A more noble world as a legacy

We first met our dear donor, Ms. Marina, a few months ago when she shared her inspiring story with us. Even before she spoke a word, we noticed her warm spirit and the kindness that radiated from her. A lifetime of experiences—filled with compassion and care for others—was shaped by her many travels around the world, sailing with her husband Ivica, a ship captain. These journeys, the encounters with different cultures, the generosity of people in distant lands, and the heartbreaking reality of how children live in the world's remotest corners, all profoundly influenced her life.

One such journey forever tied her heart to the children of Africa. She recounted how, despite extreme poverty and harsh living conditions, the joy and resilience of African children were more palpable than anywhere else. That is why it became so important to her to help provide them with the very basics—food, clean water, healthcare, and education.

She and her husband endured the most devastating loss a parent can face—the loss of their own child. After losing their beloved daughter, Nilufer, they made a decision together: they would dedicate their legacy to helping children who needed it most. In addition to supporting children in their own community, Marina recognized UNICEF as the organization that could help her fulfill this noble wish. She included a bequest to UNICEF in her will, generously allocating her donation to programs supporting children's well-being in Croatia, as well as in equal measure to vulnerable children in Africa and Asia. As she put it, this was her way of contributing to a more noble world—a legacy for both the present and future generations of children.

From a young age, Marina understood how kindness and individual acts of goodwill could change lives and make the world a better place. As a child, she often stayed with her grandmother, who had lived through the hardships of war and taught her the importance of helping others. Whenever someone knocked on their door asking for food, her grandmother would prepare a full plate, and it was Marina’s job to pass it on—receiving a grateful smile in return.

Later in life, when she traveled by plane to join her husband in the Netherlands, carrying a ten-month-old baby and luggage full of baby supplies, countless strangers offered to help. In fact, her awareness of the world's kindness began even earlier. She fondly recalled the moment she learned she was expecting a baby while traveling in the Far East. Due to a high-risk pregnancy, she had to remain on strict bed rest for three months in a hotel in India. Yet, she remembers only kindness—the warmth of people who, despite their own struggles, were always ready to lend a helping hand.

Back in Croatia, she happily donated most of her belongings to those who needed them more than she did. Before ending our conversation, she shared one final story—one that beautifully illustrates how acts of kindness create a ripple effect. While in Finland, she once found herself without enough small change for a bus fare. A stranger immediately stepped forward and paid for her ticket. The memory of that simple act stayed with her, and later, when she saw a young couple—tourists struggling to pay for their bus ride with a large bill—she didn’t hesitate. With a smile and a heart full of gratitude, she paid their fare. She firmly believes that good deeds pass from one person to another, keeping hope for a better world alive..

We are deeply grateful to Ms. Marina for sharing her story with us. Her trust and generosity, expressed through her bequest, give us strength and motivation to continue our journey—sailing together toward a world where every child has a chance for a brighter future.