Fragments of History

About the Project

The village of Podum and the Gacka Valley have a long and complex history. Many people from this region moved to other parts of Europe and across the ocean. Others were forced to leave because of war or political change.

Fragments of History connects these local stories with wider histories of migration, loss, and rebuilding. It also shows how memories are passed down through generations and how they continue to shape identity today.

Refugee Week 2025

Strategic Planning

Initial strategic planning and discussion with audience about the next steps during the opening night.

Ane Paška Concert

Ane Paška and Salon Beautifying Soul performed at the Old School in Podum on August 8, 2025, as part of Refugee Week in Croatia, blending music, performance, and community spirit.

Ancestral Heritage

Ancestral Heritage – Podum, the Village of My Youth

Darko Lacmanović presents a heartfelt tribute to the ancestral heritage of Podum, his childhood village. With a nostalgic tone and intimate visuals, it reflects on memories, traditions, and the deep-rooted bonds between place and identity.

Film Screening

For the third time, Refugee Week Croatia—Podum brings together people of different origins, languages, and life stories—from France, Germany, the Balkans, and the heart of the Lika region. Through art, play, music, and connection, we create a shared space of belonging. The three-day festival program features film screenings, a concert, discussions, and communal dinners with numerous guests from around the world and the region.

ERASMUS

Two-part seminar for German and Croatian youth work professionals – qualification training and preparation of experts for implementing youth exchanges in rural areas of Europe and building a joint network

Lika Club on Podum

Youth Association Podum is hosting the “Refugee Week Podum and Croatia” arts festival in the village of Podum from August 8–9, using creative and humanistic expression to spark dialogue on migration and its societal impact

Community Power

The old school in Podum turned into a laboratory of the future: a space for music from waste, creative workshops, and talks on sustainability. Young people from France, Germany, and Croatia showed how art and politics together can empower community.

Get Involved Share your story

We invite you to become part of the Fragments of History project! If you have photographs, short stories, video recordings, documents (e.g. payment slips, postcards, letters), or handmade items from family workshops, we would be happy to include them in our shared archive of memory.

If you would like to share your memories and life stories, you can invite us for a conversation or interview - in person, online, or by phone. Your experience, whether you are from Podum, the Gacka Valley, or the diaspora is a valuable part of our collective history.

Together, we preserve the voices of the past and create a space for intergenerational dialogue.

Email Us

An old photograph of a woman with a child in a field.

Project Leaders

Zeljka Batinić

Tatjana Brezovski Čišija

Darko Lacmanović

Milena Stegnjaić Majerle