Croatian guide dog volunteer Mira Katalenić among EU Local Heroes
- by croatiaweek
- in News
ZAGREB, Oct 26 (Hina) – The European Commission has selected seven Croats within its campaign “The EU Protects” for promoting the work of individuals engaged in EU funded-projects aimed at supporting the disabled and needy, and one of those heroes is Mira Katalenić of the Croatian Guide Dog and Mobility Association.
Katalenić joined a group of volunteers working for the Croatian Guide Dog and Mobility Association in the early 1990s. The association carries out several EU-funded projects, one of which provides mobile support services to create conditions for better inclusion of blind people in the labour market and society.
When she was a teenager in the 1960s, Katalenić suffered from glaucoma which caused her vision loss.
Mira Katelenić and her dog Max (Photo source: Hrvatska udruga za školovanje pasa vodiča i mobilitet)
Katalenić is an active volunteer engaged in the promotion of mobility of blind persons and persons with other disabilities.
The association at whose helm is Katalenić “carries out several EU-funded projects, one of which provides mobile support services to create conditions for better inclusion of blind people in the labour market and society”, the Commission says. “All Mira’s time and energy are now devoted towards developing orientation and mobility programmes for blind people in Croatia, assistance dog programmes for people with disabilities and children with developmental difficulties,” the EC says.
Dunja Drmač, works as a sustainability officer at EURATEX, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, marine biologist Dr Draško Holcer, Budimir Šobat Buda, who has been working to raise awareness of the needs of people with autism, maritime safety consultant at the National Protection and Rescue Directorate of the Republic of Croatia Tonći Prodan, Melani Boris from the Zamisli association and Tatjana Aćimović, Art director of the Children’s Rights Festival, are the other Croats selected for the campaign.
You can see more about the campaign here.
