During the past month, Obitelji 3plus has entered a new phase of organizational development, with a new leadership team, stronger member engagement and a renewed focus on advocacy for families with three or more children.
Together with the newly elected Management Board, our new president Josipa Nemet presented a vision focused on strengthening the
association, connecting members more actively and developing stronger advocacy for family policies in Croatia.
A WhatsApp community was established to improve communication among members, followed by the creation of thematic working groups covering areas such as communications and social media, digital infrastructure, projects and partnerships, advocacy and international cooperation, administration, membership and events.
The aim is to make better use of the knowledge and professional experience of members and to create a more participatory model of
association development. A working meeting was organized for members and new volunteers to meet, exchange ideas and discuss priorities for the coming period. Among the topics discussed were the development of the Obiteljska kartica (Family Card) and its digital platform, new partnerships, project development, advocacy, research among large families and participation in upcoming family events.
The association is also developing a new approach to collecting information directly from members. Planned surveys will focus on the
advantages and challenges of raising larger families, the reasons parents decide to have a third or subsequent child, and the areas in which families need greater support. This information will provide a stronger evidence base for future advocacy activities.
One of the most significant advocacy activities during this period concerned the Government’s announced measure to co-finance the purchase of larger family vehicles. Obitelji 3plus welcomed the measure as an important recognition of a very concrete need of larger families, but also submitted proposals and questions to the Ministry of Demography and Immigration before the final criteria were established.
The association particularly advocated for:
- eligibility for vehicles with seven, eight or more seats, according to family size;
- consideration of the actual needs of families with different numbers and ages of children;
- recognition of the practical difficulties of safely installing several child car seats;
- inclusion of both new and used vehicles;
- implementation without an income threshold
- continued involvement of Obitelji 3plus in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the measure.
The association’s position is that public policies should be based on the real experiences of families and that Obitelji 3plus can serve as a
credible communication channel between large families and decision-makers.
Obitelji 3plus has also strengthened its public communication, with a more regular and recognizable presence on social media. A new focus has been placed on sharing authentic stories of large families and presenting positive examples of family life.
One of the recent highlights was an interview with Major Melita Boltužić, a Croatian Air Force officer, PhD candidate, wife and mother
of six. In the interview, she spoke about motherhood, professional life, marriage, faith and the everyday reality of raising a large family. Her central message – “Children do not take away our life dreams; they enrich them” – reflects the association’s aim to challenge stereotypes about large families and promote a positive and realistic image of family life.
The association is also developing recurring communication formats, including a weekly “Family Thought of the Week”, practical information for families, member stories and posts addressing current family-policy issues.
The coming period will focus on turning the newly established working groups into concrete activities and projects, strengthening cooperation with public institutions and partners, developing research among members and continuing advocacy for policies that recognize the specific needs and contribution of large families.
Obitelji 3plus also intends to strengthen its cooperation with ELFAC and remain actively involved in European discussions and initiatives
concerning large families. The past month has therefore been less about launching a single new project and more about building the organizational capacity, member involvement and advocacy framework needed for the next phase of the association’s development.