USAID Macedonia - Community Self-Help Initiative (CSHI)
Macedonia’s Youth show up in force to contribute to
the harmony and well being of their communities, with the
guidance of Mak Action (Macedonian Volunteers for Action)
in collaboration with the NGO “First Children’s
Embassy in the World-Medjashi” and assistance from
the USAID/CSHI program.
Phase I of the Mak Action program, which ran from July
22 – September
22 of 2002, saw more than 130 volunteers and 850 participants
get involved in community based projects aimed at improving
the environment, improving quality of life through exercise
and group activities, promoting local talent, and ultimately,
encouraging multiethnic collaboration and volunteerism. The
program was launched in the municipalities of Kicevo, Kocani,
Kriva Palanka, Kumanovo, Sveti Nikole and Tetovo. With guidance
from CSHI regional representatives, three volunteers (18-29
years of age) in each community took responsibility for planning
and organizing events, recruiting additional volunteers,
and engaging participants from all local ethnic groups in
fruitful activities to benefit their communities.
The activities, with budgets ranging from $1000 - $2000,
included sports camps, environmental cleanups, bicycle races,
folk dance performances, art colonies and the completion
of a local basketball court. To highlight their collaborative
spirit, all participants - including children and adults
of different ethnicities - sported the colorful Mak Action
t-shirts and hats donated by USAID’s Local Government
Reform Project.
 |
| The activities in
Kicevo Municipality included a Youth Talent Competition,
drawing 66 children of Albanian, Macedonian, Roma, and
Serbian ethnicity. |
The activities in Kicevo Municipality included a Youth
Talent Competition, drawing 66 children of Albanian, Macedonian,
Roma, and Serbian ethnicity, and a ten day Summer Sports
Camp, which attracted an additional 83 participants from
four ethnic groups. In both cases the number of participants
significantly surpassed initial estimates of 50 children
each. Twenty volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure the
success
and smooth running of these events.
 |
| The volunteer program
in Kocani “Summer Happening 2002” was a huge
success. |
The volunteer program in Kocani “Summer Happening
2002” was a huge success. It ran from August 8 to September
21, and consisted of swimming, tennis and basketball camps.
More than 60 residents acted as volunteers, and over 250
children took part in the events. An additional 130 people
participated in a town parade and bicycle race to celebrate
their community. Again, the number of participants far surpassed
the estimates. Local businesses also joined in the spirit
by supplying materials, lunches, and extra equipment. An
ongoing media campaign promoting volunteerism through television
and radio broadcasts, newspapers, brochures, and posters
was launched, supported by a local printing company. In addition,
young volunteers from Kocani organized a “Citizens’ Needs” public
survey, a community picnic, a youth talent concert, an art
colony and the revitalization of a public miniature golf
course. All events of “Summer Happening 2002” were
promoted and documented by volunteer photographers and filmmakers.
 |
| Kriva Palanka gathered
together 20 community volunteers and 130 participants
in a project to complete a partially constructed basketball
court in a public park. |
Kriva Palanka gathered together 20 community volunteers
and 130 participants in a project to complete a partially
constructed basketball court in a public park. Children and
parents from the neighborhood of 2,000 inhabitants participated
in the different stages of construction: 100 volunteers turned
up en masse to participate in a preparatory cleaning of the
park, additional volunteers laid concrete with three hired
workers, and numerous others helped erect a second backboard
and hoop and install lights around the court. Paths leading
from the court to a children’s playground were filled
in with gravel giving the park a finished, inviting look.
A small ceremony opened the court for use, and an inaugural
basketball tournament is planned for the second half of October.
 |
| The municipalities
of Kumanovo and Tetovo both held clean-up campaigns,
which served to draw different ethnic communities together
in an effort to enhance quality of life for all residents. |
The municipalities of Kumanovo and Tetovo both held clean-up
campaigns, which served to draw different ethnic communities
together in an effort to enhance quality of life for all
residents. In Kumanovo the event took place following the
national elections, and was publicized through a local newspaper.
A total of 55 volunteers aged 8-40 pitched in to clean up
the city center, removing debris left mostly from the election
campaigns and its aftermath celebrations. In Tetovo, a community
very much lacking in safe play areas for children, 25 students
joined the CSHI Regional Representative and four volunteers
to clear debris and manicure the grounds of a small park
in the center of the town. This small project has impacted
the community in positive ways, generating enough interest
and volunteers for several more clean-up initiatives planned
for the near future.
 |
| The municipality
of Sveti Nikole launched the Mak-Action program with
two Artists’ Colonies involving young children
aged 9 to 15. |
The municipality of Sveti Nikole launched the Mak-Action
program with two Artists’ Colonies involving young
children aged 9 to 15. These events were followed by three
separate clean-up initiatives covering the city center, the
city park, and the old town. A weeklong Folk Dance Festival
was also held, with Macedonian, Roma and Turk children performing
national dances and teaching them to each other. “Games
Without Borders” was yet another event where the cultural
divide was overcome when local children of all ethnic groups
played together in loosely organized games. A total of 250
participants, ages 9-15, and 30 volunteers contributed to
the success of Mak Action in this community.
The overall response to Mak Action has been so great that
Phase II is now underway. The program has been broadened
to include four additional municipal regions: Debar, Kavadarci/Negotino,
Stip/Veles and Strumica. Volunteers in each community are
busy planning projects for the next year, such as after-school
counseling programs, a youth newspaper, music festivals,
renovations of youth complexes and parks, restoration of
public monuments, and the production of a small-business
directory. Mak-Action continues to collaborate with “First
Children’s Embassy in the World-Medjashi”, coordinating
their efforts in such a way as to ensure the continuity of
the program long after CSHI is gone. Hats off to all those
who have contributed to this exciting initiative!
Back to Top ^
|
