Abandoned Clinic in Medviđa Leased to Local Committee for One Euro a Year
Residents of Medviđa, a village in Bukovica heavily affected by the Homeland War, have finally secured a gathering space following a proposal by county councilor Mate Lukić.
Residents of Medviđa, a village in Bukovica heavily affected by the Homeland War, have finally secured a gathering space following a proposal by county councilor Mate Lukić.
Residents of Medviđa, a small village in Bukovica, will finally have their own space for socializing and gathering. The Governing Council of the Zadar County Health Center has decided to lease the abandoned former clinic building to the town of Benkovac, specifically to the Medviđa Local Committee, for a symbolic rent of one euro per year.
The initiative was launched five months ago by county councilor Mate Lukić of the NL mladih and Party for Zadar, who requested the repurposing of the building from the county. After months of waiting, his proposal was finally accepted.
"Finally, the people will have a place to gather, celebrate, and welcome guests on anniversaries under our Croatian flag. We're moving forward; we will continue to submit a whole series of such projects from Vukšić, Lišane, Kruševo, Popovići, Bruška, to all other villages of our Ravni Kotari, Bukovica, and the islands," Lukić stated.
Today, Medviđa has only a few dozen residents, but thousands of people originally from this village live around the world. Lukić emphasizes that many of them, from America to Australia, want to get involved in village revitalization projects. The building and donations will be managed by the Local Committee, i.e., the people who live in Medviđa.
"There are many of our people from Medviđa, from America to Australia, who want to join in the series of projects we will carry out in the village from which thousands of us originate. Today, unfortunately, Medviđa has only a few dozen residents who have no place to socialize and gather. The building, as well as donations, will be managed by the Local Committee-the people who live here and love this village. Given that many want to spend their retirement on their native soil, and given the number of younger residents of a village burned and massacred during the Homeland War, an asphalt road and a building where they can gather and finally vote outside the priest's house are just the beginning," Lukić said.
Lukić announced that this is just the first in a series of projects aimed at reviving neglected villages. He particularly emphasized the importance of such initiatives for younger residents and those planning to return to their homeland in retirement.
"This is just one in a series of projects we are preparing for our villages that we want to revitalize and breathe new life into," Lukić said.
Residents have already organized the procurement of materials for the renovation of the abandoned space, and many have expressed a desire to participate in its refurbishment.
