Many migrants have gone through our Croatian language course and, in doing so, learned how to greet the neighbor they see every morning, order a drink at a café or a meal in a restaurant, chat with Croatian colleagues at work, or speak with the lady at the kiosk. There have been many of them, and there are still many stories of people who use the little time they have left in the day after work and responsibilities to learn Croatian – because integration begins with learning the language. These are all stories that may seem very simple at first glance, but within them are great fighters.

The need is great, and there are few workers, which is why a Croatian language course has recently been launched at our centre in partnership with Caritas, intended for descendants of Croats from Latin America who have returned to Croatia, the homeland of their parents.

Alongside the many stories of people building their new home in our country are also the stories of our volunteers. They are not only Croatian language teachers at the courses, but all those volunteers in whose company migrants can freely speak Croatian however they can, without insecurity or fear of mistakes and judgment—those who patiently follow and encourage their first uncertain steps in using the Croatian language, as well as help those who already have a good foundation to progress even further.

Recognizing this quality of ours, volunteer Sara Blažeković decided to place her initiative “Pričaona” (“Conversation Corner”) in our premises. It is a gathering held every Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., where anyone who wants or needs to practice speaking Croatian has the opportunity to do so. Migrants and Croats, divided into smaller groups at tables, talk about assigned topics that change quickly – migrants have the opportunity to meet Croats and learn through conversation, Croats have the opportunity to help, and both sides learn something about each other. All of this, of course, over a cup of coffee, and sometimes pancakes.

On the other hand, when someone already “knows” the language, it often happens that they begin to notice new areas where they can still improve – areas they may not have even noticed before. At these levels, reaching an even higher level of knowledge is, once again, much easier with the help of others. Thus, in both cases – at the very beginning of language learning and when someone already has a good command of the language – the help of others is the most reliable path toward greater independence.

We also strive to respond to this need. A recent “Coffee with Croatian” session was led by Croatian and French language teacher Martina Pliestić, focusing on the interpretation of multi-word expressions in Croatian – proverbs, expressions, idioms, and more. This discussion was particularly interesting for those who already have a good command of Croatian and are ready to delve into deeper linguistic questions and interpretations, whose understanding will help them use the language more easily in everyday life.

Our team of volunteers accompanies our new fellow citizens on their journey of learning Croatian for as long as needed, until they build confidence and self-assurance. This mission is, in a very concrete way, a reflection of God’s call to help others in such a way that they feel valued and accepted.