Croatian women from Istria gather again in New York
- by croatiaweek
- in Entertainment
(Photo credit: Mate Kruzic)
After a long break because of the coronavirus pandemic, Croatian women from Istria have gathered again in New York at the Istria Sport Club in Astoria.
Members of the Histria Association for Women, among them well-known Istrian Lidija Bastijanich, and their guests got together to celebrate with local food and music from the homeland.
The president of the Histria Association for Women, Maria Santalesa, greeted everyone present and wished them a warm welcome and a good time.
(Photo credit: Mate Kruzic)
(Photo credit: Mate Kruzic)
(Photo credit: Mate Kruzic)
The Histria Association for Women was founded in 1989 by Istrian women from the New York area. The mission of the club was to form an organisation that will provide educational programs with information to women in order to live successfully in their new environment.
(Photo credit: Mate Kruzic)
They also undertook to promote Istrian culture and heritage by organising various events and holiday parties with Istrian music and food. Members meet once a month at the Istria Sport Club in Astoria, NY for lectures on a variety of topics of interest to women.
(Photo credit: Mate Kruzic)
(Photo credit: Mate Kruzic)
During the year they organize trips around America, cruises around the Caribbean and during the summer they visit Istria. They also organize group cruises on the Adriatic, organised by the vice president of the club, Marina Vucenik.
The Histria Association for Women also organized the production of the historical documentary “Putovanje”, directed by Olivia Blaskovich Rutigiliano. Twenty-two women from the Istrian community shared their unique experiences on how and when they left Istria, their experiences in camps in Italy before arriving in New York.
(Photo credit: Mate Kruzic)
Club members support several charity programs in NY and also in Istria. Thus, they gladly accepted the invitation to support a charity dinner at the Dubrovnik restaurant at the end of June, organised by members of the Croatian World Congress USA, where all funds raised will be donated to the association TATA JE TATA in Croatia.
