The project "Establishment of Resettlement Mechanisms" represents an important step in the integration of persons under international protection into the society of the Republic of Croatia—within this project, Prolink developed an advanced mobile application intended for migrants and refugees, serving as a key tool in their adaptation process to life in a new environment, providing them not only with easily accessible information but also the ability to independently navigate through daily challenges they face. This application is the result of a deep understanding of the specific needs of the target group, who often find themselves in extremely sensitive life situations where access to accurate and timely information is crucial for successful integration and building a new life in an unfamiliar environment—from the moment of arrival in Croatia, through accommodation processes and status regulation, to everyday activities such as visiting a doctor or enrolling children in school.
Thematic organization and comprehensive application content
The application is structured so that information is clearly organized according to topics covering the most important aspects of life in Croatia—various segments are covered, including healthcare which contains information on treatment rights, locations of clinics and hospitals, and emergency procedures; housing with detailed instructions on accommodation applications and tenant rights; education helping parents enroll children in kindergartens and schools and understand the education system. Special attention is given to legal rights that users are entitled to under international conventions and Croatian laws; employment with information on the labor market and application procedures; social services providing additional support; and cultural integration helping users understand customs, traditions, and everyday social norms—each of these segments is elaborated in detail with clear specification of conditions, procedures, and relevant institutions, which significantly contributes to transparency and empowers users' independence in accessing the information they vitally need.
Technical implementation and offline data availability as a key functionality
One of the key technical advantages of the application developed by Prolink is the ability to access all content in offline mode—upon first launch and installation of the application, all textual content in the language selected by the user is automatically downloaded via a secure API, after which it remains available even without an active internet connection. This functionality is extremely important for users in environments where internet access is unavailable or unstable, which is often the case in the early stages of migrant integration when they do not yet have stable living conditions or are in temporary accommodation with limited infrastructure—by enabling access to data without an internet connection, the application significantly increases its functionality and reliability, ensuring that the user, at any time and regardless of circumstances, can access essential information about their rights, obligations, and opportunities.
Interactive audio system for learning the Croatian language
In addition to basic textual information, the application contains an advanced interactive audio system designed specifically for learning the Croatian language—this system targets users who have just started acquiring the language or have difficulties with verbal communication, providing them with the opportunity to actively learn and improve language skills in the context of everyday use through a range of basic words and phrases they can combine into simple sentences, with simultaneous pronunciation in Croatian. This method enables users to develop language competencies needed for basic communication in a practical and intuitive way—from introducing themselves and greeting, through going to the store and ordering in a restaurant, to communicating with doctors or officials—significantly facilitating daily functioning and reducing dependence on translators and intermediaries.
Multilingual support and adaptable administrative interface
Given the exceptional diversity of users the application is intended for, Prolink implemented support for multiple languages, including those with specific language requirements such as Arabic, which uses right-to-left writing and requires special adaptation of the user interface—for the purpose of efficient management of these language modules, we developed an adaptable administrative interface that enables Ministry of Interior employees to easily and independently manage all language content without the need for technical knowledge. This includes entering new texts in different languages, updating existing translations in accordance with changes in legislation or procedures, and configuring visual display for each language individually—ensuring consistency, accuracy, and high-quality content regardless of which language the user accesses the application in.
Administrative system functionalities for independent content management
The administrative system developed by Prolink is designed with the primary goal of enabling Ministry of Interior staff to independently manage all application content without the need to engage external programming resources or possess deep technical knowledge—the intuitive interface allows easy addition of new texts, modification and updating of existing information, management of translations in all supported languages, and adjustment of visual elements according to current needs. This functionality is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the project as it enables quick and efficient response to changes in legislation affecting user rights and obligations, the need to add new information or functionalities arising from user feedback, and regular content refreshing without any delays or interruptions—the system is also designed with an emphasis on a high level of security, protecting data integrity and preventing any form of unauthorized access or content manipulation.
Comprehensive development process and inclusion of real user needs
The application development encompassed all phases, from initial analysis of end users' real needs to final testing and implementation in the production environment—we approached the collection of feedback and user experience planning with special care to ensure the application is intuitive, accessible, and useful for a wide range of users with different levels of digital literacy and technical knowledge. Through close cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and experts working daily with the migrant population, detailed technical documentation was created ensuring complete transparency of the development process and significantly facilitating all future upgrades and system adaptations—comprehensive user training was also conducted and continuous technical support ensured, achieving uninterrupted availability and maximum system functionality from the very first day of its implementation.
Practical impact of technology on user integration and independence
This project excellently illustrates how modern technology can serve as a powerful tool for supporting vulnerable groups in society—migrants and refugees often face numerous challenges in accessing information, primarily due to language barriers hindering communication and complex administrative procedures requiring understanding of the legal and institutional framework. Our application, through its accessibility, ease of use, and deep adaptation to users' real needs, helps significantly reduce these obstacles, enabling users to gain the necessary confidence for independent action and active participation in the social life of their new community—achieving not only better and faster integration but also a noticeable improvement in the quality of life for persons who have found themselves in an international protection situation.
Long-term sustainability and continuous application development
Cooperation with the Ministry of Interior continues after the successful delivery of the application, through regular content updates following changes in legislation and procedures, continuous security updates protecting the system from new threats, and performance optimization ensuring fast and stable operation on all supported devices. We proactively monitor application usage in real conditions, analyze all user feedback received through various channels, and based on these insights, propose and develop new functionalities that will respond to changes in the legislative framework and evolving user needs—such an approach ensures the long-term relevance of the application and its maximum effectiveness in providing support to persons under international protection during all phases of their integration into Croatian society.
Why the Ministry of Interior chose Prolink for application development
When selecting a partner for the development of this extremely sensitive and socially important application, the Ministry of Interior sought a team that not only possesses top technical competencies in developing complex mobile solutions but also deeply understands the specifics of working with vulnerable groups and the importance of adapting technology to their real needs and capabilities—Prolink emerged as the natural choice precisely because of its holistic approach to development, where emphasis is placed not exclusively on technological execution but on creating a tool that will truly improve the lives of the people it is intended for and enable them greater independence and quality of life. Throughout the entire development process, from initial analyses and consultations with experts working daily with the migrant population to testing with real users and final solution implementation, Prolink acted as a partner who listens, understands, and proposes solutions exceeding initial expectations—while simultaneously ensuring the application is intuitive to use, technically reliable, and ready for further upgrades that will bring additional value in the years to come. If you are considering introducing digital tools to support vulnerable groups in your institution or organization, especially if it concerns migrants, refugees, or other persons for whom access to information is hindered due to linguistic, cultural, or other barriers, we are here to discuss the approach and scope that best suit your specific needs and goals.