Online Training “Focus on Children: Equal Opportunities for All”

As part of the Jean Monnet project European Support for Children at Risk of Poverty (EU_SHINE), the Faculty of Law Osijek hosted the online training programme “Focus on Children: Equal Opportunities for All”, aimed at strengthening competencies for working with children at risk of poverty.

The training took place via Zoom from 29 January to 20 February 2026 and brought together a total of 105 participants. Participants included students in the social sciences, primarily social work students, as well as professionals from various fields, including social workers, psychologists, social pedagogues, educational rehabilitation specialists, and early childhood education and care professionals.

The programme comprised four thematic modules, offering participants an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the risk factors and consequences of child poverty, relevant theoretical approaches, principles of professional practice and individualised support planning, and ways of connecting with community resources. Particular attention was given to European Union and Croatian measures and policies aimed at tackling poverty, models of advocacy, and effective approaches to mitigating the effects of poverty and organising support at the community level.

Lectures were delivered by Professor Sanela Bašić, PhD, from the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo; Professor Olja Družić Ljubotina, PhD, from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb; Assistant Professor Dinka Caha, PhD, from the Faculty of Law Osijek; and Associate Professor Marijana Kletečki Radović, PhD, from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb.

The training focused on linking theoretical knowledge with practical approaches to supporting children at risk of poverty, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and coordinated action among professionals. By bringing together students and professionals from diverse backgrounds, the programme contributed to the exchange of knowledge and experience and promoted approaches aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for every child.