Integration of Foreigners

Basic information for the Integration of Foreigners can be found in an amended guide for integration which was prepared by the Croatian Governmental Office for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities in 2019.

Beneficiaries of international protection are assisted by various NGOs:

  • The Croatian Red Cross: psychosocial support for beneficiaries of international protection; direct assistance in exercising educational, employment, health and social rights; interpretation services in relation to enrolment in the education system; distribution of humanitarian aid; financial aid; support for children in education. Beneficiaries can approach CRC at their integration premises every working day from 8.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m.
  • Are You Syrious (AYS) provides various activities both in their integration centre and outside the centre. It conducts an informal beginner’s Croatian language course as well as an advanced Croatian language course, the latter organised in collaboration with Centre for Croatian as a Second and Foreign Language (Croaticum). Other activities include requalification for scarce occupations; organised educational workshops and visits to cultural events for children under international protection; support for homework for children; provision of information in relation to various areas of integration etc. In 2019, Are You Syrious? printed leaflets related to their Free Social Shop. The leaflets are available in the following languages: English, Farsi, Kurumanji and Arabic. The leaflets were distributed at the Reception Centre for Applicants of International Protection.
  • JRS provides language courses. Moreover, together with volunteers and refugees, they established “Staze”, the first newspaper in Croatia for refugees that is written by refugees themselves. “Staze” is published in four languages: Croatian, English, Arabic and Persian/Farsi. The newspaper covers topics relevant to refugees and the challenges they face. The workshop and publication creates a sense of community and gathers volunteer and refugees together to work on the same goal.
  • The “Danube Compass” platform helps with migrants’ economic and social integration into society. The Danube Compass covers living, working, language learning, education, daily life and health and offers an overview of main rights. The Croatian version makes content available in Croatian and English but also in Arabic, Farsi and Urdu.
  • The Rehabilitation Centre for Stress and Trauma, in cooperation with the Centre for Peace Studies and its partners from Italy, Slovenia and Austria, has started developing an online information and learning tool intended primarily for refugees coming to EU countries through resettlement. Informative materials on Croatia are available in English, Arabic and Tigrinya on the WELCOMMWeb platform for integration is also provided by the NGO Mi.
  • The lawyers of the Croatian Law Centre provided legal information to beneficiaries of international protection on CLC’s premises when needed, and in the Integration House run by the Croatian Red Cross once a month.