Launch of new refugee newspaper in Croatia

Zagreb, 08 December 2016 – “Paths” is the title of the new newspaper created by asylum seekers and refugees that was launched at the 36th anniversary celebration of JRS in mid-November. Covering a range of inter-cultural issues, the newspaper contains articles in Arabic, Croatian, Farsi and English.

Director of JRS South-East Europe Croatia, Tvrtko Barun SJ, said that the newspaper grew from the idea of providing a platform for people who are seeking asylum in Croatia and who have received international protection for expressing their opinions and attitudes and transferring their refugee and integration experiences.

“Through this project we want to encourage the encounter between cultures. Among the refugees themselves, but also between our culture and the refugee cultures. We want this project to be the intersection of refugee views, experiences, problems, longings but also future plans on their paths to safety and freedom,” said Barun. He adds that "Paths" will be published with articles in several languages and that it will be issued once a month.

The first issue of "Paths" covers issues such as the integration experiences of persons who have been granted asylum in Croatia, the situation of women in Iran, the importance of learning Croatian language in order to facilitate understanding of the culture and comparison between Croatian culture and different cultures. All articles have been written by asylum seekers and refugees in Croatia.

“We believe that these newspapers are important for establishing a deeper mutual trust and a confirmation of our sincere intention to offer hospitality to people who, for different reasons, have been forced to flee their homes,” said director Barun.

We want this project to be the intersection of refugee views, experiences, problems, longings but also future plans on their paths to safety and freedom.