DESA's mission

DESA is an NGO, founded in Dubrovnik in 1993, with the aim of helping women refugees, immediately after the tragic events which had taken place there in 1991/1992. While it has maintained its humanitarian and peace promoting activity to this day, as time went on, DESA's programs have sought to adapt to the requirements of the real life situations. Today DESA has become an organization which aims to help women find their independent place in the society.

Over the years DESA has worked with and has been helped financially and otherwise by numerous international NGO's and humanitarian organizations, as well as by a number of Croatian companies and Croatian Government funds. All financial aid, which DESA receives, is strictly limited to the specific projects that DESA presents to its partners and donors at home and abroad.

DESA's objectives and visions are:

• to further its efforts in educational activities especially in practical self-help disciplines,
• to develop counseling on healthy living, ecology, and related issues,
• to stimulate interest in participatory democracy

DESA's focus has always been concentrated upon the woman, as a mother or a spouse, as a researcher or a keeper of tradition, but also as a promotor of positive changes in both family and community.

Today, through its educational and development projects, DEŠA encourages woman to become economically independent and to get actively involved in the transition process society.

DESA stimulates the peacemaking role of woman in the promotion of tolerance and of a constructive dialogue in a multiethnic society.