How Croatian women in Latin America are keeping their heritage alive
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photo: CroActivas/Facebook)
SÃO PAULO, 23 March 2025 (Hina) – “We want to preserve our roots, uphold the Croatian spirit, and continue strengthening our ties with our homeland,” say Croatian women from Latin America, who founded the CroActivas network two years ago to foster unity among Croatian emigrants.
CroActivas was established on International Women’s Day in 2023 to promote a sense of community among Croatian expatriates across Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions while reinforcing their connection to Croatia.
“This is our way of coming together, as each of us has a unique story,” says Dafne Bilich Santiago Queiroz, whose grandfather arrived in Brazil in 1947.
An entrepreneur in the insurance sector, she lives in Espírito Santo, in southeastern Brazil.
“As Croatian women in Latin America, we are all different, yet united by the Croatian spirit—the spirit of a people who have endured hardships and thrived in foreign lands through resilience and determination,” Bilich explains.
She is one of 836 women who meet online at least once a month to hold workshops. Since the network was founded two years ago, the number of participants has doubled.
“We support and empower one another,” Bilich adds.
A Network Born from Shared Roots
Jelena Nadinić, born in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, was one of CroActivas’ founders. She saw the need for a network in Spanish and Portuguese, as similar ones already existed in English.
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“In South America, many second- and third-generation Croatians have lost touch with their roots because of work and daily life. This way, we give them something—at least once a month—to reconnect with their heritage,” says Nadinić, who serves as CroActivas’ president.
“And why focus on women? Because we are the heart of the family, tradition, and language,” she explains.
“We Want Croatia to Know Who We Are”
Nadinić, a specialist in the biochemistry and pharmaceutical industries, is also a member of the Croatian Government’s Advisory Council for Croats Abroad. Alongside colleagues from Brazil, Peru, and other South American countries, she helped establish CroActivas.
The group first met in person in November 2023 in Buenos Aires, and the gathering in São Paulo marks their second face-to-face event. It is part of the broader 8th Meeting of the Croatian Diaspora in South America.
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CroActivas is currently the only pan-Latin American organisation for Croatians, despite not having an official headquarters.
“We are not a formal association. We’re still considering how best to organise ourselves,” says Nadinić. One idea is to integrate into existing Croatian diaspora associations in each country, which would allow them to operate without needing separate financial administration.
Despite occasional difficulties in coordinating activities due to members’ work and personal commitments, Nadinić is pleased with their progress.
“The key is that we hold in-person gatherings and workshops,” she emphasises.
Preserving History for Future Generations
At the São Paulo meeting, CroActivas welcomed five new members. Each new member is required to fill out a form with their personal details and, crucially, write their migration story.
“It’s important to document our history—if we don’t write it down, it will be lost. We want these stories to remain, so people understand how our ancestors arrived in Latin America,” Nadinić stresses.
Dafne Bilich’s account tells of her grandfather, Miroslav, a 35-year-old chemical factory owner in Zagreb, who was declared an “enemy of the people” by the Yugoslav communist regime. He was imprisoned, escaped, and eventually made his way to Brazil via Italy.
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CroActivas is filled with stories of people who crossed the Atlantic due to political and economic circumstances, seeking a new life in unfamiliar lands.
“Until 1991, those of us in South America wanted the world to know what Croatia was. Now, we want Croatia to know who we are,” says Nadinić.
