Studenac and Orange Fish: back-to-school packages, free training and tutoring

Studenac has successfully launched a new phase of “Orange Fish”, a platform that specifically and systematically supports the lives of single-parent families. On the occasion of the new school year, it has prepared packages for 60 children from lower and upper grades as well as high school students for a carefree return to school.

Children and parents from the Zagreb area picked up their packages at a joint gathering with program partners, finding everything necessary for the start of the new school year – from school bags, school supplies, and notebooks to sports equipment such as sneakers, hoodies, sports bags, and water bottles, as well as hygiene products and multivitamins.

In addition to the packages, Studenac reminded parents and schoolchildren of the possibility of free training in sports clubs and announced free tutoring that will be available to children as early as this fall.

Packages for children from other cities were sent by mail to ensure they arrived at their home addresses before the start of classes.

– I believe we were very clear when presenting this year’s project activities – we will support children and parents throughout the year and during moments that are important to them. After successfully organizing summer vacations, we continued to expand the community of partners and prepare everything necessary for school. I am proud that more than 20 partners – companies, associations, clubs, institutions, and individuals – have joined us in three months. Our Orange Fish is now a platform that brings together a community of people and organizations dedicated to improving the lives of a group that consists of more than 200,000 families in Croatia – said Tatjana Spajić, Director of Corporate Communications at Studenac, at the gathering.

To ensure that children of all ages receive everything they need for the new school year, companies such as Intersport, Decathlon, Narodne Novine, Eurocom, Lipa Mill, TOZ Penkala, Hrvatski Telekom, and Salvus have contributed, while Melem provided a token of appreciation for the children and parents.

– Thank you for everything you have provided for my children. This project means a lot to both me and them because we have created memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. All the activities that Orange Fish has enabled for them point my children towards true life values such as community, gratitude, and friendship – said a single mother of four children, two of whom are part of the Orange Fish program, at the gathering.

– I am very happy to be part of the Orange Fish project. I received a package with everything I need for school – notebooks, pencils, crayons, a bag… Now I feel ready for the new school year! I was also very happy about the summer vacation because I made new friends there, swam, and played every day. This has been my best summer so far – said a ten-year-old girl.

The project was also supported by the Croatian Olympic Committee, which donated an interactive “Olympic Starter Kit” to the youngest. Dr. Ana Popovčić, author and head of the Committee for the Promotion of the Achievements of Olympism, the Olympic Movement, and Scientific Achievements in Sports at the Croatian Olympic Academy, addressed the children and parents at the gathering in Zagreb on this occasion, further motivating them to participate in free sports programs.

Children of single parents can also attend free sports programs thanks to the partner clubs of Orange Fish

According to a study on the challenges faced by single-parent families in Croatia conducted for Orange Fish in May by the Improve agency and the LET Association, as many as 31 percent of school-aged children from single-parent families are not involved in additional sports or artistic activities. Nearly every second parent among them cites financial constraints as the reason for non-involvement. For this reason, Orange Fish brings together sports clubs and associations willing to offer free memberships to children who want to engage in sports but whose parents cannot afford it.

So far, this initiative has been joined by the Gymnastics Club Osijek Žito, the Gymnastics Club Rijeka, the Swimming Club Zadar, the Dance Center Zagreb by Nicolas, the Zagreb Softball Club Prince, and the Split clubs Karate Club Galeb, Taekwondo Club Galeb, Mizzfits BJJ & Judo Club Tori, and Cheerleading Club Seventh Wind. More details are available at the link.

At the gathering in Zagreb with schoolchildren was Nicolas Quesnoit, a dancer and owner of the dance center who gladly joined the program and provided free training for children whose parents cannot afford monthly fees. “I am proud to be part of this noble story with my dance center, full of various activities designed for these children. Orange Fish has surpassed the golden fish here; the happiness on these children’s faces is genuine, and a happy child is all we can wish for,” he emphasized.

Free tutoring and educational materials coming soon

To provide free learning assistance to children of single parents, Studenac will publish various educational materials on the Orange Fish platform and enable free online tutoring. Indeed, as many as 44 percent of parents from single-parent families cannot afford additional tutoring for their children, compared to 9 percent of families with two parents. Following these indicators, in collaboration with professors and educators, content to support learning will soon be an integral part of the platform.

Orange Fish: the first comprehensive platform aimed at supporting the daily lives of single parents and their children

Orange Fish is a socially responsible project of Studenac. Activities began last year with organized summer vacations for children from single-parent families, and this year the initiative has evolved into a comprehensive support platform.

The first activity of this year was conducting research on the challenges faced by single-parent families in Croatia, which was carried out for Orange Fish in May by the Improve agency and the LET Association. The results of the research served as the basis for designing activities within the platform, aimed at supporting parents and children based on their feedback and the situations they find themselves in. Thus, in accordance with the research results, summer vacations for children were organized again this year, an interactive website with useful and inspiring content for parents and children was launched, and the latest activities are related to a carefree return to school.