ZAGREB, 25 Oct (Hina) - “When you see a child eating a warm meal for the first time and smiling, you know that every effort has been worthwhile,” says Suzana Kozina, one of the founders of the humanitarian association Putokaz za Afriku (“Signpost for Africa”), which has been helping children in Rwanda for eight years.

 This year, the association has collected a record amount of food and other essentials.

The Croatian humanitarian association "Putokaz za Afriku" was founded in 2018 by Elizabeta Suzana Kozina from Klis near Split and Slavica Gašparović from Slavonski Brod. Their aim is to provide children with their most basic needs, and this year they have collected a record number of donations – measured in tonnes of food, clothing, school supplies and other equipment.

During October, when members of the association traditionally travel to Rwanda, they will deliver around 14 tonnes of rice, 12 tonnes of beans, more than 300 mattresses, over a thousand pairs of slippers, nearly two thousand plates and spoons, more than three thousand bars of soap, hundreds of rucksacks and mats, 454 goats, 67 billy goats and three cows. The donations are distributed in the presence of parents, teachers and school principals.

The aim, the association says, is to ensure that every child receives at least the basics – a meal, clothing and the opportunity to go to school.

"Each food package means another day without hunger, another smile from a child who can learn and dream," says Suzana Kozina. "When you see a child eating a warm meal for the first time and smiling, you know every effort has paid off," she adds.

From a small Facebook group to a humanitarian network

The idea for "Putokaz za Afriku" was born in 2017 during a humanitarian mission in Rwanda. "We didn’t even know where we’d arrived, but we immediately started helping with one wish – to get food to the children," recall Suzana and Slavica.

Their first efforts began with a small Facebook group where they shared experiences and photographs.

Today, the page has more than 23,000 followers.

People recognised the honesty and emotion in their stories, began following them, and soon the first donors appeared. Donations come exclusively from individuals who independently fund the association’s work, without the involvement of companies or institutional donors.

The association’s main programme is based on a sponsorship system, where sponsors support children with financial donations throughout the year according to their means – monthly, quarterly, annually, or with a one-off payment.

A monthly donation of €13 can provide food, a school uniform, notebooks and supplies, and thus protect children from physical labour.

In addition to regular donations, a special fundraising campaign is organised once a year to support entire families, for example to purchase goats, cows, mattresses, food, rice, beans and other basic necessities.

"Our sponsors aren’t just donors – they are family to the children in Rwanda. The children know their names, write them letters and send drawings. It’s a relationship that transcends borders," explains Gašparović.

Over 7,600 children have been covered by this humanitarian response so far

"Putokaz za Afriku" supports children in more than 70 boarding schools, 11 schools and six kindergartens, and over 7,600 children have taken part in their programmes so far.

The association currently has around 2,600 active sponsors, with more than 8,000 having taken part over the years. Sponsors receive regular updates on the children and their progress.

Children included in the programme consistently achieve the best results in Rwanda’s national exams. "The greatest satisfaction comes from seeing the changes in the children – how they grow up, finish school and become successful young people," emphasises Gašparović.

Among the sponsors and ambassadors of the association are many well-known figures, including writer Enes Kišević, football coach Nenad Bjelica, musicians Mrle and Ivanka Mazurkijević, Neno Belan and Marina Tomašević. Putokaz says they are particularly proud of the support of the recently deceased singer Halid Bešlić, who from the very beginning "helped our mission with his heart and his voice."

Field missions – between tears and smiles

During their stay in Rwanda, the association’s members visit schools and boarding facilities, deliver donations and oversee projects such as building animal farms and water tanks.

"The children greet us with songs and dances, with reports of their school achievements. These moments are moving, but there are also hard ones – when we hear stories of loss, hunger or illness," says Gašparović.

Suzana Kozina adds that the biggest challenges are logistics, safety and slow administration. "The children need help here and now, but the paperwork can take years. Still, the most important thing is to stay focused on the goal – helping the children," she says.

The association is especially proud of young people who, thanks to sponsorship, have managed to complete their schooling and go on to university. Among them are Joselyne Uwanyirigira, now studying computer science, and Emmanuel Iradukunda, a management student.