Small gestures, big results: How Dubrovnik’s students raised €7,600 for children in need
If you walked past the Dubrovnik Student Dorms during the first weekend of March, you didn't just see stacks of clothes and old books—you saw a community coming together. The 5th annual Charity Flea Market (Humanitarni buvljak ) turned out to be a record-breaker, raising €7,616.01 for the local association “Tata je tata.” What started as a modest project years ago has grown into a massive weekend event, and for the students behind it, the success was about much more than the final number.
A joint effort
This wasn't a solo mission. The weekend was a true team effort between the RIT Croatia Volunteer Club, the RIT Croatia Student Government (SG), the University of Dubrovnik (UNIDU) Student Council, and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Dubrovnik.
Leading the RIT Croatia team was Viktoria Roglić, a junior year student in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program and the president of the RIT Croatia Volunteer Club. Having lived in the dorms throughout her studies, Viktoria has watched this event grow from the ground up.
"I live in the dorms, so I’ve witnessed everything from its beginnings until now," she says. "I can only express how proud I am to see it grow to this point, especially because the local community has become involved to such a significant extent."
Laughter behind the scenes
While the logistics of moving heavy tables and sorting through mountains of donations was a challenge, Viktoria says the spirit of the volunteers made the hard work feel light. Despite coming from different schools and organizations, the students clicked instantly.
"To be honest, I was initially concerned about how everything would turn out logistically, since we had volunteers from RIT Croatia, ESN, and the University of Dubrovnik," Viktoria admits. "However, friendships quickly formed, and the environment was filled with laughter. We truly enjoyed both collecting and sorting the clothes, as well as the weekend itself."
Brightening the day
The weekend wasn’t just about the sales. Since Sunday, March 8, coincided with International Women’s Day, the students handed out roses to local women who stopped by. It was a simple way to connect with the people of Dubrovnik and add a personal touch to the charity drive.
"We wanted to show the community how easy it is to brighten someone's day," Viktoria explains.
The local fire department (JVP Dubrovnik) also joined the fun, letting kids check out their equipment and explaining how it works. For Viktoria, their presence was "the cherry on top," making the event feel less like a fundraiser and more like a neighborhood get-together.
Helping children in need
The choice to support the association "Tata je tata" hit home for the organizers. The charity is well-known for helping families in need, and for the students, the mission felt personal.
"Their mission is especially meaningful because they support children," says Viktoria. "This collaboration gave us the opportunity to help them directly."
From handmade blankets that sold out instantly to the boxes of clothes donated by neighbors, the event proved that when students from RIT Croatia, UNIDU, and ESN team up, they can make a massive impact. As the tables are packed away for another year, the goal remains the same: to keep this tradition alive.
"I hope that next year it becomes even bigger—not only because we are doing something meaningful, but also to inspire younger generations and show that anything is possible", Viktoria concluded.
