How can we address multiculturalism and local identities?

Children from Croatia gathered to discuss multiculturalism and local identities in Croatia

The theme of this year's National Eurochild Forum (NEF) meeting in Croatia was multiculturalism and national/local identities and it was accompanied by the exhibition ‘Children Around Us’. The exhibition featured photographs of portraits of children of national minorities and a Croatian couple by the famous photographer and travel writer Saša Pjanić. The project ‘Children Around Us’ is implemented in partnership by the Union of SOC Croatia, SOC Opatija and the City of Opatija under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Education and the Association of Cities.

The meeting was attended by children from Čakovec, Jastrebarsko, Koprivnica, Kutina, Nova Gradiška, Poreč, Pregrada, Sveta Nedelja, Zabok and Opatija. This included 14 members of NEF Croatia, and 30 children from Children's Councils and Children's Fora. During the meeting, children designed action campaigns related to sustainable development and 17 global goals, played games related to environmental protection with our friends from the Association Žmergo, and ended the meeting by singing the anti-war anthem of children created by Children's Forum Poreč.

The children’s message was that we should pursue global goals by educating the public about sustainable development, the benefits of child participation and the realization of children's rights. Children are not just passive observers; they are activists and co-creators of the present in which we live.