CAF complete renovation of the “Zvjezdice” Centre
The renovated Centre of the “Zvjezdice“ Disabled Persons Association from Gunja, providing care for the children and the youth with special needs, was officially opened on 29 September 2014.
The ceremony was attended by the Association members, the Centre residents and their parents, volunteers and the Envoy of the President of the Republic Vesna Škulić, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Policy and the Youth, Milanka Opačić, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Drago Lovrić and other representatives of the Croatian Armed Forces, the local government bodies.
The building was heavily damaged in floods striking the area earlier this year, and has been rennovated through the efforts by the Engineering Battalion of the Guards Mechanised Brigade of the Croatian Army and the donations from the members of the Croatian Defence Ministry and the Armed Forces. The 67-day works were symbolically completed by the ribbon-cutting by Minister Opačić and General Lovrić.
The President of the Republic’s Envoy, Vesna Škulić commended the design and the conduct of the rennovation project by the Croatian Armed Forces as highly beneficial for the entire area.
The Deputy Prime Minister Opačić emphasised that the Croatian Armed Forces had saved a number of people and their property, investing major efforts, hard work and and money donations to enable Association to resume its work.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Drago Lovrić stated that the Croatian Armed Forces members did their utmost fighting the flood and renovating the houses subsequently, despite the unfavourable conditions and completed timely – on the „Zvjezdice Association Day. General Lovrić announced that the Croatian Armed Forces were to continue reconstruction works, including the Community Centre at Rajevo Selo.
The Gunja Mayor, Hrvoje Lucić stressed that the project was highly significant because it was the first completely rennovated facility at Gunja.
The Chairman of „Zvjezdice“, Stjepanka Leporiz expressed the gratitude on behalf of the Association members to those who made the renovation possible, and particularly to the Croatian Armed Forces members, who honoured the ceremony in a line-up, commanded by Captain Mark Strunja.