*** Molimo, spustite se niže za opis na hrvatskom jeziku. ***
HOW OUR STORY BEGAN
Hi! We are Ana Mužak, Antonia Ćosić and Katarina Lončarić, three young psychologists. Five years ago, while we were studying, we began to volunteer in Children's Hospital in Zagreb. Every week, we came to the Children's Department of Oncology and Hematology, and by using puppets and a screen, we did plays based on problem-solving stories for children who were hospitalized for a long time.
![]()
We created a small theater which later has shown us the impact the story has in the hospital environment. It can uplift children , give them high-quality content to play with, show them another activity besides excessive watching TV, and give them the opportunity to identify themselves with characters who are brave and strong. By doing this we managed to put smiles where once were tears on children's faces. Our volunteering soon became a volunteer-based project, and now it is bigger than ever before. At the moment it involves 19 students who volunteer in the three Children's Wards in Zagreb every week. In the meantime we have established the association Center for Psychological Support and Development "Talk to Me" that the three of us lead and manage.
THE STORY BEHIND "KU-KUC" BOX
Through continuous efforts, we noticed how children and adults in hospitals, but also outside of them, often do not know how to spend time together. Today's busy lifestyle is taking them further apart. Children are more alienated from their peers and family than before. Often they do not have the opportunity for a careless play. And children who do not play are the sad children. We believe that this is a problem of our society.
Inspired by these facts and using experience we gained by working with children as well as knowledge in the field of children's developmental psychology, at the beginning of 2016 we have created something new and different – a box filled with the story and different materials that promote play, spending time together, communication, creativity and learning.
![]()
We named this box "Ku-kuc! The story is inside". We have signed up for the Impact Hub Incubator program where we have developed our idea with the help of experts from different fields. We played with children using "Ku-kuc" prototype boxes. The smile on their faces once again confirmed to us that we were on the right track. Then we talked to parents and found out that they have little time and even less ideas in their everyday life on how to spend time with children. So this box brings them what they long for – it gives them ideas, materials and support. That way they can enjoy in the moments spent together with their children. In the end of the Incubator program at Impact Hub Zagreb we won the "UniCredit Foundation Award" award, and the "Ku-kuc" box was declared as one of the three best socio-entrepreneurial ideas in Croatia.
![]()
WHY "KU-KUC" BOX?
We believe that every family should have the opportunity to peek into the "Ku-kuc" box and find their very own story in it. We believe that this box must knock on the doors of hospitals, kindergartens and familes because it:
- gives real, practical ideas and materials for high-quality implementation of the common time for children and adults;
- returns the originality and authenticity of play;
- provides an alternative to passive ways of spending free time, such as watching television, computers or mobile phones;
- provides an opportunity for creating unique special ways of playing for every family and helps them to create a stimulating and motivating environment;
- teaches how to deal with daily challenges of parenthood in an interesting and personal way;
- contributes to building an emotional connection and communication of children and parents;
- encourages creativity, imagination, and builds self-esteem in children;
- provides a lot of reasons for laughter, joy and fun;
- makes memories.
"KU-KUC" BOX CONTENT:
"Ku-kuc! The story is inside" is intended for children aged 3-7 years and adults, and its content are:
- Story booklet including problem-solving story for children and advices for adults: examples and guidelines for dealing with conflicts and difficult situations, proposals for the use of puppets through games and instructions for making your very own objects and toys
- Seven puppets made of felt and cotton (manufactured by Kamensko Association)
- Wooden frame, three pieces of paper, a piece of string, 12 wooden pegs – to create a family tree
- Three wooden stand, a piece moosgumi materials – for making stamps
![]()
WHY WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE "KU-KUC! THE STORY IS INSIDE" PROJECT
Children who play are happy children. Our vision is to bring back play where it belongs – in children's life. The "Ku-kuc" box is the first didactic product in Croatia and beyond which provides the idea to play in a special way – with the help of stories, puppets and accompanying materials. By purchasing a box, you create an environment in which children have the opportunity to enjoy in a game that fosters imagination, creativity, and overall psycho-social development.
The Kamensko Association is making the puppets and other fabrics that are part of "Ku-kuc" boxes. By purchasing the "Ku-kuc" boxes, you are supporting the work of this association and their seamstresses, who are wrestling day-to-day for their own workplace.
Also, by supporting this campaign, you can help in expanding humanitarian work of dedicated volunteers who perform plays based on problem-solving stories for hospitalized children beyond Zagreb and throughout Croatia.
![]()
BECOME A PART OF THE "KU-KUC! THE STORY IS INSIDE" PROJECT
With the smallest donation we are closer to our goal, so please support this project in the following ways:
- By purchasing special perks that we have prepared for you
- By donating any amount of money that you find appropriate
- By sharing this campaign on social networks, spreading stories among friends, family, and colleagues
To make this project alive, we need 9.000 dollars for:
- Supply of materials that this box consists of (fabrics, wood)
- Printing of booklet
- Production and printing of the box itself
- Maintaining the workplace for the coordinator of a project in which volunteers perform plays based on problem-solving stories in children's hospitals in Zagreb
- Activities of expanding the humanitarian work of volunteers who perform plays based on problem-solving stories for hospitalized children beyond Zagreb and throughout Croatia
![]()
WHAT DO YOU GET FROM US IF YOU DONATE?
– $5 Story begins –
Thank you for your support! But there's more – Ku-kuc badge will very soon knock on your door!
![]()
– $15 Bag full of... –
We are very pleased that you like us! And while the squirrel packs her snack, we are sending you this backpack.
![]()
– $20 Puppetry –
Great! It's time to play! In a little bag there are problem solving story and four animal puppets that will make you play your trumpets.
![]()
– $42 BoxOX –
Hurray! Only for you, if you make the first four days count (April 24-27), you can get the whole box with 10% discount.
![]()
– $42 With love –
Hip, hip, hooray! In a hospital, an orphanage or in a family in need one child is waiting for this box indeed. Donate it and it will come with your name on it.
![]()
– $85 For you ... –
Storyful! The story is inside, that's why with the box you are getting knowledge that you can use wide. Join us at a two-hour workshop in Zagreb for adults.
– $160 In kid's hands –
Very nice that you think of others! You can donate two boxes to children's hospitals that will pop up smiles, and one box will fly to you, no matter the miles.
– $500 Leave a trace –
Step by step and leave a trace! Donate 10 boxes to children in hospitals or kids that are in need and that will be very nice indeed. To thank you, one box is coming to you.
– $1000 Forest friend –
Holy carrots, you are a true forrest friend! 20 boxes to institutions for kids and one for you. You pick a story that we will play in children's hospitals in all it's glory.
*** Stigli ste! Opis projekta na hrvatskom jeziku ***
KAKO JE SVE POČELO
Bok! Mi smo Ana Mužak, Antonia Ćosić i Katarina Lončarić, tri mlade psihologinje. Prije pet godina, još kao studentice, počele smo volontirati u Klaićevoj bolnici u Zagrebu. Svakog tjedna odlazile smo na Odjel za onkologiju i hematologiju i pomoću lutaka i paravana pričale priče djeci koja su dugo hospitalizirana.
![]()
Bilo je to pravo malo kazalište koje nam je pokazalo koliki utjecaj priča ima u bolničkom okruženju: podiže raspoloženje djece, daje im priliku da se odmaknu od bolničke svakodnevice, daje im kvalitetan sadržaj za igru, odmiče ih od prekomjernog gledanja televizije te im daje priliku da se poistovjete s likovima koji su hrabri i snažni. Uz priče, mi smo stavljale osmijehe gdje su prije bile suze na dječjim licima. Naš požrtvovni rad ubrzo je postao volonterski projekt koji i dan danas djeluje i živi: u njemu sudjeluje 19 studenata koji svakog tjedna volontiraju na dječjim odjelima triju bolnica u Zagrebu. U međuvremenu smo osnovale i udrugu Centar za psihološku podršku i razvoj „Pričaj mi“ koja je nositelj projekta, i koju ponosno vodimo.
PRIČA O "KU-KUC" KUTIJI
Kroz kontinuirani rad primijetile smo kako djeca i odrasli u bolnicama, ali i izvan njih često ne znaju kako bi provodili zajedničko vrijeme. Današnji užurbani način života sve ih više razdvaja. Djeca su danas puno otuđenija od svojih vršnjaka i obitelji nego prije. I često nemaju priliku za bezbrižnu igru. A djeca koja se ne igraju su tužna djeca. Mi smatramo da je to problem našeg društva.
Potaknute tim činjenicama te obogaćene iskustvom u radu s djecom i znanjima iz područja dječje razvojne psihologije, početkom 2016. godine osmislile smo nešto posve novo i drukčije – kutiju u kojoj se nalaze priča i različiti materijali koji potiču igru, zajedničko provođenje vremena, kreativnost i učenje.
![]()
Kutiju smo nazvali „Ku-kuc! Priča je unutra“. Prijavili smo se na tromjesečni program Impact Inkubator gdje smo pomoću stručnjaka iz različitih područja razvijale našu ideju. U tom smo se razdoblju pomoću prototipa „Ku-kuc“ kutije igrale s mnogom djecom. Njihov osmijeh na licu dao nam je znak da smo na dobrom putu. Zatim smo „Ku-kuc“ kutiju pokazali i roditeljima. Kroz razgovor s njima doznali smo kako imaju malo vremena i još manje ideja u svakodnevici za provođenje vremena s djecom te da je kutija ono za čim čeznu – daje im ideje, materijale i podršku. Na kraju ovog inkubacijskog programa Impact Huba Zagreb osvojile smo nagradu „UniCredit Foundation Award“, a „Ku-kuc“ kutija proglašena je jednom od tri najbolje društveno-poduzetničke ideje u Hrvatskoj.
![]()
ZAŠTO "KU-KUC" KUTIJA?
Naša je želja da svako dijete dobije priliku zaviriti u „Ku-kuc“ kutiju i u njoj pronaći svoju vlastitu priču. Vjerujemo da kutija mora pokucati na vrata svih bolnica, vrtića i obitelji jer:
- daje konkretne ideje i materijale za kvalitetno provođenje zajedničkog vremena djece i odraslih;
- vraća izvornost i autentičnost igre;
- daje alternativu pasivnim načinima provođenja slobodnog vremena, poput gledanja televizije, računala ili mobitela;
- daje priliku za kreiranje posebnih načina igranja svake obitelji i pomaže u stvaranju poticajne i motivirajuće okoline;
- na vrlo zanimljiv i osoban način podučava o svakodnevnim izazovima roditeljstva;
- pridonosi izgradnji emocionalne povezanosti te komunikacije djece i roditelja;
- potiče kreativnost, maštu, i izgradnju samopouzdanja kod djeteta;
- pruža puno razloga za smijeh, veselje i zabavu;
- stvara uspomene.
SADRŽAJ "KU-KUC" KUTIJE
„Ku-kuc! Priča je unutra“ je namijenjena djeci u dobi od 3 do 7 godina i odraslima, a njezin sadržaj je:
- Knjižica s problemskom pričom za djecu i savjetima za odrasle: primjerima i uputama za rješavanje konfliktnih ili teških situacija, prijedlozima za korištenje lutaka kroz igru i uputama za izradu vlastitih predmeta
- Sedam lutaka izrađenih od filca i pamuka (izrađuje udruga Kamensko)
- Drveni okvir, tri lista papira, komad špage, 12 drvenih kvačica – za izradu obiteljskog stabla
- Tri drvena stalka, komad moosgumi materijala – za izradu štambilja
![]()
ZAŠTO PODRŽATI PROJEKT „KU-KUC! PRIČA JE UNUTRA“
Djeca koja se igraju su sretna djeca. Naša je vizija da se igra vrati na prvo mjesto u životu djeteta – točno tamo gdje i pripada. „Ku-kuc“ kutija je prvi didaktički proizvod u Hrvatskoj i šire koji na jednom mjestu pruža ideju za igru na poseban način – uz pomoć priče, lutaka i popratnih materijala. Kupnjom ove kutije stvarate okolinu u kojoj djeca imaju priliku uživati u igri koja potiče maštu, kreativnost, kao i cjelokupni psiho-socijalni razvoj.
U proizvodnji „Ku-kuc“ kutije sudjeluje udruga Kamensko koja proizvodi lutke i materijale od tkanine. Kupnjom „Ku-kuc“ kutije podržavate rad te udruge i krojačice koje se iz dana u dan bore za vlastito radno mjesto.
Također, podržavajući ovu kampanju omogućujete da se projekt izvođenja predstava za hospitaliziranu djecu širi na bolnice u Zagrebu i cijeloj Hrvatskoj.
![]()
POSTANITE DIO PROJEKTA „KU-KUC! PRIČA JE UNUTRA“
I najmanjom donacijom korak smo bliže našem cilju, zato vas molimo da podržite ovaj projekt na sljedeće načine:
- Kupnjom posebnih nagrada (perkova) koje smo pripremili za vas
- Donacijom bilo kojeg iznosa
- Dijeljenjem ove kampanje na društvenim mrežama, širenjem priče među prijateljima, obitelji i kolegama s posla
Za ovog projekta potrebno nam je 9.000 dolara i to za:
- Nabavu materijala od kojih se sastoje elementi iz kutije (tkanine, drvo, moosgummi)
- Tisak knjižice koja se nalazi u kutiji
- Proizvodnju i tisak same kutije
- Održavanje radnog mjesta za koordinatora aktivnosti izvođenja predstava za djecu hospitaliziranu u bolnicama u Zagrebu
- Aktivnosti širenja projekta izvođenja predstava za hospitaliziranu djecu na druge bolnice u Zagrebu i Hrvatskoj
![]()
ŠTO DOBIVATE ZAUZVRAT AKO DONIRATE?
– $5 Počinje priča –
Hvala Vam na podršci! Na kućni prag šaljemo Vam Ku-kuc bedž koji ima životinjski trag!
![]()
– $15 Torba puna ... –
Drago nam je da vam se sviđamo! I dok vjeverica svoje lješnjake u torbi skriva, šaljemo Vam ruksak koji osmijeh na dječjim licima otkriva.
![]()
– $20 Lutkarenje –
Odlično! Vrijeme je za igru! U vrećici Vas čeka jedna problemska priča i četiri slatka životinjska bića.
![]()
– $42 KuTiJa –
Hura! Samo za Vas ovako rano, u prva četiri dana kampanje (24.-27. travnja) naručite cijelu kutiju za 10% manje.
![]()
– $42 S ljubavlju –
Triput hura! U bolnici, domu ili siromašnoj kući neko dijete ovu kutiju željno iščekuje. Pokloni mu je, a tvoje ime neka na kutiji odjekuje.
![]()
– $85 Za Vas ... –
Pričastično! Priča je unutra, zato uz kutiju dobivate i znanje koje možete koristiti sutra. Pridružite nam se na dvosatnoj radionici u Zagrebu.
– $160 U malim rukama –
Pažljivo od Vas što mislite na druge! Dječjoj bolnici dvije kutije dajte i veselja neće nedostajati, znajte. A vama kutiju šaljemo jednu, za obitelj jako vrijednu.
– $500 Ostavi trag –
Korak po korak i ostavi trag! 10 kutija darujte drugoj djeci koja se tome vesele i s drugima dobrotu dijele. U znak zahvalnosti šaljemo jednu kutiju i Vama da ne bude sama.
– $1000 Šumski kompa –
Mrkvica mi, pravi si šumski prijatelj! Ustanovama za djecu 20 kutija daruješ i jednu ti dobiješ. Još izaberi svoju priču, izvest ćemo je na odjelu da djeca od veselja kliču.