In the final days of May, deep in the heart of spring, the lush greenery of the trees and lawns in Zagreb’s Bundek Park mingles with the smoke from countless barbecues, while children’s laughter and the conversations of adults blend with birdsong. Such was the scene on 23 May, when our traditional barbecue gathering at Bundek took place — a large get-together of all our beneficiaries, volunteers, friends, partners, supporters, and all people of good will. 

For us, this long and joyful day began early in the morning, when volunteers gathered to secure a good spot in the park, prepare the tables and food supplies, and set up the volleyball court. The first guests arrived around ten o’clock, making the atmosphere even livelier. By lunchtime, 87 people from Croatia, Syria, Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Tunisia, Russia, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo had gathered together. In this way, the event united not only many different countries, but even three separate continents, giving people from different cultures the opportunity to get to know one another better, while also sharing their own experiences of life in Croatia. 

Bundek Park is a place with the power to bring together people who never imagined they would meet. Our grill masters quickly struck up conversations with the people at the neighbouring barbecue, exchanging utensils and stepping in to help one another whenever needed. Members of that same group soon accepted our invitation and joined us for several volleyball matches. This entirely spontaneous coming together of communities is proof of the deep humanity we are capable of showing one another, and also proof that, in truth, one person is never really a stranger to another. 

One more event marked this already special day: we were visited by our partners from the “Together for Change” project. Besides helping throughout the day and never missing an opportunity to meet the other guests, they also took a moment to present to everyone the results and impressions of their collaboration with us and with our refugee volunteers on this project, through which we visited 13 primary and secondary schools on several occasions. Their speech about the very real impact this initiative has already had among their fellow secondary-school students — an initiative that introduces pupils to the personal stories of refugees — resonated deeply with many of our beneficiaries who themselves had once been refugees, giving them hope that their voices are, after all, being heard. 

The gathering lasted throughout the entire day. After lunch, coffee, and tidying up, the first departures began. However, many people continued socialising long afterwards, remaining in the park until late afternoon, sitting together and enjoying the beauty and ease of togetherness that erases the boundaries between people.