The eventful history of Croatia has left manifold cultural areas: The country was shaken by the Croatian war from 1991 to 1995 that broke out after the Croatian declaration of independence from Yugoslavia. Since the Yugoslavian wars, Croatia fights to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. Especially in the former war zones the population is poor. The unemployment rate is high. Youth unemployment is estimated to be the third highest in Europe. Since 2013 Croatia is member of the EU. Accession to the EU and the negotiations connected with it entailed some progress: combatting corruption, protection of minorities and reappraisal of the Croatian war have been actively tackled in the country.
Kolping in Croatia
The history of Kolping Croatia started in the times of Adolph Kolping. Already on September 17, 1856, only six years after the foundation of the first journeymen’s association in Cologne, a journeymen’s association was also founded in Zagreb. Adolph Kolping visited this association in person and gave a presentation on the aims of the association and inspired the journeymen for the ideals of the association.
During the Yugoslav wars at the beginning of the1990s many Kolping Families from Germany, Austria, South Tyrol and Switzerland supported the people through humanitarian aid in coping with the consequences of war.
Kolping Croatia currently has 148 members and 7 Kolping Families.
