Taking Build Up to Zagreb: Carlin's experience in Croatia
August 6, 2025
Children's Perspective is a partner in a multi-year Erasmus+ project aimed at improving support for young people leaving youth care (careleavers). In this project we cooperate with three organizations: Cepora and Zvečanska from Serbia, and Udruga Igra from Croatia.
The first project year is dedicated to working visits: professionals visit each other's organizations to better understand the local context, practices and challenges surrounding the transition from care to independence. For Children's Perspective, this project fits seamlessly with its own ambition: the broadening the horizons of professionals in the care of young people. International cooperation offers new perspectives, inspiration and practical ideas that are directly applicable in Dutch practice. Carlijn looks back on the working visit to Croatia.
INTERVIEW
Can you briefly introduce yourself?
Hello all, I am Carlijn Meulepas, 33 years old and since 2,5 years an enthusiastic member of the adult board of the Youth Welfare Council. Outside of this fun job, I am Support Worker/Coordinator Co-Determination at Pluryn. I have been doing this for 9 years with great passion.
Why did you find it interesting or fun as a Dutch social worker to step completely out of your own work context and look across the border?
I am currently working on giving youth participation a big boost at Pluryn. That's precisely why I was so curious about how youth care and youth participation is shaped elsewhere. I think you always get tips from it.
What was your first impression of youth aid in Croatia?
I noticed that supervisors work with more love and passion because they have to comply with fewer rules. Less reporting, less consulting, so more time for the children.
Can you name a moment or encounter that really stuck out to you during the work visit?
I loved the visit to the family home. Meeting the children themselves and I was fascinated by the way the home works. On the one hand, very nice to see that as much as possible normal life is imitated, such as going with them to the bank and shopping. While on the other hand it is also far from reality, such as a safety net and social control from the whole village and going on vacation every year.
What really struck me was that the children's rooms were very homey and cozy, and the children looked very happy.
What did you learn from the Croatian approach that you might take with you into your own work?
Important to stay close to reality, there is a life after youth care so young people really need to be properly prepared for that. And love is the KEY! That is the most important thing of all!
I would like to reduce the amount of regulations and reporting in the Netherlands, but I cannot do that alone. But sending out a signal as a result of this working visit seems like a good start.
What would you like to give to colleagues who are hesitant to go on such an international work visit?
You learn an awful lot from it, it gives you another perspective on work and sees what is really important.
