For many migrant workers leaving your country means a lot of uncertainty, but for Edz Casamillo from the Philippines it’s totally different. For the last two years Zagreb, Croatia, has become a familiar place that feels like home, where she can pursue her dreams. Even though migrating has its difficulties Edz is determined to make her dreams into reality.
In 2024 Edz moved to Croatia to work in a bakery and learn the language. “I came here with a purpose: to provide for my family and achieve my dream of owning a house and lot in the Philippines,” she says. Her parents and three siblings still live in the Philippines. Working in one of Croatia’s most famous bakeries, Edz dedicates her labor to supporting her siblings’ education and building a stable future for her loved ones back home. Back when she still lived in the Philippines, supporting her family was not a possibility because of the low wage she earned. Now, with her job in Croatia, she is able to support herself, as well as her family.
Easy transition
For Edz, the transition to life in Croatia was eased by her faith. As a devout Catholic, the presence of churches throughout Zagreb is vital to her: “Without God, it’s too hard to achieve our goals.” Another reason why the transition to life in Croatia was easy were the similarities between the Philippines and Croatian culture. “A big similarity is religion and the approachability of the Croatians” according to Edz.
Despite the distance from her family, Edz avoids loneliness through her social nature and the peace she finds in local parks. “When you stay in the park and reminisce about the view, you get a freshness from the start,” she shares.
Croatian Language
Even though Edz feels at home in Zagreb, she is a bit nervous about the future. Next year, a new law will require foreigners to pass a Croatian language test to stay in the country. “That’s a little bit hard for us because we need to pass the A1. The results of the exam will decide if we get to stay in Croatia or not.” For this reason she tries to study as much as possible in her free time.
Future plans
Looking ahead, Edz hopes everything will go well, and she will reach their goals. “ I hope to earn enough to one day buy a house in the Philippines, and provide for my family so my siblings can finish their studies”.