Welcoming YPARD Croatia representative: Zrinka Filipovi? Dermit

YPARD is thrilled to welcome our very first YPARD representative for Croatia: Zrinka Filipovi? Dermit.

Zrinka is soon to finish her year as a graduate student at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb. In this context, she often encountered various problems concerning youth involvement in agriculture.

Besides student organizations which are a good starting point for international cooperation, she hadn’t come through any organisation that could support youth involvement in some way to improve the situation in agriculture.

"Although my country recently joined the European Union, the atmosphere among the young in our profession is not at all optimistic. She says. General awareness of the benefits of funds is quite low, as well as awareness about the opportunities provided inside and outside our national borders."

She carries on: "I myself, while participating in the creation of my family's project faced administrative obstacles, and as a future young professional I didn't have easy access to a helpful source of information. Upon learning of YPARD platform's existance, I realized that there is a way to solve at least a part of the problem. That is the exchange of information, reading and learning about the news in agricultural development that can potentially be applied locally."

Given that in Croatia there are no active YPARD member, she would like to be that first person who will stimulate the platform development in Croatia. Her goal would also be to gather new members for whom information coming from YPARD could be of much use and benefit.

"I learned a lot from my own experience; it made me want to do something about it, and finally inspired me to join YPARD. I think my energy and a strong desire for positive change and action can encourage others to participate in making a joint effort. The potential for YPARD in Croatia is great, and I believe in it's success, as currently we're strongly lacking this kind of connection among youth." She says.

Zrinka, there is no doubt that with the energy and insight your showed, YPARD Croatia will grow fast, and on a long run! Welcome within YPARD team and long life YPARD Croatia!

Wanna know more about Zrinka? Read her Success Story as a young female professional in agriculture on YPARD Showcase.