MERLIN association for promotion of creativity is a non-governmental, non-party and nonprofit organization, which goal is to pool and organize the work and activities of citizens, children and adolescents in various social, cultural, artistic, educational, creative and publishing actions and their promotion at local community level.
Association goals are the exploration, education and use of creativity in everyday life, the encouragement of community development, the improvement of quality of life and interpersonal relationships.
The vision of the association is a society of equal opportunities where people can live from their creative potential.
Principles
Association's work with the individuals, families, groups and communities is based on the principles of creative approach to life activities, empowerment, active involvement, support of positive initiatives, support of cooperation, tolerance and nonviolence, mutual respect and respect for diversity.
Work
Merlin Association was founded in 2001 and since then has been active in Pula City, town of Vodnjan and Istria County. Since 2003, the Association headquarters are based in the building of the multi-cultural social center Rojc where over one hundred of various associations for civil society of Pula City have their offices. In Matulji and Opatija, in Primorsko-goranska County, Merlin Association has a branch office and organizes a workshop since 2015. From 2005 to 2016 Merlin Association also worked in Vodnjan town where it run the Children's Center "Morning Flower".
The Association is administered by the Assembly, Governing Board with the President, and the Supervisory Committee. The Assembly and the Governing Board meet once a year.
Membership
Merlin Association is staffed by the manager and administrator, and, when appropriate, the activities manager and other associates, students, retirees and volunteers depending on the nature and implementation of the projects. Merlin brings together the children, young people and women and beneficiaries of co-financed projects (unemployed women, adolescents, children and women, people with disabilities, pensioners, other associations).
Organization activity
- Community projects for marginalized groups, social inclusion
- Informal training in various skills, traditional and art crafts
- Shaping, production and presentation of the original handicrafts and souvenirs
- Thematic events on revived history
- Social entrepreneurship, textile redesign and recycling
Donors
From the local community and state institutions: National Board for Development of Civil Society of the Republic of Croatia 2004-2015, Pula City, Tourist Board, Istrian County, Town of Vodnjan, Town of Opatija, Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of the Republic of Croatia, Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Croatia, National Foundation for Civil Society Development, the Foundation for Partnership and Civil Society Development, companies (Puljanka, Istarske knjizare) and service trades, and citizens of Pula with the donations of sewing machines, wool and textile.
Foreign donors: CNF-CEE Dutch foundation in the Republic of Croatia, World Bank Office in Croatia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria, OSCE Korenica, Allavida English foundation, NESsT, IDEMO - Foundation Open Society Institute (OSI-ZUG) , ERSTE Foundation wih Award for Social Integration 2011, REF Roma Education Fond 2012.; European Union - IPA - ESF Human Resources Development 2013-2015.; Erasmus E+ Programme; EEA Grants, Norway Grants - Foundations of Kingdom of Norway 2015-2016.,
Cooperation
We have cooperated with the City of Pula, Towns of Vodnjan and Opatija, Archaeological Museum of Istria, Ethnographic Museum Pazin, Tourist Board of Pula, Opatija, Kanfanar and Ližnjan, Open University in Pazin, Labin, Porec and Rovinj, Vila Marija Home for the Elderly, the Employment Office and other associations: Suncokret, the Women's Association, Monteparadiso Hackclub, Centre For Civic Initiative Porec, Tara from Licko Petrovo Selo and Nit from Korenica, Association of Persons with Permanent Disabilities, Homo, City Workshop, Red Cross, 50 Plus Association, The Alliance of the Rojc Associations, The Alliance of the Molekula Associations Rijeka, Lapis Association Opatija, OSV Rijeka , RI ROCK Association Rijeka, Social Cooperative Humana nova Cakovec.
