Project description: Throughout history, the multicultural and multi-ethnic Republic of North Macedonia has built values that affect the quality of life of individuals, but also the maintenance and progress of all communities through various historical circumstances. We are witnesses that the contribution of culture and art throughout history is in their constant search for freedom, rule of human rights, mutual respect, understanding, the need to learn from each other, and to create new values. It is within this project that we aim to create a cultural space for different communities that will preserve and nurture the values of the past, but also create new values, and turn our community into a creative and noble place to live. Through appropriate education, networking of young people, and the application of informal educational models, we will mobilize young people for their active involvement in the promotion and protection of cultural values, we will encourage and strengthen the cooperation of young people with the non-governmental sector. Within the project, we will tell stories about the heritage of women from the Republic of Macedonia and promote the principle of equal participation of women and men in all areas of the public and private sectors, equal status and treatment in the exercise of all rights and in development of their individual potentials, through which they contribute to social development.

The general goal of the project is to promote inter-ethnic and inter-cultural dialogue between young people from three cities of the Republic of North Macedonia, through cultural initiatives and activities for reconciliation and social cohesion.

Specific objectives of the project are:

S.C. 1. Strengthening efforts for intercultural and interethnic understanding and respect among young people in the Republic of North Macedonia,

S.C.2. Promoting diversity among young people through cultural exchange and the art of photography;

S.C.3. Strengthening the sense of common belonging of young people in the community, the sense of self-respect and respect for diversity

S.C.4. Promoting the cultural-historical significance of women through photographic revival of the life and works of prominent Macedonian women excluded from the cultural heritage.

Directly involved participants (target group) are 18 young people of different ethnic, religious and gender affiliations from the City of Skopje, the Municipality of Gostivar and the Municipality of Strumica. The second target group is the civic organizations from the three cities that work with young people, and the final beneficiaries of this project are all the citizens of the involved regions. The project is guided by the principles of inclusiveness and participation and it will include an equal number of male and female participants.

The project will be implemented in partnership with experts from the association Initiative for Civil Integrations IGI Gostivar and Organization of Women Strumica. IGI Gostivar manages to provide a space where young people come together to share ideas, resources and experience in order to promote the importance of youth engagement in all aspects of life. Young people recognize IGI's organizational commitment to youth engagement, while building their leadership capacities, considering youth engagement as one of the most important things leading to a healthy society. The Strumica Women's Organization brings valuable expertise, resources and perspectives that contribute to the overall success and impact of the project. The Strumica Women's Organization brings expertise in addressing gender issues, which is essential for promoting inclusiveness and understanding the intersectionality of multiculturalism and gender.

Benefits for the local community would be the following:

1. Increased social cohesion: by encouraging multiculturalism and celebrating diversity, the project helps to build social cohesion in the local community. It creates opportunities for young people from different ethnic backgrounds to interact, learn from each other and develop mutual respect. This increased social cohesion contributes to a more inclusive and harmonious community where people from different backgrounds feel valued and connected.

2. Enhanced intercultural understanding: intercultural understanding will be facilitated by providing platforms for dialogue, cultural exchange and shared experiences. It allows participants to gain insight into different cultures, traditions and perspectives. As a result, the local community benefits from increased intercultural empathy, reduced stereotypes and improved communication between individuals from different backgrounds.

3. Empowering and engaging young people: Through their active participation in the project, young people develop leadership skills, critical thinking skills and a sense of agency. They become empowered to address local challenges related to multiculturalism and initiate positive change.

4. Awareness and Education: 

Although there are many benefits to using the Internet and social networks, including for the purposes for education, at the same time there are many dangers. By posting personal information available to a large number of people, the Internet has created a space for peer violence. Cyberbullying, cell phones, or other content-laying devices (text and images) are a common form of cyberbullying that is increasingly being faced by children and young people on a daily basis. On the other hand, the existing curricula at all levels of education (primary and secondary) do not meet the needs for education and training of young people to meet the latest challenges.  The laws for prevention of cyberbullying and cybersecurity have not yet been adopted in North Macedonia, so we must rely on other laws, such as those aimed at protecting children and young people from all forms of violence and discrimination, including cybercrime.

The overall goal of the project is to strengthen capacity of young people and teachers about the application of cyber security measures and to develop effective school curricula for prevention of cyberbullying.

Long-term expected results: 

1.Improved knowledge and skills of teachers from schools in the country for application of programs and content in the area of cyber security in schools by creating a network of teacher trainers and peer educators, 

2.Reduction of the presence of cyber bullying among young people and improvement of the existing curricula at all levels of education (primary and secondary) in order for them to respond to the latest challenges of the digital age,

3. Prepared one-year program for working with students on cyber security, submitted to each of the 5 schools for its further integration into the annual program 

4. Strengthening the skills of 500 students for safe use of the Internet through peer education, 

5. Improved cooperation and transfer of knowledge between educational institutions for creating policies in the field of cyber security and

6.Creation of education mobile application for Android contain cyber security education resources, designed for teachers and students Period of implementation: September - February 2024

Person for contact: Maja Hristovska, project expert 

The focus of this project is to assess how political and economic dynamics could help to unblock bilateral relations between North Macedonia and neighbouring countries namely, Greece and Bulgaria. Within this context, the bilateral agreements, the Prespa Agreement and the Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations with Bulgaria, are considered as building blocks toward sustainable neighbourly relations.

The main goal of the project is to develop a culture of peace and non-violence as a basic value in the educational system in the Republic of North Macedonia. Specific objectives of this project are (1) prevention of conflicts by accepting the differences between students on different grounds and building a culture of peace among young people, (2) establishing friendly relations between students of diverse ethnic, religion, gender and social backgrounds, and (3) sensitizing young girls to recognizing the forms of violence committed against them in schools, as well as outside the school's environment, therefore encouraging them to report and act in a safe way.

Goal of the project: Creating a complete picture of the current situation and mapping the progress of North Macedonia towards economic integration of the Western Balkan. Comprehensive mapping of key actors and their positions, the state of affairs within the integration process of North Macedonia to the EU and within the regional cooperation of the Western Balkans as a special reference to the four freedoms (free movement of goods, services, people and capital).