Back to the Roots: A Personal Journey to Continue Helping Others from the Heart

Interview by Marko Sovdat with Jack Simic Hage

From a very young age, I dreamed of helping others, protecting nature and animals, exploring the world, and embracing cultures through food, outdoor activities with scouts, music, martial arts, and acts of kindness. These passions eventually led me to volunteer in intercultural exchange and nature farm programs across Europe and beyond.

My heart has always been with those who cannot defend themselves, people mistreated because of loopholes within the law, outdated systems, or prejudice related to nationality, culture, religion, or the colour of their skin. Unfortunately, these issues still exist even today. That deep desire to stand up for others has shaped every step of my journey and taught me to think outside the box so that help can still be provided where it is needed most.

As a child born in 1981 and raised around animals, I developed a deep love for German Shepherds and animals in general. My first dog, Max, came into my life after he had been rejected from police training and treated harshly beyond his abilities using old fashioned sharp training collars with sharp pins. I adopted him when I was around 18 or 19 years old. We became inseparable companions for 12 years and completed various trainings together, started to train dogs from others.

Over time, my passion for animals expanded to include exotic and wild species in need of care and protection. From the age of 15, I volunteered at an exotic animal sanctuary, gaining early experience in animal welfare and rehabilitation.

This love for animals eventually led me into wildlife rescue work as an young adult, where I had the privilege of working alongside veterinarians and animal experts to help injured, abandoned, and confiscated animals, both wild and captive species. Through these experiences, I gained hands on skills in animal care, emergency response, medication administration, and minor treatments.

During those years, my growing knowledge and strong motivation to help others also led me toward social support work for families and vulnerable individuals. These abilities later proved invaluable during volunteer work with international refugee aid programs, where I also received advanced first aid and fire response training on a voluntary basis.

Over the years, my life became filled with travel, safety commitment for then the former country I was living, movement, and diverse experiences with also efforts as scout leader for sharing my knowledge with the youth. I worked in many industries, including hospitality, international kitchens, bars, construction, logistics, security, and NGO based social service support. Along the way, I built lifelong friendships across cultures while continuing to shape my dreams and future goals.

With the support of a close friend, I eventually established a successful technical construction and amusement company. Later, I expanded my work into a low budget summer travel organisation focused on guided tours in Slovenia and Croatia for youth, families, and people with disabilities, including visually impaired participants. I also volunteered by guiding tandem cycling activities with other volunteers through nature with visually impaired persons and born with Down Syndrome. In reality, balancing different forms of work was necessary also to survive rising living costs while continuing to pursue my dreams and projects I am doing right now to help also others from the heart.

Helping others has always remained my true purpose in life.

My grandmother taught me from an early age the importance of kindness, sharing food, preserving stories from the past, and understanding the values of the Yugoslav partisan movement. She often encouraged me to ask people in need one simple but powerful question:

“How can I help?”

My grandfather, a highly respected retired soldier who was also deeply involved in farming, taught me how to work with my hands, stand strong in difficult situations, and defend both myself and the people I love. He passed on practical knowledge in agriculture, woodworking, and craftsmanship. I still remember him telling me:

“If you cannot build your own house with your own hands or grow your own food, you will always depend on someone else.”

Above all, he taught me to stand up for what I believe in, never back down when protecting others, and fight when necessary to defend those who cannot defend themselves.

The journey toward the dreams that today continue through Narava Farm began during my teenage years through cooking. At first, I worked in kitchens simply to earn money for martial arts lessons and travel opportunities. I did not enjoy it in the beginning, but under the guidance of a strict Japanese chef, I learned discipline, structure, dedication, and passion, values that still guide me today.

That kitchen also introduced me to my Aikido and Kendo teacher, Tsuyoshi, who later became a close friend and mentor. He taught me Zen Buddhism, meditation, and the path of self-discovery. After he returned to Japan, I continued my martial arts journey through Taekwondo and Kenpo, both of which brought further balance and strength into my life.

These lessons, together with the wisdom of my grandparents and parents, guided me toward a life built on peace, resilience, service, and community.

In 2018, I returned to Slovenia to reconnect with my roots and reinvest in the country I deeply love, while also remaining connected to Croatia, where part of my heritage extends. I devoted my businesses and energy toward supporting volunteer-based nonprofit initiatives and collaborating with people from all backgrounds and abilities. With the support of a visually impaired friend, I finally brought a long-time dream to life: the creation of Narava Farm,  a social intercultural community space for families, youth, and individuals with and without disabilities. The project continues to grow every year.

At Narava Farm, we are building more than just a farm. Together with people close to us, we are creating a cultural sanctuary,  a place where families, friends, neighbours, and visitors can gather for good food, meaningful exchange, entertainment, learning, and genuine human connection. A place where people from all walks of life, including those with disabilities or limited financial means, feel welcome, safe, and supported.

Our goals for the coming years, leading up to approximately 2030, include continuing to expand and improve the farm, although some plans were unfortunately delayed. In 2023, severe storms and floods caused more than €60,000 in damages that were not covered by insurance. Many farms, homes, and buildings throughout Slovenia suffered major losses during this natural disaster.

Despite these challenges, we continue moving forward with hope and determination.

Our Future Plans Include:

• Additional client rooms

• A new studio space for our target groups and summer guests on the upper floor

• An open kitchen and dining bar inside our clubhouse for Community Food Days during winter

• A small cuddle zoo connected to a family studio with additional sleeping facilities for participants in our exchange and social animal therapy programs

• A small educational exotic animal exhibit featuring rescued animals to promote awareness, education, and care for wildlife and exotic species

I have dedicated everything I have to making Narava Farm a special family-friendly place,  not only for my own children, but also for children from the local community, single parents, visiting families, and people in need. Within our programs, I also serve as a confidential contact person and social support community worker.

As Narava Farm continued to grow year after year, life also brought unexpected challenges and new adventures. In 2022, due to a long term illness situation within the family, I unexpectedly became a fulltime single father and had to obtain all legal parental rights through court procedures. During this process, I experienced first hand how broken certain systems can still be, even in modern times, and how financially demanding it can be to handle everything correctly through official channels.

Despite the difficulties, we took time to heal, rebuild, before continue moving forward together and my work. Surrounded by loving family, friends, volunteers, and people from many cultures, we created a meaningful and positive life built on support, learning, resilience, and community spirit.

Since 2023, I have also recommitted myself again with partners to working as a temporary guardian and support figure for youth participants across Europe while assisting their families whenever needed. Life and work continue, and every year we support scout associations that having a special place in my heart as former scout leader. We also support youth groups, students, families in need, elderly people, and persons with disabilities through non-profit contribution based programs that combine educational activities, community work, outdoor experiences, and intercultural learning at Narava Farm and throughout its beautiful surroundings.

This journey becomes more meaningful every single day. I feel privileged to continue pursuing these dreams, helping others, sharing knowledge, and creating lasting memories with people from many different backgrounds.

The heart and soul of Narava Farm are truly alive and recognised by people from all over the world who have joined us and shared unforgettable experiences here.

In the end, this dream was not simply given to me. I sacrificed my companies, financial stability, and even a second home to fully dedicate myself to this mission. Together with volunteers, loved ones, supporters, and our community, I gave everything possible to ensure Narava Farm could become something truly meaningful,  a legacy for my children, family, friends, local community, and everyone who believes in kindness, inclusion, intercultural connection, respect, and humanity.

A LAST Message From the Founder

Narava Farm is not only about our organisation or our projects and programs,  it is also about believing in yourself and growing as person in the surrounding nature.

No matter how difficult life may become, your dreams matter. Keep fighting for them, and for the people you love.

We sincerely thank everyone who has supported our mission over the years through donations, volunteer work, building materials, encouragement, or simply kind words.

Help us continue to grow. Join our mission to create a better world together.

Together, we can build a lasting legacy of kindness, intercultural exchange, respect, and community support. Let us continue this journey together, one step at a time. 

Do you want to help our mission out, every small contribution helps to help others within our charity programs.

Fundacija_Narava     (online contribution) 

Fundacija Narava         (by bank) 

IBAN: IE27MPOS99039081759698

BIC/SWIFT: MPOSIE2D