As part of the “Raising Young Volunteers” project, we successfully organized the “Painted with Good Deeds” Art Event, which brought together 20 participants on June 2, 2026, at Gornje Prekrižje in Zagreb – young volunteers from the Tuškanac Centre for Education and Training, members of the public, and Kolajna volunteers.

Under the expert guidance of our project coordinator and amateur artist, Antonia Rukavina, participants worked together to create paintings inspired by the colours of the sea and sunset, decorating their artworks with pebbles, seashells, and wooden ornaments. A particularly valuable aspect of the activity was that each child created an artwork together with a citizen or volunteer. The resulting paintings were not only expressions of creativity but also symbols of connection, mutual respect, and collaboration.

Every brushstroke, every smile, and every conversation served as a reminder that attention, time, and genuine human connection can brighten someone’s day in the most beautiful way. At the same time, the activity helped raise public awareness and foster a better understanding of the needs of children without adequate parental care, encouraging citizens to become more actively involved in volunteering and community service activities.

This event is yet another example of how small acts of kindness can have a significant impact. It is the small gestures, shared moments, and generously given time that build a sense of community, encourage solidarity, and inspire hope.

The event was further promoted through media coverage and a guest appearance on OTV television, helping us bring the values of volunteering and the importance of including children with disabilities and children without adequate parental care in community activities closer to the wider public.

There are moments that remind us that the most beautiful paintings are not created solely with brushes and paint, but through encounters, smiles, and the warmth we share with one another. Such moments defined this event, during which participants had the opportunity to spend meaningful time socialising and creating together with children without adequate parental care.

Through colours, canvases, and shared experiences at the Tuškanac Centre for Education and Training, small works of art were created, but something even more valuable emerged – a sense of belonging, togetherness, and joy. The young volunteers enthusiastically participated in the activity, demonstrating their creativity, imagination, and unique perspectives on the world.

The “Raising Young Volunteers” project, co-financed by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, promotes volunteering education as an extracurricular activity. As part of the project, the highly successful Tuškanac Volunteer Club was established, where these young volunteers engage in volunteer work in residential homes for older adults, help maintain local parks, and now also create art with the goal of helping others regardless of the challenges they face.

We are especially pleased that the young volunteers decided to donate their artworks and use them to raise funds for a shelter supporting children in need. For this reason, we plan to organize a presentation and exhibition of the artworks, which will be available in exchange for donations. In this way, we will present the results of the activity to the wider public while further promoting the values of creativity, volunteering, and mutual support.

We would like to thank all citizens, volunteers, partners, and participants whose presence, dedication, and open hearts contributed to the success of the “Painted with Good Deeds” event.

Together, we have once again shown that empathy, solidarity, and togetherness are the most beautiful colours with which we can paint life.