Croatia

Paola, Athlete

Paola is a member of the Croatian athletics team and holds nine records in long and triple jump. With her career after sports in mind, she is also a PhD student at the university of economics in Zagreb. 

“I think that we are all full of talents. We just have to find them and believe in ourselves.” 

For Paola, it all comes down to this one moment before the jump. There is only this one moment – and on the way up to it, parties have been missed, injuries cured, setbacks overcome. But once the moment arrives and the jump succeeds, the emotions she feels are unique. Never has she felt as joyful and happy, than on the track. 

“My biggest success is when I win over myself.” 

Lately, Paola has come to the conclusion, that even in professional sports it is not all about the final time, speed, or length. She tries to enjoy the process more, focus on the training and the small wins that lie on the way to the finals. 

Saya, Ballet Dancer

“I like to create beauty with my body.” 

Saya started to dance when she was very young. For six years now, she has been a professional dancer. 

„On stage I feel like a different person, my heart is enjoying it so much. But in the studio it is more like I am fighting with myself.” 

Training is tough, but she couldn’t imagine living a different life and wants to keep going for as long as she can. When she is on stage and in front of an audience, the tiredness and pain of her daily practice just cease to exist and she feels pure joy. 

Hook & Cook, Fishery

Sinisa, Josip and Marko met at school. Now they run a business together: “Hook&Cook” is a fishery, a restaurant, and also a festival.

The idea for Hook&Cook developed spontaneously. Originally, the three of them just wanted to organize a festival around fishing, but since Sinisa knew how to fish, Marko had experience with events, and Josip had just taken over his parent’s restaurant, the conditions were perfect to create something bigger.  

“Success for us is not necessarily money. It is more that people recognize who we are and what we stand for.” 

Up until today they strive to always look at everything holistically, and also want their clients to have the whole picture: when you buy from them, you know where your fish comes from and who stands behind the brand. 

Keke, Cook

 

Based in Zagreb, Keke operates the NGO „African in my heart“, providing a warm meal for everyone in need. Her mother and grandmother taught her how to cook, and now she uses this gift to support others: 

“My mindset is just to help. Even if it's one meal a day. I know you'll survive the next day. This is just my idea of giving.”

Keke loves to nurture others, and she loves to experiment, trying out dishes that have never been made before: 

„For me, cooking is therapy. I express myself through cooking.” 

She wants to keep her open kitchen up and running for as long as possible. For her kids, she dreams of a future without fear, where they can speak up for themselves and fight for their dreams. 

Damir, Diver and Photographer

Damir started to explore the underwater world when he was a kid, first by diving, soon also through photography. Today he is world champion in underwater photography. 

“This calmness and peace under water fill me with energy. When I come back up, you can jump on my head for ten days straight, and I wouldn’t even notice.” 

Damir sees the protection of nature as biggest challenge. Together with more than forty other divers, he cleans the sea and other waters from waste, which is later recycled. Last year, the “Team Green” project retrieved more than fifteen tons of waste from the island of Vis alone. This year, a few operations are planned, but Damir plans to keep going until everything is clean down there. 

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