May 9, 2022 - The Center for Latin American Migratory Studies developed an online search engine that allows you to find out, in just three steps, on what date and on what ship your Croatian ancestors set foot on Argentine soil.

Only with the surname, name, and validating the Captcha code it is possible to access the date of arrival of each of the immigrants who arrived in Argentina between 1800 and 1960, reports infobae.com. You will also be able to know which ship your Croatian ancestors traveled on and which port on the Argentine coast they arrived at.

All of this is now possible thanks to the online search engine of the Center for Latin American Migratory Studies (Cemla), which also allows us to find out what profession or occupation your Croatian ancestors had and from where in Europe they left. This possibility of knowing the history of each family that arrived in the country is the result of one of the most important tasks carried out by the organization, due to its meaning and scope.

Cemla was founded by Father Luigi Favero on December 28, 1985, preceded by the First Conference on Immigration and Identity, held in August of that year, and by the publication of the initial number of Latin American Migratory Studies, the first academic journal dedicated to exclusively to migratory issues in the subcontinent.

It also has an important Documentation Center specialized in national and foreign migrations from Argentina that has the objective of preserving the records of entry into the country for each of its ports as the first specialized library dedicated exclusively to migrations from Argentina. Currently, it has more than four thousand volumes between books and serial publications.

At the end of the 19th century and during the first decades of the 20th century, the great wave of European immigration to Argentina took place. Those who arrived, for the most part, came from Italy and Spain, but Ukrainians, Poles, Russians, Croats, French, Germans, Swedes, and Irish, among others, also arrived.

According to data from the University of Tres de Febrero and the book "Migration Policies in Argentina" by Susana Novick, between 1880 and 1915 more than 1,500,000 Europeans arrived on Argentine soil.

How to search in three steps

1. Enter the link: www.cemla.com/buscador/ (DUE TO GREAT DEMAND, THE DATABASE MAY PROVIDE ERRORS)

2. Write the surname and first name of grandparents, great-grandparents, or relatives who arrived in Argentina between 1800 and 1960.

3. Validate the Captcha code

Image: infobae.com

Among its first tasks, Cemla began the preservation and microfilming of documentary sources of immigration in Argentina and, in particular, Italian immigration in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.

With the same desire to preserve history, it held special Congresses and Conferences that included the participation of specialists from various disciplines from both Argentina and Latin America.

For more news about the Croatian diaspora, visit our dedicated section.

February 16, 2022 - The II International Meeting ''Migratory Processes between Croatia and South America'' began virtually yesterday in Croatian, and will continue today and tomorrow in Spanish with a program that addresses issues of history, present, and future of the migratory process between Croatia and South America.

Sponsored by the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, and The Institute of Migration and Ethnic Studies (Institut za migracije i narodnosti -IMIN), the Faculty of Croatian Studies of the University of Zagreb (Fakultet hrvatskih studija -FHS-UNIZG), the Institute of Social and Political Studies of Patagonia of the University National Institute of Patagonia "San Juan Bosco" (IESyPPat-UNPSJB), the Faculty of Education of the University of São Paulo (FE-USP), the University of Dubrovnik, the International Network of Researchers of Migratory Processes between Croatia and South America, and with the institutional endorsement of other higher education centers in South America, the II International Scientific-Professional Meeting Migration processes between Croatia and South America “Towards a transnational and transdisciplinary field of study” is being held this week.

The meeting aims to generate an institutional space for permanent communication in which to exchange experiences, present research results, discuss theoretical and methodological challenges, promote innovative analytical approaches and collaborate in the creation of an international network that addresses different aspects of the processes migration between Croatia and South American countries.

The previous meetings that served as background brought together seventy researchers and professionals from countries such as Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Russia and Venezuela, and discussed problems related to heritage, identity, collective memory, cultural policies, integration policies, return migrations, the various activities of the Croatian community in South America, language teaching and learning, the role of women in migratory processes, historical aspects, methodological challenges, archival issues, among others. This analytical richness and thematic varieties are part and content of a book, which aims to compensate for the lack of interdisciplinary approaches, helping to increase dialogue between researchers from different countries with a view to strengthening a transnational and transdisciplinary field of study.

This year, the meeting takes place from February 15 to 17. Yesterday the program started virtually with speakers who developed various topics in Croatian, and others will join today and tomorrow in Spanish. Today the program starts at 1:00 p.m., and will touch on cultural and political analysis of the migratory processes between Croatia and South America, preservation of cultural heritage, the Croatian language, international relations and geopolitical dimensions of the migratory process.

Tomorrow it will start at the same time, and there will be talks throughout the day about access to sources and archives on Croatian migration in South America and their use for research on the migratory process, the social and economic frameworks of the migratory process will be analyzed, the labor market, the cultural dimensions and the power of writing in the investigation of the migratory process, and the new approaches and challenges in the study of the migratory process between Croatia and South America will be presented. Finally, a closing of the II Encounter will take place.

To join the session on Wednesday 16 (today), you can do so via Zoom and YouTube. For the session on Thursday 17 (tomorrow), you can also do it on Zoom and YouTube.

To download the complete program with the schedules, contents and information of the speakers, click here.

To download the content book with the research carried out on the migratory process between Croatia and South America, click here.

For general information about the International Scientific-Professional Meeting, click here.

For more news about the Croatian diaspora, visit our dedicated section.

August 29, 2019 - In addition to the counties of Istria and Dubrovnik-Neretva, Split-Dalmatia County last year had more immigrants than emigrants. At a time when there is a continuous increase in population going beyond the borders of the country, it is commendable to single out a county that offers something more to not only retain, but also bring in new residents.

Dalmacija Danas presents a list of measures and programs drawing people to the coast. 

Tourism, as the most promising branch, attracts many to the coastal county. Apart from the cities, many people are opting for a life on the islands, and for which the state has already adopted several measures to make life easier for families on the islands. In addition, through the EU's rural development program, many on the islands and other rural areas of the County have used grants to invest in non-agricultural activities, most notably tourism and the construction of holiday homes, which bring them secure income.

In order to ensure balanced development, the County is working hard on measures to keep the population or bring them back to rural areas. Certainly, the 'Your Home is Here’ measure is the most important in this regard, which, under favorable conditions, allows young families to build or renovate homes. It was launched this year, when 200 applications were received, and the contract was recently concluded with the first 33 families with 80 children. Another 60 new contracts are expected to be signed soon.

Last year, County prefect Blaženko Boban also introduced a series of measures for entrepreneurs. Thus, a small business start-up support program has been prepared for beginner entrepreneurs, for which a loan of HRK 20 to 50 thousand can be obtained. Entrepreneurs can also be granted loans for strengthening entrepreneurial competencies up to HRK 100,000, and economic zones are encouraged for equal entrepreneurial opportunities. With subsidized interest, it is only one percent for the end-user.

“I expect that young people will not only be left with the option to take their identification and go across the border, but that they will be interested in these measures and through them recognize the future of Split-Dalmatia County, and above all the rural part of the County,” said Boban last year.

That proved to be correct. Through lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, interest subsidy generated 1,925 loans worth HRK 2 billion. A total of 445 grants worth 7 million kuna were given to start small businesses.

Particularly significant is the measure for women entrepreneurs, who also received co-financing through applications for these competitions. According to this analysis, Split-Dalmatia County is the second among Croatian counties in terms of budget allocations for entrepreneurs and craftspeople in 2018.

ICT Counties is about to get a new headquarters, and the plan is to find a place for established businesses, as well as young people with start-ups. This profession precisely attracts a new population to the County.

“The IT industry is, in addition to demographic renewal and infrastructure projects, I will not say the third, but perhaps also the first pillar of the development of Split-Dalmatia County,” said Boban recently, explaining that the IT sector is a fine upgrade to demographics, transport and infrastructure efforts to keep young professionals, but that it also attract the best IT experts from around the world, given that there are no business headquarters restrictions.

The County also pays generous benefits for newborns. Based on the demographic analysis in each municipality and city, there are five groups within the counties, and depending on them, the amount of compensation varies. Thus, in the least developed cities and municipalities within groups 1 and 2, benefits are highest and are paid by the age of three. In the other groups in the first year, the amount is lower.

Split-Dalmatia County has allocated the highest number of all counties for kindergartens, and last year was ranked fourth. A large number of kindergartens are currently under construction, renovation, and upgrading. There is a lot of investment in education, and the most significant project in this area is the Center of Excellence. In the two years since the first Center of Excellence was established, the number of students has grown to nearly 400, who, along with their mentors, are refining their knowledge. Such an investment in gifted students has also brought in many national champions in various subjects. This year, Split-Dalmatia County is the second county with the most Oscars of knowledge. 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

A total of 21.4% emigrants from Croatia come from the City and County of Zagreb.