For some years now, we have been holding summer volunteer camps, which have been very successful, not only for the people we help here in Croatia, but also for the volunteers themselves.

We recently put up a documentary about these camps called “Experience Life!”

Since the size of the camps has been growing yearly, we have for some time now, been working on building a larger center for this purpose. The aim is to provide a place, not only for summer camps, but for families to visit on the weekends and experience communal living and volunteering. It will also be a training center for new volunteers, a place for seminars and spiritual retreats – in short, haven away from the stress of modern society!

Several groups have been fundraising for this project, beginning with the “Love for Love” group in Cremona, who have been faithfully contributing to this project since 2008. Another group called “Paolo con noi” from Edolo, have also begun hosting fundraisers to support the project. Time would fail to tell of all the individuals and companies who have helped. We thank you all, and your investment will continue for years to come!

Below are the highlights of progress of this project. We hope to keep you updated regularly. Anyone interested in contributing, either with funds or materials, please contact us through our email: betterworld@perunmondomigliore.org.

Phase 1 Clearing the Land

June 2010

Thanks to our faithful supporters, particularly to the group ‘Love for Love’ from Cremona Italy, in May we were able to acquire property and begin. It is a beautiful place in the mountains surrounded by a forest, about 2o minutes from the center of Rijeka. This will be a very big undertaking, but we know with God’s and your help it will become a ‘haven of peace’ for many.

Between the months of May and June we began clearing away the trees, preparing the way for the leveling of the property in preparation for our building.

Phase 2 Leveling the Property

Summer 2010

Our Friends at Work

Work continued during the summer months. The heavy equipment came and the land was prepared. Then in the 2nd Volunteer camp in August the first log building was constructed. Thank you so much Cloz and the Red Cross from Trento who provided a truck and drivers to bring the materials.

Amazing transformation

Loading the Red Cross Truck

Constructing our Log House

'From Cloz With Love' - First building on the site

Phase 3 Building the Foundation

November 2010

We finally were able to complete the foundation of our new center! Just in time, before winter sets in and we begin our Christmas shows. Thanks to the help of Boris Slišković and Boro, our faithful co-worker and construction teacher. It took about a week to complete, but we were very satisfied.

Retaining Boards completed

Laying first layer of steel netting

Wiring together both layers

Pouring the Concrete

Croatian Tradition - When the foundation is laid a barbeque for the workers.

The final product! A job well done!

A Time of Waiting and Learning Patience

January – July 2011

We had planned on starting to raise the walls in the spring of 2010, but, besides a lack of finances, different events led to a time of waiting and learning patience! We were introduced to a group of individuals who wanted to start a company building with ICF panels. This isn’t a new type of technology per se, though it is here in Croatia, but the idea was to build an eco-building, which for us seemed like a good idea. They were looking for a pilot project, so we began working together. Ours would be a pilot project for them, the idea being that we would only pay for the materials and labor, and they, instead of making a profit, would use our building as a showcase for their new company. It sounded great for all! But then the Croatian bureaucracy began to kick in!

We had originally planned on a building of 2 floors, ground floor, plus 6 mini-apartments on the second and mezzanine floors. Our architect had extended the outer walls by 20 cm to acommodate this, but it didn’t pass. On the contrary, we learned that the laws had recently changed and we were actually able to extend the building up to 13 m and 3 floors! Great news!

So, once again, it was back to the drawing board. So far, so good. Then in July we learned from our contractor and engineer that we needed to build a retaining wall, to strengthen the foundation!

Phase 4 The Retaining Wall

August 2011

Two groups from the summer camps dug a channel for the foundation of the retaining wall, the first being a group of Scouts from Edolo, Italy, and the second from Cloz. Lots of hours in the hot sun, but rewarding work. (Plus a good swim afterward each day to cool off!)

Working on retaining wall foundation channel

October 2011

The wall finished. The next step is to bring more landfill. Then we can begin assembling the “sandwich” and start erecting the walls of the main building.

A mountain of styrofoam