BurnsNightInvite2015-1 copy

“Then let us pray that come it may,
As come it will for a’ that
That Sense and Worth, o’er a’ the earth,
May bear the gree, and a’ that.
For a’ that, and a’ that,
It’s comin yet for a’ that,
That Man to Man, the world o’er,
Shall brothers be for a’ that!”

A verse from song by Scottish poet Robert Burns “A Man’s A Man”, 1795, in which he speaks of liberty and independence. In that verse Burns pleads that mind and character should be the standard for judging men, not their wealth or position.

The Homeland War or Croatian War of Independence in the early 1990’s had a devastating effect on Croatia’s economy and poverty, mainly due to high unemployment, spreads viciously by the day, cutting the meeting of even the basic of needs from under the feet of helpless children.

Burns Night in Croatia Photo: croatiaweek.com
Burns Night in Croatia
Photo: croatiaweek.com

2015 Burns Night in Zagreb, in honour of Scotland’s greatest poet, will be a gala event presented by the Croatia-based United Kingdom Friendship Society, the British House and the Esplanade Hotel, and with the kind media support of Croatia Week and Soundset Plavi.
It will be held on the night of January 17th, 2015 at the Hotel Esplanade in Zagreb.
Raffle and all profits and donations will go to SOS Children’s Village Croatia Foundation http://sos-dsh.hr/en/

Burns Night 2015 Zagreb Hotel Esplanade
Burns Night 2015
Zagreb Hotel Esplanade

What a great cause.

Photo: SOS Children's Village Croatia
Photo: SOS Children’s Village Croatia

Those who wish to buy a ticket may do so by emailing info@dpuk.hr (tickets are HRK 500 with today’s currency conversion rates that would be USD80/EURO66), but those of you who are unable to attend but wish to donate to the charity can do so by sending what they can to:

Drustvo prijatelja ujedinjenog Kraljevstva
Bascanske ploce 25, 10 000 Zagreb
IBAN: HR4824020061100643129
SWIFT (BIC): ESBC HR 22
Please use the reference/note “AUSBurns 2015″ or “NZBrurns 2015” or “USABurns 2015” or “CABurns 2015” or “UKBurns 2015” or “GERBurns 2015” … to mark the country from which you are sending the payment.
Photo: SOS Children's Village Croatia
Photo: SOS Children’s Village Croatia

SOS Children’s Villages has been present in Croatia since 1992. Currently SOS Children’s Villages is supporting local children, young people and families in two locations in Croatia struck by poverty. The work of SOS Children’s Villages has responded to the changing needs of children and families in Croatia. The organisation works in Lekenik which is 24 kilometres from Zagreb and in Ladimirevci in the east of the country. In both locations it supports children by providing them with loving care in an SOS family, and young people by providing houses where they can learn to live semi-independently.

Photo: SOS Children's Village Croatia
Photo: SOS Children’s Village Croatia

Whatever charity you support is a most wonderful pursuit of humanity and helping children whose lives are cruelly affected by poverty is a pursuit that stands out above most as children are our future and we can all make a difference to a better and peaceful future. I trust the welfare of children living in poverty will be on your mind this Christmas season especially. Ina Vukic, Prof. (Zgb); B.A., M.A.Ps. (Syd)

"Merry Christmas" Photo: SOS Children's Village Croatia
“Merry Christmas”
Photo: SOS Children’s Village Croatia

 

Photo: SOS Children's Village Croatia
Photo: SOS Children’s Village Croatia
"Become A Christmas Angel" from SOS Children's Village Croatia
“Become A Christmas Angel”
from
SOS Children’s Village Croatia

31 responses to “Burns Night 2015 In Croatia To Aid SOS Children’s Village Foundation”

  1. bearspawprint Avatar

    Thank you, Ina With The Immense ❤ Heart

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      You’re so welcome, bearspawprint. Hugs and love back

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Aliosa Avatar

    Merry Christmas ! 🙂

    Regards,
    Aliosa.

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Thank you, Aliosa – likewise 🙂 XX

      Like

  3. Jueseppi B. Avatar
    Jueseppi B.

    Reblogged this on MrMilitantNegro™.

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Thank you for the reblog, Jueseppi

      Like

  4. davidprosser Avatar

    I hope your Burns night is a Great Success Worldwide Ina. Who could fail to remember the plight of children in poverty. Children are our future.
    xxx Massive Hugs xxx

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Thank you, David, and hugs back 🙂

      Like

  5. Jackie Saulmon Ramirez Avatar
    Jackie Saulmon Ramirez

    Beautiful post! Those sweet faces… 🙂 ❤ God bless them all.

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Greeting Jackie – thank you

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Sue Dreamwalker Avatar

    Ina what a worthwhile cause this is.. and so many forget the children who are I feel the greatest sufferers of any war.. Sending my heart.. And love for your continued support of Croatia.. And all who still suffer..
    Bless you and wishing you a Wonderful Christmas Ina..
    Love Sue xox

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Thank you, Sue – the best of greeting and wishes for Christmas and New Year to you too

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Simona Avatar
    Simona

    I miei più sinceri AUGURI di Buone Feste 🙂

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Thank you Simona – wishing you a Merry Christmas and a most wonderful New Year.

      Like

  8. psychologistmimi Avatar

    what a lovely cause! Wishing you and yours a happy 2015

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      To you, dear Mimi, an amazingly wonderful New Year

      Like

  9. Dana Ganić Avatar

    Lovely post. Seasons greetings dear Ina.

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Thank you Dana – much love and good wishes to you too. Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Erica Avatar
    Erica

    Ina
    Iskrene cestitke za Bozic i Bozicne blagdane; te mir, veselje i srece Vama i Vasima u Novoj Godina. A Blessed Christmas to you and yours and all good things in 2015.
    Thanks for the insightful blogging!
    I am hoping you will be blogging good news on Dec 28/29 !
    I am praying for positive election results!
    Zivjela.

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Thank you, Erica, Merry Christmas to you too and of course wishing a wonderful New Year with positive election results on 28th December. Rooting for change!

      Like

  11. Donald Miller Avatar

    I hope the event is a huge success. Poverty is the worst thing in the world because it makes people lose hope. And it all seems so unnecessary — just as the war was. No one benefitted from it.

    Nazi mindsets are the ugliest side of humanity. We saw it committed by the Serbs, and we are seeing perhaps even worse war crimes committed by a certain country in the Middle East. I believe worse because the crimes are ongoing, and the US, is aiding and abetting that evil regime.

    I saw a video about poverty in Russia recently. Heartbreaking really. It had to do with that Krokodil drug. Young men, seemingly intelligent, committing suicide by using it–out of dire hopelessness.

    I hope for the economic recovery of the world’s economy, while realizing that the odds are not on our side.

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Heartbreaking indeed Donald. We all need to chip in and do our bit for children everywhere whose lives are touched by poverty. We owe them a better future. Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year

      Like

      1. Donald Miller Avatar

        You certainly have an admirable history of chipping in and trying to make a difference. I hope your Christmas and New Year are filled with happiness.

        Like

      2. inavukic Avatar

        A lifelong passion, Donald! Hugs XX

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Clare Flourish Avatar

    Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

    I love how Burns is so popular the World o’er. That is my warm fellow-feeling with my countrymen.

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Have a great Christmas, Clare and a wonderful New Year. And oh, Burns lives on – everywhere and rightly so!

      Like

  13. Erica Avatar
    Erica

    FYI Ina.
    Midnight Mass with Father Damir Stojic at Savska 66, in front of the ministry of Croatian veterans, along with the retired and disabled homeland warriors! Starts at 11 pm on Christmas Eve for anyone in Zagreb!

    Poštovani,
    branitelji prosvjednici ispred Ministarstva hrvatskih branitelja proslaviti će Isusovo porođenje svetom misom. Točno u ponoć don Damir Stojić predvodit će polnoćku, a na Božić sveta misa započet će u 11 sati.

    Pozivamo vas da zajedno s nama dočekate rođenje Isusovo, iskažimo zajedništvo i ljubav prema bližnjemu i radujmo se zajedno jer, Ljubav uvijek pobjeđuje!

    S poštovanjem,
    Đuro Glogoški, predsjednik Udruge 100%-tnih HRVI I. skupine.
    mob: 098 465 749

    Zorica Gregurić
    mob: +385 99 7102 284
    e-mail: gzorica@gmail.com

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      Thank you, Erica – Merry Christmas

      Like

  14. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    I had meant to comment here a lot earlier, but I just want to say thank you for bringing this cause to my attention. The moment I laid eyes on that last photo of the little girl, my heart seized up. There is something about that image that reminds me so much of my own situation back in Croatia. It’s like staring back into the past. It is heartbreaking to think there are still so many children living in these awful situations; poverty, away from their families, without adequate support and resources needed for their development.

    Like

    1. inavukic Avatar

      My heart aches also, Kat – it’s just so awful to see the poverty and helplessness.

      Like

  15. xxx Avatar

    It’s wonderful that you are getting thoughts from
    this article as well as from our dialogue made at this time.

    Like

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I’m Ina

I was born in Croatia and live Australia. I have been described as a prominent figure known for my contribution to the Croatian and wider societies, particularly in the context of Croatia’s transition from communism to democracy, as well as for my many years of work as a clinical psychologist and Chief Executive Officer of government-funded services for people with disabilities, including mental health services, in Australia. In 1995, the President of the Republic of Croatia awarded me two Medals of Honor, the Homeland War Memorial Medal and the Order of the Croatian Trefoil for her special merits and her contribution to the founding of the Republic of Croatia.  I have been a successful blogger since 2011 and write extensively in the English-language on issues related to Croatian current affairs and democracy, as well as the challenges Croatia faced and still faces in its transition from communism. My goal is to raise awareness of these connections and issues worldwide.