Job shadowing in North Macedonia is over. Our programme coordinator Manneira came back with great impressions and new experiences. Together with her colleague Mateja, they made contact with many organisations, new acquaintances and potential project partnerships were made.
In Skopje they met and learned from LGBT United, Transforma, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Association for Sexual and Gender Minorities QUEER CENTER Skopje, Coalition Margins and Ekvalis . They shared their inspiring practices, such as a safe house for LGBTIQ+ people and a safe phone line for LGBTIQ+ people in need.
In Bitola, they were warmly welcomed by Katerina from Sfera, who also runs the first youth centre in Bitola. They were also hosted by the second organization- European Cultural Epicenter Bitola (EKE), which promotes the creation of a society that fosters positive values through non-formal education. They also met with independent activist Biljana Ginova, who was this year’s guest of Ljubljana Pride Festival and a speaker on the panel on Queer Solidarity in the Balkans. Biljana presented the activist action around a strategic response to anti-gender coverage locally, nationally and internationally. On the way back to Skopje, they stopped in Strumica, where Ana presented the activities of Europe house and Novus, an NGO focusing on youth work.
Thank you to our local hosts Loesje Bitola and Marina Trajkovska for a great experience and we look forward to further collaborations.
This activity is funded by the European Union.