Students in Nine Locations of Bjelovar-Bilogora County Learn How to Respond to Fires
The extracurricular activity 'Little Firefighter' has gathered 120 children this school year, and its founder Marina Đuran Ferenčak aims to expand it nationwide.
The extracurricular activity 'Little Firefighter' has gathered 120 children this school year, and its founder Marina Đuran Ferenčak aims to expand it nationwide.
How to extinguish a fire, what to do in crisis situations, and how to calm others while the problem is being resolved are questions that students of Ivanska Elementary School are seeking answers to. Through the extracurricular activity "Little Firefighter," initiated by teacher Marina Đuran Ferenčak, children across Bjelovar-Bilogora County are gaining practical knowledge about firefighting and safety.
The Ivanska municipality is not the only place where the activity is carried out. The project has also taken root in Čazma, Štefanje, Nova Rača, Trnovitički Popovac, Velika Pisanica, Daruvar, Končanica, and Veliki Grđevac. "In addition to Ivanska, the project is also being implemented in Čazma, Štefanje, Nova Rača, Trnovitički Popovac, Velika Pisanica, Daruvar, Končanica, and Veliki Grđevac. This school year, 120 children were involved in the extracurricular activity," Đuran Ferenčak told Klikni.hr.
In addition to being a teacher, she is also the commander of the Ivanska Volunteer Fire Department (DVD), the leader of the firefighting youth and cadets of the same society, a firefighting judge, and the founder of Little Firefighter. Her multifaceted role is crucial in connecting schools with local firefighting communities.
A wide range of partners participates in the implementation of the activity. "The implementation involves students, leaders of the Little Firefighter extracurricular activity in their schools, members of local volunteer fire departments, the Bjelovar-Bilogora County Firefighting Association, the Bjelovar-Bilogora County, and the Croatian Firefighting Association," stated Đuran Ferenčak.
Children's interest is high, and she is particularly pleased that students join volunteer fire departments after the school year ends. "Students are very interested in this extracurricular activity, and what pleases us most is seeing these same children join the volunteer fire departments in the spring and continue their training there during the summer holidays," she emphasized.
Despite the interest from schools, the project faces a shortage of people willing to lead the activity. "Many schools are interested, but our biggest problem is finding teachers who are willing to lead this extracurricular activity because they feel they don't know enough about firefighting. I invite them to come forward without fear, and they will receive all the necessary help," Đuran Ferenčak urged.
Her call is backed by concrete success stories: two teachers who previously had no contact with firefighting have become active members of volunteer fire departments, and one has even completed training as a firefighting officer. Educated children, she adds, remain calmer in crisis situations and help their peers.
