(PHOTO) Maribor pays tribute to the people who helped it grow

Maribor has been awarded its new honorary citizens, whose work has significantly impacted thousands of lives. In the Grand Hall of the Maribor Puppet Theatre, the city presented municipal awards and honors to individuals and organizations for their contributions to the community. Central recipients were Magda Žezlina, the new honorary citizen of Maribor, and Prof. Dr. Veljko Vlaisavljević, the new honorary citizen. The ceremony took place ahead of the anniversary of the City of Maribor, which this year marks 862 years since its first written mention. Magda Žezlina was named Slovenia's first patient rights advocate in 2003. Before that, she worked in social services within education and advocated for the introduction of social services at primary schools. Her work was also connected with youth homes, and after independence, she was elected to the Maribor city council. She served as a patient rights advocate until 2010, drawing attention to conditions in healthcare and advocating for the adoption of the law on patients' rights. Žezlina received the honor as the sixth woman in Maribor’s history to receive such recognition. In her thank-you speech, she recalled the beginning of her work as a patient rights advocate, which she took on after retirement. “What I wanted, I achieved,” she said. The award means a lot to her, though she expressed regret that she did not receive it earlier, when she could have accepted it with more strength. Prof. Dr. Veljko Vlaisavljević received the honor for exceptional achievements in reproductive medicine and embryology. He began developing an in vitro fertilization program in Maribor in 1983. Under his leadership, the center introduced modern methods of assisted reproduction, some of which were implemented for the first time in Slovenia. The department for reproductive medicine developed into one of the leading centers for treating infertility. More than 9,000 children were born thanks to his work. Vlaisavljević linked the award to the work of the entire team, from researchers and embryologists to doctors and nurses. “Maribor has always been close to my heart,” he said, recalling difficult beginnings: “We fought for every test tube.” The Golden Medal was awarded to psychiatrist Jožica Gamse for long-term work with vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, people with dementia, and terminally ill patients. In 1989, she founded a self-help group for women with breast cancer, later participating in the development of palliative care and support for grieving families. Starting in 1997, she visited patients at home, becoming the first psychiatrist in Slovenia to introduce such practice. The Silver Medal was awarded to Lidija Šestak Zorič for long-term work in social programs and advocacy for the rights of people with cerebral palsy. The Bronze Medal went to the Home Care Center in Maribor for work in the field of social protection. City awards were given to the Vagant Travelers Association, the Regional Committee of the Slovenian Hospice Society, and the Maribor Vintage Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club. Vagant was honored for long-term representation of world cultures and promotion of intercultural dialogue, Hospice for support in palliative care, and the Vintage Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club for preserving technical heritage. Mayor Saša Arsenovič linked the history of Maribor with the people who built and accompanied it through different periods. He emphasized that the city’s future is not self-evident but shaped by decisions and the work of people living there. “The future of the city is not something that happens to us, but something we create ourselves,” he said. According to the mayor, Maribor needs quality jobs, investments, and opportunities that would allow young people and families to plan their future in the city. He also mentioned the need for decentralization of the country and better utilization of the city’s potential. At the same time, he stressed that protecting heritage and development can proceed simultaneously, as the city, besides its history, also needs progress.