A MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF THE
ECMI NGO NETWORK
FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF INTERETHNIC RELATIONS
IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
- Society Development Initiative -
October
2004, Issue no. 30
This is the Newsletter of the
ECMI NGO
Network for the Improvement of the Interethnic Relations in the Republic of
Macedonia
. This Network is a result of a joint initiative between the
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
, in Flensburg , Germany and members of this Network.
This Network will enhance the co-operation of the member NGOs towards the
development and improvement of interethnic tolerance, respect for
differences and dialogue among all those living in the Republic of Macedonia
.
In particular, this NGO Network aims to strengthen the capacities of the
participating NGOs to generate joint projects and other initiatives with a
strong interethnic dimension and to implement such initiatives.
Network Aims
1. Promotion of mutual
cooperation through exchange of all available resources.
2. Initiation and implementation of joint projects.
3. Increasing the influence of NGOs in the community.
4. Creation and development of a joint strategy for the improvement of
interethnic relations.
5. Expansion of the network.
Previous issues of the Newsletter at:
www.ecmingonet.org.mk/
publications_uk.htm
Contact information:
ECMI
Regional Office Skopje
Address: Majka Tereza 13a, Skopje
Telephone: +389 (0)2 3215 637; 3215 638
Fax: +389 (0) 2 3215 639
Email:ecmimkd@ecmingonet.org.mk
The ECMI project in Macedonia has been funded by generous contributions of :
ECMI REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES
ECMI
Regional Centre Skopje
Address: Majka Tereza 13a, Skopje
Telephone: 389 (0)2 3215 637
E-mail:
ecmiskopje@ecmingonet.org.mk
Contact person: Gordana Cvetkoska
ECMI
Regional Centre Kumanovo
Address: Lokalitet Garnizon 1/1-2, Kumanovo
Telephone/ Fax: 389 (0)31 425 456
E-mail:
ecmikumanovo@ecmingonet.org.mk
Contact person: Elena
Petkovska
ECMI
Regional Centre Bitola
Address: Josif Hristovski 4/4, Bitola
Telephone/ Fax: 389 (0)47 236 874
E-mail:
ecmibitola@ecmingonet.org.mk
Contact
person: Lidija Angelkovska
ECMI
Regional Centre Gostivar
Address: 17 Noemvri 37a, Gostivar
Telephone/ Fax: 389 (0)42 212 273
E-mail:
ecmigostivar@ecmingonet.org.mk
Contact person: Nebija
Ismaili
ECMI Regional Centre Stip
Address: Vanco Prke 62/3-2, Stip
Telephone/ Fax: 389 (0)32 382 510
E-mail:
ecmistip@ecmingonet.org.mk
Contact
person: Dragana Mitrovik
ECMI Regional Centre Tetovo
Address: JNA 18, Tetovo
Telephone/ Fax: 389 (0)44 331 854
E-mail:
ecmitetovo@ecmingonet.org.mk
Contact person: Elvira Murtezani
We hope that you have enjoyed this issue of the ECMI NGO Network Newsletter.
If you have any comments or suggestions for improvement of this newsletter,
please contact Verica Grdanoska at:
grdanoska@ecmingonet.org.mk
Roma Women Organization
from Macedonia “DAJA” – Kumanovo
Campaign “The future is your choice”
Roma
Women Organization from Macedonia “DAJA” – Kumanovo, member of the ECMI NGO
Network, started with realization of campaign named “The future is your
choice”. The campaign is aimed to raise the awareness of the Roma women’s
rights through explaining the possibilities for their involvement in the
political processes.
In the frame
of the campaign for bigger participation of Roma women in politics, a survey
was conducted within 1 500 Roma women from 15 towns in Macedonia: Kumanovo,
Kriva Palanka, Skopje, Stip, Delcevo, Pehchevo, Berovo, Kocani, Vinica,
Prilep, Bitola, Kicevo, Debar, Gostivar and Tetovo.
E-mail:
daja@mol.com.mk
ECMI Regional NGO Resource Centre Kumanovo
Cross border cooperation
The cooperation for peace and
development between the Regions of Kumanovo, Preshevo, Gnilanje and
Trgovishte was characterised as a big step in solving the problems created
in the last decade and in coordinating the development strategies of the 4
municipalities. The cross border collaboration has been initiated in July
2004 by the Kumanovo local authorities, the Council of Europe and EastWest
Institute.
One of the aims of this initiative is to enhance the cross border
cooperation between the NGOs and to establish a regional network of
nongovernmental organizations. In this line, a NGO Fair was organized where
all members of the ECMI Regional Centre Kumanovo presented their work. The
General Director for political issues from the Concle of Europe, Mr. Klaus
Shuman, and the Mayor of Kumanovo, Slobodan Kovachevski, visited the
Regional Centre Kumanovo stand and were introduced with the ECMI mission in
Macedonia and the work of the Regional Centre members.
The initiative is supported by the (SIDA),
Danish ministry for foreign affairs, “Rockefeller
Brothers” Foundation and “C.S.
Mott” Foundation
E-mail:
ecmikumanovo@ecmingonet.org.mk
ECMI Regional NGO Resource Centre Shtip
“Customers Don’t be Quite”
The Consumers’
Association- Shtip branch concluded the implementation of the initiative
“Customers Don’t be Quite” in partnership with the Organization of women -
Stip and the Association for Independent Initiative.
This
initiative aims to raise the awareness of the citizens for their consumers’
rights and contribute to the improvement of the conditions of consumers
through education and information. Through the implementation, 6 workshops
were held with lecturers form the market inspection, sanitary inspection and
one specialist in hygiene and health.
Next planned step is to contribute to the legal treatment of the cases
submitted to the Consumers’ Association in Shtip as a result of this
initiative.
E-mail:
ecmistip@ecmingonet.org.mk
ECMI Regional NGO Resource Centre Skopje
“Without Fear Towards the Future”
The initiative “Without Fear Towards the Future” aims to
social inclusion and development of the creative potentials of the mentally
disabled children through stimulation of their self confidence. As a result
of this initiative, the mentally disabled children learned the basic
techniques for relaxation, overcoming of the stress and traumatic
situations.
15- 20 children were included in this project and raised their knowledge in
English and in the same time benefited through the creative workshops. All
this on long term will enable easier inclusion of the disabled children in
the social and cultural activities.
Close communication and coordination of the activities is established with
special high school “Naum Ohridski” Skopje and there is an intention to
establish similar contacts with two other special schools “Idnina” and
“Stremec”.
The initiative was implemented by the
Center for psychological support and mental health care- Skopje in
partnership with the Organization of Albanian women – Chair branch and NGO
Luludi.
E-mail:
ecmiskopje@ecmingonet.org.mk
ECMI Regional NGO
Resource Centre
Shtip
“Euro Integration”
The strategic aim of Macedonia is to
enter the EU in the shortest possible period, otherwise it will be left at
the European periphery, non developed and poorer than ever. To contribute to
this strategic aim, the initiative named “Euro Integration” was launched at
the Shtip and Kavadarci municipalities.
Through proposals and opinions regarding the implementation of EU standards,
the citizens of Shtip and Kavadarci will contributed to the inclusion into
the European integration process.
Organization of women from Shtip implemented the initiative in partnership
with the Association for Independent Initiative, the Consumers’ Association-
Shtip branch and Association of Roma from Tikvesh- Kavadarci.
E-mail:
ecmistip@ecmingonet.org.mk
ECMI Regional NGO
Resource Centre Tetovo
“Decrease the
violence through education”
Two days training seminar for non –
violent communication was held with teachers from the primary schools from
Jagunovce, Vratnica, Shipkovica, Stenche, Glogi and Tearce, as part of the
initiative “Decrease the violence through education”.
This initiative is aimed to promote non-violent behaviour among the students
through carrying out trainings for the teachers from the rural areas. 21
teachers attended this training where the techniques for non violent
communication were discussed as well as the upcoming implementation of
activities that will promote non violent behaviour among the students.
The initiative is implemented by the NGOs - “Happy Life” in partnership with
the NGO Multikultura and the Center for democratic development.
E-mail:
ecmitetovo@ecmingonet.org.mk
ECMI regional Resource
Centre Shtip
“Let’s present our tradition and culture”
As part of the initiative “Let’s present our tradition and
culture”, a vast cultural presentation was organised by the Association for
development and emancipation of Turkish in the eastern part of the Republic
of Macedonia. 350 citizens of Shtip and surrounding area attended this event
where the Turkish culture was presented through the traditional dresses,
dishes and instruments. Furthermore, the Cultural assembly “Karadja Oglan”
from village Konche performed few traditional dances.
The event was financially supported by the Ministry for culture and the
business sector from Shtip.
E-mail:
ecmistip@ecmingonet.org.mk
ECMI Regional NGO Resource Centre Bitola
Exhibition – Spiritual and Cultural living of Bitola through the centuries
The
exhibition “Spiritual and Cultural living of Bitola through the centuries”
was opened on 14 of October at the art gallery “Jeni Xhamija” Bitola. This
exhibition is part of the project "Bitola Babam Bitola III", organized by
the Cultural and Humanitarian Association of Turks "Chelebia", in
partnership with the "Institute, Museum and Gallery" Bitola.
The exhibition revealed the spiritual and cultural life of the town through
the traditionally used bits and pieces. The unique mixture of objects caught
the attention of many visitors as the local government representatives,
representatives of the Bitola cultural live, NGO representatives and media.
The project "Bitola Babam Bitola III" is part of the Program for Improvement
of the Interethnic Relations, carried out by FOSIM, King Baundoin Foundation
and James Stewart Mot Foundation.
E-mail:
celebi_bt@hotmail.com
ECMI
Regional NGO Resource Centre Kumanovo
Launch of the Coalition for Interethnic Cooperation
14 NGOs from the
Kumanovo region, members of the ECMI NGO Network, have founded a regional
coalition "Coalition for Interethnic Cooperation".
The coalition, consisted of NGOs from Kumanovo, Sveti Nikole and Kriva
Palanka, has dedicated itself to meet the citizens' needs in a more
effective and organized way in cooperation with all local stakeholders. The
Statute and the Program of the coalition were consented on the
constitutional assembly with 28 participants, 2 representatives of each
organisation. Feat Kamberovski was designated as a president of the
Coalition for Interethnic Cooperation.
E-mail:
ecmikumanovo@ecmingonet.org.mk