Croatian language students from Belgrade discover Zagreb and Croatian heritage

Students from Belgrade who attend Croatian language and national culture classes at the Antun Gustav Matoš Foundation went on a two-day trip to Zagreb with their parents, accompanied by their Croatian language teacher, Dubravka Tinodi. The rich program was dedicated to learning about Croatian culture, history, and national heritage, as well as fostering socialization and connections among children and youth from the Croatian community in Serbia.

During their two-day stay in the Croatian capital, the students and their parents visited the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum, where they viewed the "Patent Penkala" exhibition dedicated to inventions and innovations. They also visited the Trešnja Theater to watch the play "The Magic Forest," and explored the historical and cultural landmarks of Zagreb, including the Upper Town, St. Mark's Church, the Croatian Parliament, Banski Dvori, and the Zagreb Cathedral.

A particularly special experience was visiting Ban Jelačić Square, where on World Cravat Day, October 18, they witnessed the ceremonial lineup of the Cravat Regiment and the symbolic tying of a cravat around the monument of Ban Josip Jelačić.

Marin Piuković, manager of the Antun Gustav Matoš Foundation, emphasized the importance of such gatherings for connecting children and youth from the Croatian community in Serbia with their cultural and historical heritage.

"The main goal of this two-day trip was to further connect the children who attend Croatian language and national culture classes in Belgrade, allow them to socialize, and introduce them to the rich culture and history of Croatia and its capital. I am glad we managed to realize this trip, and I am especially pleased to see that the children and their parents are happy and satisfied.

We will continue with programs like this because I believe it is important to work on connecting the Croatian community, especially children and youth. Socializing, traveling together, and learning about the history and culture of the Republic of Croatia are key to forming new friendships and nurturing a sense of belonging to the Croatian community," Piuković stated.

Croatian language teacher Dubravka Tinodi emphasized that the trip exceeded expectations and gave the students and their parents a deep sense of closeness to the homeland.

"We embarked on this journey from Belgrade inspired by a beautiful idea—a love for the past, the preservation of our heritage, and a culture deeply woven into our history. Initially, we wanted to visit the 'Patent Penkala' exhibition, and as a small school of Croatian language and national culture, we started this adventure, which in the end turned out to be much more beautiful than we expected.

The two days were packed with activities, from visiting the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum and watching the play 'The Magic Forest' to touring Zagreb's sights and participating in the Cravat Regiment ceremony on World Cravat Day. We got to know the city, its history, and its culture, but what stayed closest to our hearts were the people who welcomed us, helped us at every step, and made us feel like family. We truly felt like we had come home, among our own," Tinodi pointed out.

The trip organization and logistical support were provided by the Antun Gustav Matoš Foundation from Belgrade, and the organizers also thanked the Central State Office for Croats Abroad for their support.

Thanks to the mediation of the Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in Belgrade, Ivan Zeko-Pivač, a lunch was also provided for the trip participants, the cost of which was covered by the Students of Cetinska Krajina Association from Zagreb.

This trip demonstrated once again how crucial gatherings, shared experiences, and direct exposure to cultural and historical heritage are for preserving the Croatian identity among children and youth growing up outside the Republic of Croatia.

Source: HRT