More Latin American-Croatians settling in Croatia

More interest from Latin American-Croatians in moving to Croatia

The interest in moving to Croatia is steadily increasing among Latin Americans with Croatian roots. 

This is evidenced by the example from a company from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County which has employed 17 descendants of Croatians from Latin America in its camps and catering facilities.

As HRT reports, descendants from Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, representing nearly all South American countries, have converged in one place in Croatia. 

So far, 17 of them have found a new life in Kvarner, and some have arrived with their entire families.

“For my husband and me, leaving Bolivia was on our minds as we were in a very difficult situation. Being Croatian citizens, the best option was to come here – for our children’s education, job opportunities, and health,” Paola from Bolivia told HRT.

Paola’s great-grandfather migrated to Bolivia from the island of Brač. Eighty years later, his three great-great-grandchildren arrived in the opposite direction. The eldest, 15-year-old Kiara, shared, “I initially missed friends, relatives, school, and everything, but I like people in Croatia because they treat us very well and try to communicate with us even though we don’t know the language well.”

Seeking a better future in Croatia, 25-year-old Minerva Sučić from Venezuela arrived some time ago thanks to the Croaticum scholarship. 

“I learned the basics of the Croatian language, alphabet, pronunciation, basic verbs, and culture, including gastronomy. Then I looked for job opportunities and got one,” Minerva stated.

Rade Zrilić, owner of two Kvarner auto camps, recognised this mutual need. “The desire of Croatians living abroad is immensely significant. It’s a space that can currently provide what we lack – an insufficient number of people necessary for life, living, work, and work processes in the Croatian state,” he remarked.

The need for workers in Croatia is expected to increase significantly with the upcoming season, both in Zrilić’s company and across the entire tourism sector.

The employment of descendants of South American Croatians began a few months ago when he joined an association led by a returnee from Paraguay. “Two years ago, my wife, daughter, and I decided to return and settle in Croatia. When we arrived here, we were alone. We recognized the lack of something – organization, guidance on finding a job, residency, procedures like getting the first ID card,” explained Hugo Estigarribia Villasanti, president of the Association of Immigrants of Croatian Origin – Croatian Roots.

The increasing need for workers in Croatia parallels the growing interest in returning. “We have about 300 people who have applied so far. A large part of them is already here in Croatia or in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, while others are still in South America, but we know when they intend to come,” Hugo told HRT.

His sister, with her husband and son, is also on her way soon. “I had already been to Croatia when I was 14, I was in Zagreb, I was in Gornjogradska Gymnasium. I learned the language. I always wanted to return to Croatia, but I was a bit afraid when I had a child, finding a job,” Pamela Estigarribia mentioned.

“We decided to leave Paraguay because even though there is currently work, the wages are very low – with such wages in Paraguay, basic living needs cannot be met. Also, it’s quite unsafe, attacks are frequent, and you cannot walk the streets peacefully, let alone be calm because you can be attacked at any moment,” Miguel Diaz shared.

Just as centuries ago when families migrated, often one member paved the way for others. Stefani from Peru confirms this today. “I’m the first descendant in my family to return to Croatia. Thanks to me, many family members from my great-grandmother’s side want to come, learn about the culture, and maybe stay,” she said.

For more on this topic, tune in to the Global Croatia program on Thursday, April 11th, at 18:04 on HTV2.