverty, particularly those of elementary school or high school age, who are exposed to material deprivation, at risk of social exclusion and discrimination, and who may not have adequate support in their surroundings to develop confidence and the skills needed for a successful education.
Taking into account reports from research on child poverty and with a view to ensuring maximum complementarity with other public and private programs supporting the education of children and youths, the “Desa and Jerko Baković“ Fund focuses on multiannual, individual and comprehensive support delivered in the following formats:
Costs of school books, computer equipment, tutoring and learning assistance, extracurricular activities, school trips
Financing accommodation in dormitories, books and supplies, computer equipment, food, pocket money, tutoring and learning assistance, extracurricular activities, school trips
Each student participating in the program is provided mentoring and guidance by a professional from their learning environment, with whom they have established a solid bond based on trust
Additional opportunities for beneficiaries of the Fund to build confidence and develop creativity and social skills
Acting upon her late husband Jerko’s (1916-2010), and her own wishes, Desa Baković (1917-2019) decided to direct some of the funds raised from the sale of her apartment towards a fund that would support the education of impoverished children. Bearing the name of its benefactors, the “Desa and Jerko Baković“ Fund was founded in 2018 with a donation made by Mrs Baković amounting to HRK 500,000. On her 101st birthday, Mrs Baković granted stable education to 31 children from underprivileged families…
It is the Fund and SOLIDARNA Foundation’s intention for the story of Mrs Desa’s noble act to inspire our fellow citizens to join the Fund through donations, enabling it to increase in value, secure continuous support for children who use it, and allow for an increase in the number of its beneficiaries in the years to come.
Over the past three years, the “Desa and Jerko Baković“ Fund granted financial support in the form of scholarships amounting to HRK 500,000 to 31 children and youths between the ages of 10 and 18.
The Fund beneficiaries come from 20 different backgrounds, mostly from villages and municipalities of the Kordun and Banovina regions, and their outer parts extending to Lika and Gorski Kotar (26 in total), as well as from Međimurje (two girls), Slavonia, Rijeka and Zagreb.
The Fund supports children and youth from the following villages, municipalities and towns: Banjsko Selo, Banova Jaruga, Donje Bukovlje, Dvor, Puškarovci – Držimurec – Strelec, Mala Subotica, Generalski stol, Gunja, Kursanec Roma neighbourhood, Čakovec, Krnjak, Novska, Petrinja, Plaški, Trstenica village outside Vrginmosta,Vojnić, Udbina, Vrginmost, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Sunja, Slavonski Brod, Ogulin (Gavrani), Glina, Rijeka, Zagreb/Beograd.
The Fund is directly managed by the Council of the Fund “Desa and Jerko Baković” presided over by the university professor in retirement and prominent human rights activist Zoran Pusić, and members are psychologist Iskra Pejić, who is also deputy president, social pedagogue Martina Horvat and human rights activist Biljana Pusić and Vesna Teršelić. For the administrative and organizational affairs and support is responsible the Foundation’s Executive Team – Administrator Marina Škrabalo, Secretary Ivan Blažević and Professional Associate Petra Mađerčić.
The final decision on the granting of financial support is made by the SOLIDARNA Trust Fund at the proposal of the Foundation Council of the Fund “Desa and Jerko Baković”.
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