Mihovil is a standing corps officer from Croatia, currently working in Pirot, Serbia.
“I joined Frontex in 2016 as a national officer seconded for short-term missions,” Mihovil says, “so after a few training visits to different countries, I was sent to Greece, Albania, and Lithuania as a border guard. In 2020, I applied for long-term deployments and now I find myself in Serbia.”
Patrolling borders is what Mihovil knows very well. But there is something else that he understands perfectly: the migrants and the patterns in their behaviour.
“With the war in Croatia, the path of my life changed overnight. As a 5-year-old child, I became a refugee and discovered a cruel world of social impotence. Someone always needs help out there. That could mean a soft, warm hug; it could be just a smile. Since I am very sensitive socially, I want to change how people perceive ‘someone dressed in a uniform’.”
In the last 2 years of service with Frontex, Mihovil laid the groundwork for a couple of charities. The first one was in Albania. Together with other standing corps officers and border guards, he helped five of the poorest local families just a few days before Christmas by providing them with food and school equipment. The second charity was in Greece. They provided equipment for a school for kids with special needs. He is now preparing another charity action to support the local community of Pirot.
Frontex is strong because of its people and their talents. The respect of diversity is key to our growth.
“When we wear our uniform,” concludes Mihovil, “we all look the same but inside we are totally unique and different.”
We use cookies on our website to support technical features that enhance your user experience.
