Training course | 09-17.12 | Struga, Macedonia 

27 enthusiasts for creative writing from 9 different countries took part in this training course. They got acquainted with the basics of creative writing and its numerous usages. Each day was divided into energizers, thematic workshops and group work. That way they learned more about stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination and how to fight them through creative writing. They learned to express their concerns, ideas and create a feeling of belonging to their communities. During intercultural nights the participants gave an insight into their cultures and brought them closer to the group.   

Partners: Sahan TV from Denmark, Udug Association from Ireland, Asociata Hair Redivivius Buzau from Romania, Xeracion Valencia from Spain, Horusocod from Norway, Mine Vaganti NGO from Italy, Fayo Foundation LTD from the United Kingdom, and Puntland Diaspora Forum from Sweden

Training course | 01.09 – 10.09 | Struga, Macedonia 

This training course focused on training youth workers in emotional intelligence, conflict management and communication skills. Youth workers from 15 countries were given tools to support youngsters with their active participation in society. Non-formal education methods like conflict simulations, role-plays and solution strategies helped the participants to dive into the subject. They were given methods to explore the roots of conflicts and learned to find compromises that they can use in their daily life.  

Partners: Fayo Foundation from UK, Associazione Attiva-Mente from Italy, Bulgarian Youth Association from Bulgaria, Asociata Young Europe Society from Romania, Semper Avanti from Poland, Media Terra Nea Astiki Mi Kerdoskopiki Etairia from Greece, Asociacion Mundus – Un Mundo A Tus Pies from Spain, Hang-Kep Kulturalis Egyesulet from Hungary, NaturKultur e. V. – Zweigstelle Bremen from Germany, Puntland Diaspora Forum from Sweden, Horusocod from Norway, Udug Association from Ireland, Maahanmuuttajien työ, koulutus ja kulttuuri ry from Finland, and Mladi za Marof from Croatia 

Youth Exchange | 6.7 - 15.7. | Struga, Macedonia 

This exchange aimed to improve young peoples’ personal and professional skills regarding intercultural cooperation and self-awareness. “CUTE” stands for “cooperative, understanding, tolerant and empowered”. The audience between 14 and 18 years old involved 32 people from Macedonia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria. Through workshops and activities they strengthened their leadership skills and they were empowered to get active in their communities. For example, there were mini projects for the environment and the youth. The project had a strong focus on intercultural learning - each group had one evening to present their country, culture and cuisine.  

Partner: Hang-Kép Egyesület - Sound Picture Association from Hungary 

Youth Exchange | 7.5 – 14.5. | Struga, Macedonia           

The youth exchange gathered young people from Macedonia, France and Greece who shared their cultures through music, journalism and catering. The three part project was held in Dijon, France; Patras, Greece and Skopje, Macedonia. The week in Skopje was filled with cooking, singing and interviewing people around Skopje. It also included an evening party with musicians in Skopje’s old town restaurant, inviting young people to join and experience cultures.  

Partners: Magna Vox from France and No Reception from Greece

Training Course | 15.04 - 24.04. | Struga, Macedonia 

This project focused on understanding and fighting discrimination, stereotypes and hate speech. The main focus was on migrants, refugees, the LGTBIQ+ community, Roma people and other marginalized groups.  The participants from 13 different countries discussed the roots of prejudices, social exclusion and the role of media in creating people’s opinion. After learning tools they were encouraged to take action and to speak up. The first part of the project was held in Skopje, Macedonia and the second part took place in Brage, Portugal.  The project won the “Inspiring Project of The Year” - award from the Portuguese National Agency. 

Partners: Braga Mobility Open - Associação Cultural, Recreativa e Profissional 

Project | 20.3 – 31.12 | Skopje, Macedonia 

The project aimed to help seriously ill patients who don’t receive support from the health system. They were provided with psychological assistance and support with the engagement of a psychologist. Seven days of training were organized for psychological support of parents whose children suffer from marginal diseases. Also a volunteer program was built, where volunteers helped out at the Oncology Clinic in Skopje and “Parents house” for a period of three months.  

Partners:  Association for Better Health, Education and Social Care SANOS Skopje, City of Skopje

Study Visit | 21.1 – 27.1. | Skopje, Macedonia

This study visit in Skopje was the second out of four planned mobilities, on which the selected youth workers had the opportunity to learn more about the reality of volunteers and volunteering. The eight youth workers from the involved countries visited various institutions and organizations, that are very active and important in the field of volunteering and youth work in the Republic of Macedonia.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. Roma Youth Initiative “Be My Friend”, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Center for the Advancement of Research & Development in Educational Technology (CARDET), Cyprus. Social Action and Innovation Centre (KMOP), Greece

Youth Exchange | 15.6 – 23.6. | Struga, Macedonia

The Youth Exchange connected 37 participants coming from Denmark, Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Finland, Turkey and Greece. The project responded to the needs and interests of young people from participant’s communities to increase their social media literacy. The Youth Exchange used methods and techniques of non-formal education, developing competences of the participants to use social media effectively, critically and in a safe way. By understanding the role of social media in 21^st century, the participants were equipped with practical skills. The youngsters created posts, articles, videos, pictures aiming to reach more and more people, learning and teaching about what media are.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. European Community Media Center Aarhus, Denmark. Hang-Kép Kulturális Egyesület, Hungary. Maahanmuuttajien Perhe ja Nuorten yhdistys ry, Finland. Lykia Izcilik Ve Doga Sporlari Kulubu Dernegi, Turkey. Kerdoskopiki Etairia Media Terra Nea Astiki Mi, Greece.

Study Visit | 1.9. – 9.9. | Struga, Macedonia

The participants were visiting many associations and NGOs in different cities around Macedonia, to give them an opportunity to make contacts for future endeavors. The group was very diverse, with participants from 9 countries: Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Estonia, Italy, Croatia, Turkey and Poland. In Struga the participants had to take one step further and start thinking of an idea to apply for an EVS or training project that they represented later. Presentations were mostly EVS projects, Training Courses or Youth Exchanges. The main idea of the project was to find partners and develop a project with NGO’s.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. Udruga Andjeli, Croatia.

Training Course | 16.9. – 22.9. | Struga, Macedonia

The project was hosted by Volunteers Centre Skopje with 28 participants coming from Germany, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia. The aim was to promote the learning mobility of young people as well as volunteers and professionals active in the youth field. The participants were working on a rich program including sessions, debates, workshops and presentation of their local NGO’s. This was last part of the project after youth worker seminar in Kent, UK and youth encounter in Ilidža.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. Memos, Germany. Institute for Youth Development KULT, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Training Course | 15.10. – 23.10. | Struga, Macedonia

The project responded to the needs of organizations working with vulnerable youth. It aimed to increase quality of services of partner’s organizations; bringing ideas for new local, national or intercultural projects as well as to raise awareness of public on situations of vulnerable youth. Methods and techniques used on the TC were based on creative writing and theatre that helped to focus on aspects such as managing strong emotions or raising self-esteem of youth. The project included two key activities: a training course for youth workers working with vulnerable youth and a youth exchange for young people belonging to vulnerable youth.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. Art of the Box, Belgium. Association Mundus, Spain. Media Terra Nea, Greece. Talsu novada fonds, Latvia. Mladi za Marof, Croatia.

Seminar | 22.11. – 28.11. | Struga, Macedonia

Together with youth workers from 12 countries in Europe, the seminar was a continuation of the Training Course that happened in Milicz, Poland. The topic was how volunteering can help a person to become an entrepreneur and get a job. In the focus of the seminar was the work of the youth workers in their organizations with local and foreign volunteers like the EVS volunteers, with guests as such as some well-known entrepreneurs and founders of NGOs from Macedonia. This seminar was aiming to improve the work of the youth workers with the volunteers during their volunteering and after it.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. Fundacja Mobilni Polacy, Poland.

Project | 1.11. – 30.11. | Struga, Macedonia

The project enabled intensive and close intercultural communication and interaction among young high schoolers, the recognition of the different cultural values and traditions and their acceptance. The recognition of the different cultural values and traditions is crucial for the creation and upgrade of the intercultural communication. The next phase was the interaction e.g. the acceptance of the cultural differences and the readiness to create cohesion through the cultural differences. Among other activities, a five-day camp was organized in Struga with young people aged between 16-18 from different ethnic communities from Skopje, Gostivar and Struga. The activities in the camp included: peer workshops, a forum theatre and the making of a picture book about the intercultural communication.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje

Training course | 4 - 13.04 | Struga, Macedonia

The training course was open for youth workers strongly interested in the key issues – gender; gender based discrimination, media and motivated to transfer their new competencies in their practices. The training was including as experience youth workers as newcomers in way to support learning process between both groups.

The TC aimed to tackle the issue of gender based discrimination from various perspectives by using media tools with main aim to contribute to creating society that is discrimination and stereotypes free and provides any young people regardless the person’s sex and gender an opportunity fully develop his/her potential and participate in society life.

Through the project activities 34 participants from different organization and institutions who work in this field came from 12 countries (Denmark, Macedonia, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Slovenia, Latvia, Slovakia, Romania, Germany, Romania, Italy and Poland) had an opportunity to develop their competencies especially in the areas of gender, media and project management.

Partners: “Indvandrer TV”, Denmark.

Training course | 8 - 15.03. | Skopje, Macedonia

Participants of the activity improved their knowledge in using creative multimedia tools, and exchanged good practices in order to gain digital and communication competences that support them in the creation of media reports for and with young people, concerning global aspects, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global education, development and cooperation. The combination of methods used in the training course enables youth workers to promote global issues by using online media tools. They also took part in an information session about funding opportunities, such as funding and project planning workshops as well.

The TC gathered participants from all over Europe and its neighboring regions (Finland, Germany, Romania, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Turkey, Greece, Poland, Tunisia, Armenia, Serbia, Denmark and the United Kingdom), with a main goal to improve their skills and competences in the field of global education and the digital media.

Partners: Aar Social Development Association (ASDA ry), Finland, the European Youth4Media Network, Germany.

Training course | 21 - 28.06. | Struga, Macedonia

The project aimed to develop competencies of youth workers in area of human rights and media. Through the training course the participants developed their knowledge of human rights values and special focus to be paid to children and youth rights. After, the participants had an opportunity to develop their competencies to use various media (traditional and social one) in raising awareness of wider population on children’s rights issues. Besides working on exploring human rights issues and developing media competencies, the training course was also an opportunity for the participants to strengthen their knowledge of Erasmus+. Participants on this project were youth workers and leaders, young people with strong interest to develop their social media competencies and abilities, as tool to increase sensitization about human rights.

The TC brought together participants from 6 different European countries (Macedonia, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Romania).

Contact making seminar | 20-27.11. | Split, Croatia

Seminar was a project in which VCS was one of the main partners and co-organizer, together with the hosting organization “Udruga Andjeli” from Split. The project gathered 29 experience youth workers - leaders coming from 9 European countries, who discussed together on many topics connected with young people with fewer opportunities and their inclusion into society and will created new creative ideas and innovative approaches in work in the fields of people with fewer opportunities. The grant for the implementation of this project was given by the NA in Croatia, authorized for implementation of projects in the framework of the Erasmus Plus Programme.

Partners: Udruga Andjeli, Macedonia.

Training course | 3 - 12.10. | Struga, Macedonia

The main aim of this project was to develop capacities of the participants and organizations to provide quality EVS activities to young people, including young people with fewer opportunities, and to increase the quality of EVS in the participating countries. The activities were based on non-formal learning methods and techniques, and the experts involved the Training Course, by using various working methods, paid attention to meeting the needs and expectations of the participants. The project made a strong impact on various levels, especially on the participants and participating organizations directly involved in the project.

The Project Goal was to raise the quality of EVS (European Voluntary Service) in the participating countries, since that year the EVS program was celebrating a 20-year anniversary, and this project came in the best period for the countries that were partners in this project, as they were becoming part of the EVS family, and Volunteers Centre Skopje, as one of the biggest EVS sending and hosting organizations in South East Europe, with more than 500 volunteers in our records, have the pleasure the be host of this project.

The project involved 32 participants coming from 13 countries: Macedonia, Finland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

Partners: Maahanmuuttajien työ, koulutus ja kulttuuri ry, Finland.

Training course | 17.04 – 27.04. | Struga, Macedonia

In cooperation with our Estonian partner Loovkeskus, we brought together entertainers and youth workers from 5 different countries (Macedonia, Estonia, Germany, Romania, and Croatia). The training course was built up with magic and fire dance workshops, animation workshops, communication techniques, sport, and outdoor activities to find good entertainment elements that can be used in formal and non-formal education.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. Loovkeskus, Estonia.

Training course | 2.10 – 11.10. | Struga, Macedonia

Training course Media Literate. Digitally Skilled focused on anti-discrimination and hate speech campaigns, social media, and an introduction to the possibilities of the Erasmus+ Programme. By participating in various non-formal-based activities, including simulations, theatre-based activities, creative challenges, or discussions, the participants learned how to take an active role in creating a more socially inclusive society. The project brought together youth leaders and youth workers from 12 different European countries Finland, Macedonia, Croatia, Turkey, Romania, Cyprus, Lithuania, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, and Poland.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. Maahanmuuttajien työ, koulutus ja kulttuuri ry, Finland.

Project 2015

The goal of the international project "Team Up Youth- Digital Creativity & Employability" was to enhance youth employment and strengthen the participation and social inclusion of disadvantaged youth. Every day adolescents use smartphones, computers, and tv in their daily life. The "Team Up" project aimed to introduce pupils with special needs and migrants to creative media usage in their education to get more possibilities on the employment market. As part of this project, from 10-18 September 2015, VCS implemented the seminar in Struga and a mid-term conference in Skopje.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. European Youth4Media Network e.V,  Arbeitskreis Ostviertel e.V the supporting association of the Bürgerhaus Bennohaus, Germany. SHIFT, United Kingdom. BURT, Denmark.

Seminar | 22 - 30.06. | Split, Croatia

A seminar on autism, anti-discrimination, and volunteerism was held in Split, Croatia. The project gathered 26 youth leaders and workers working together to improve the condition of children with disabilities and highlight the role of volunteerism.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, Macedonia. Udruga Andjeli, Croatia.

NGO-Fair | 4.12.2015 | Skopje, Macedonia

Volunteers Centre Skopje in cooperation with the City of Skopje, MCC, and other partners, has successfully organized the NGO Fair for volunteering and active citizenship of the City of Skopje. The event was attended by sixty NGOs / associations of citizens registered in the city's territory and other NGOs / associations that carry out activities to benefit the citizens.

Partners: Volunteers Centre Skopje, City of Skopje, Civica Mobilitas MCC, Macedonia and others.

Conference | Skopje, Macedonia

Volunteers Centre Skopje took an active part in realizing the project "Macedonian Model of United Nations (MMUN)," organized by the U.S. Peace Corps. Two teams of young volunteers from VCS were part of the MMUN, along with 200 young activists in teams representing 26 countries - members of the United Nations. The participants - delegates had the opportunity to debate and address the global issues affecting the United Nations. The two VCS teams, which participated in this project, acquired knowledge, skills, and experience in writing resolutions, voting on the preamble, and debating.

Training Course | 1 – 10.3 | Struga, Macedonia

This project focused on non-formal education as a way of empowering and activating young people and providing them an opportunity for developing life skills needed to succeed. Within 8 – days training course that included outdoor challenges, simulations, role plays, group works, discussions as theoretical insights 28 participants coming from Azerbaijan, Russia, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, Croatia, Slovakia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Malta, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Spain and Macedonia had the opportunity to develop their skills (facilitation, communication, team work and leadership) and increase their knowledge about non-formal education and its methods needed when implementing activities that are relevant to needs of disadvantaged groups.

Training Courses | December 2013, January 2014 | Macedonia

VCS organized three training courses for the needs of the project “Voices of youth”. The first training was on the subject of project cycle management, where the beneficiaries were the members of the youth council of the municipality of Gostivar. The other two trainings were on the subject of active citizenship and social entrepreneurship and the beneficiaries were around 25 young people, selected by open add, to be part of the previously named project, aimed to raise the knowledge, skills and competences of the young people, in order to increase their possibility to get proper employment.

Partners: UNDP Macedonia, Agency for youth and sport of the Republic of Macedonia.

Project | 27.11 | Skopje, Macedonia

Second edition of Living Library organized by Volunteers Centre Skopje on 27 November in City Library ‘Braka Miladinovci’. “Reading living books” was encouraged with the feeling of extra curiosity for confronting with our own prejudices, testing our own beliefs, discovering authentic life stories and coming in touch with another reality, which often is rarely visible. As part of the titles of the literature of “living books” there was: Roma, vegan, feminist, disabled person, gay, ex-alcoholic, ex-drug addicted, animal rights activist, guy with Down syndrome, feminist, person with handicap, EVS volunteer, Muslim girl wearing scarf, Jew, blind person, parkour guy and many other “live books” which were available for the interested “readers”.

Partners: City Library ‘Braka Miladinovci’.

Conference | 7.6. | Skopje, Macedonia

A group of young volunteers from Volunteers Centre Skopje were part of VCS Team on the MMUN along with 100 young activists in teams representing 13 countries - members of the United Nations. Team on VCS consists of 6 volunteers. Through research methods each delegate was tasked to present his committee-council through prepared position paper on the state of the country’s council Brazil. The documents prepared by delegates were presented on the main MMUN Conference, where together with other delegates was held the Simulation UN General Assembly. Participants – Delegates in the simulation had the opportunity to debate and addressing the global issues affecting the United Nations.

Partners: U.S. Peace Corps, SEGA.

Initiatives | 15 – 30.10 | Macedonia

Our volunteers realized and/or took part 4 initiatives as part of the activities of the Coalition of organization “National Youth Council”:

“Activating Youth Organization” in Drachevo

“Our education for young people” Studenichani

“Your small contribution means a lot to other, help yourself, help others” in Strumica

“Youth against violence” in Skopje

Workshops | Skopje, Macedonia

 We give support to Career Center at High School ASUC Boro Petru sevski – Skopje, and the Career Center at the High School “Brakja Miladinovci” in Drachevo by providing workshops for pupils (age 14-18), interactive presentations and trainings with aim to develop their soft skills which will help them in their school for learning, in the communication with other pupils, as well interview simulations, how to write CV and motivation letter, how to present themselves, body language, leadership, volunteering vs working, teamwork, personal branding, learning styles, with all these leading to their personal and professional development.

Partners: High School “Brakja Miladinovci” in Drachevo.

Trainings | Macedonia

As regional office and partner of Coalition SEGA, VCS was as well very active in 2014. We continued with the collection of data from local schools and institutions for the needs of the annual alternative for the implementation of the UN Convention for protection of the children’s rights. In September, VCS organized training for writing projects in the framework of the Erasmus Plus Programme. The beneficiaries of the training were representatives from the member organizations of SEGA and high schools with whom the coalition cooperates with, within a program supported by the “Pestalozzi children foundation”. From August till November 2014, VCS Skopje was local coordinator of a project from Coalition SEGA, supported by the City of Skopje. In these 3 months of activities, VCS coordinated the process of creation of student parliament and student council, in the high school “Vasil Antevski- Dren” from Skopje. As coordinator of the regional office, our delegate – Gjoko Vukanovski attended the EU Youth Conference which was held in Thessaloniki, Greece, 11th -13th of March 2014.

Partners: SEGA, High School “Vasil Antevski- Dren” from Skopje.

Strategies | Macedonia

In 2014, VCS was the main coordinator of the creation of two strategies: The local youth strategy for the municipality of Tetovo, 2015-2019 and the Strategy for the preservation of the cultural heritage between the municipalities of Brvenica (Macedonia) and Bilisht (Albania). The first strategy was supported and financed by the UNDP, and the second strategy was created in the framework of IPA project for cross-border cooperation between Macedonia and Albania.

Partners: UNDP, IPA.

Youth exchange | 18 - 25.04 | Struga, Macedonia

This youth exchange taking place in Struga was a mobility in the frame of a project with the same name. The theme of the exchange was to start dialogue between different young people with fewer opportunities to face their current situation in all the countries involved, to raise the awareness about their presents in the communities and to discuss possibilities for their better inclusion.

Partners: Udruga Andjeli, Croatia.

Study visit | 20 - 27.03. | Skopje, Macedonia

The study visit organized in Skopje gathered participants from all over SEE region (Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Germany, as leading NGO. The study visit was first mobility activity within the project with the same name and the theme was to open discussion about subjects of migration, immigration, emmigration and brain drain and brain gain, subjects that are very much important in the SEE region.

Partner: MEMOS (Germany).

Training course | 30.10 - 07.11. | Struga, Macedonia

This project took place in Struga and brought together 24 youth workers from 8 different European countries. The training course was a second mobility in the frame of a project with the same name. The theme of the training, as well as the first mobility, was to discuss and to learn more about the common European challenges regarding migrant crisis, to contribute to building greater tolerance towards cultural diversity in Europe, as well as to develop more critical stand towards media products while acknowledging the best ways to use media for creating better functioning multicultural societies.

Partner: European Community Media Centre Aarhus (Denmark).

Training course | 12 - 19.11. | Struga, Macedonia

The training course gathered participants from Macedonia, Romania, Belgium, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Hungary and Estonia in Struga in Macedonia. The training was second mobility activity within the project with the same name and the aim was to train peer educators in the field of fight against discrimination and extremism.

Partners : Ofensiva Tinerilor (Romania), EPTO (Belgium)

Youth exchange | 17 - 26.06. |Brajchino, Macedonia

This project was implemented in the village of Brajchino with partners from Spain, Latvia, Croatia and Greece and involved 40 young people aged from 16 – 30. It focused on vulnerable young people coming from rural areas who face many difficulties in the participating countries who do not have at their disposal quality activities that can provide them good opportunities for personal and professional development. As part of the activities of the Youth Exchange, the participants photographed the nature and architecture of this part of Prespa region, created short videos, interviewed locals and organized action for cleaning and refurbishing leisure areas around the village.

Partner : ARKTOS (Belgium)

Youth exchange | 20 - 25.07. | Struga, Macedonia

This project which was implemented in Struga included 25 young people from Belgium and Macedonia aged 16 to 20. The main goal of this project was to learn how to become a good leader.

Participants worked on the topics and activities that were going to help them to get familiar with themselves, others, other cultures, ethnic diversity, solidarity and social inclusion. They were involved in helping the community of Ezerski Lozja, in Struga, by cleaning the beach.

Partner: Scouts en Gidsen Tervant (Belgium)

Youth Training | 02/2017 – 08/2018

This training aims at developing disadvantaged youth’s skills, knowledge and competences through training in volunteering and participation in voluntary activities, contributing that way to their personal and professional development and employability.

Partners: NGO ROMA YOUTH INITIATIVE BE MY FRIEND (Bosnia & Herzegovina), CARDET (Cyprus) and KMOP (Greece).

Training

The training was intended for teachers in Macedonian with a translation into Albanian language and gathered 28 professors from 15 high schools. These trainings were intended to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the students- building future young entrepreneurs in Macedonia.

Partners: Kultur Kontakt (Austria), Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Macedonia (MES), Center for Vocational Education and Training

Workshops | May-December 2017

The goal of the project was to raise the awareness among young population, regarding the needs for social inclusion on local level, also among students through being engaged in activities within the project to get to know different marginalized groups in their surroundings and to establish contact, through campaigns and projects to assist the process of social inclusion.

Partner: SEPUGS Vasil Antevski-Dren (Macedonia).

12/2016 – 4/2017 | Skopje, Macedonia

The program this year includes young people, high school students and university students from all over Macedonia between 16 and 25 age, who have an ambition to be a part of democratic processes, international cooperation, resolving global issues, advocacy and lobbying to resolve global situations and issues.

Partners : U.S. Peace Corps, Coalition of youth organizations SEGA

Workshops | 2017

In 2017, team of VCS continue with collaboration and providing support for Career Centers in ASUC “Boro Petrushevski” Skopje, SUGS ”Braka Miladinovci” in Dracevo,Skopje, and in SEPUGS “Vasil Antevski - Dren“ Skopje, implementation of educational workshops for students. Through non-formal methods of working with young people (aged 14-18 years) are implemented interactive presentations and trainings with aim to develop their soft skills which will help them in their school, professional life and personal development.

Partners: ASUC “Boro Petrushevski”, SUGS “Braka Miladinovci”, SEPUGS “Vasil Antevski - Dren” (Macedonia).

KA3 project

A project aimed to prepare the next generation of young Europeans to be a force to be reckoned with in the political landscapes of Europe. The young people can challenge each other and indirectly impart knowledge of policies and best practices that can later be multiplied. 25 participants from 5 European countries were selected to change society. After the 10-days training course in 2020, each participant received 1,000 euros to implement their own ideas and initiatives. Read more here.

Partners: Citizens In Power, Cyprus, Young Europe Society (YES) Romania, Asociación Mundus, Spain, EUCMC Aarhus, Denmar

KA2 Project

Project is aimed at preventing gender based discrimination towards youth. The project addresses in particular cross-sectorial cooperation, allowing for greater synergies across all fields of actions concerning young people, with a special focus on access to rights, autonomy, (e)participation and the active citizenship of young people, avoiding gender self-segregation phenomena and promoting common values of mutual respect between genders and without prejudice to their sexuality. Read more here.

Partners: Centro Studi Cultura Sviluppo Associazione (CSCS), Asteri (Greece), Associacao Animam Viventem (Portugal), Xeracion (Spain), Club Basquet Granollers (Spain), Centro Giovanile di formazione sportive associazione sportive dilettantistica (CGFS) Italy.

KA2 Project

Shake a leg, together! is a project about healthy and active lifestyle. With this project we aim to reach as many people as possible in participating countries and encourage them to take up any sort of physical activity, to inform them about its benefits and to help making physical activity an attractive hobby.

Partners: Europos Savanoriu Tarnybos Asosacija Saltes, Voluntariat Zavod Za Mednarodno Prostovoljno Delo Ljubljana, PI Youth Association, Jovobarat Egyesulet

KA2 Project

Volunteering connecting communities (VCC) is a project which involves 500 youth workers, 5 organizations and over 2500 young people (members/activists/young people of the whole consortium) to get empowered through information and concrete tools in voluntarism and inclusion topic in local and international level. This project aims at increasing youth potential in civic education and especially volunteerism topic through capacity building actions targeting youth workers who work with young people with fewer opportunities in local and European level. The project aims as well to increase the quality of youth work through exchanging of experiences and building up sustainable partnerships among partners of the consortium and other NGO-s and institutions in respective countries.

Partners: Udruzenje ” Mladi Volonteri ”, Asociația Allons-y, Beyond Barriers – Pertej Barrieraven, NGO Iuventa

The project aims to improve youth centers programs with final objective reducing the percentage of youth that are leaving the school early. During study visits in Antverp, Belgium (November, 2019) and Bremen, Germany (February, 2020) the aim was to be shared experience, knowledge and know-how among the representatives of youth centers and youth organizations of Macedonia, Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia and Germany. Each of this country is on its way to foster the youth centers and to make them a place where youth can be engaged in different activities. Third activity - Seminar for developing youth centers programs was in Macedonia 2022.

VCS was part of the project: “Alternative Report on the implementation of the Convention on the rights of the child” conducted by the Coalition of Youth Organizations SEGA and supported by the Children’s Foundation Pestaloci. The project is an extensive survey in 25 municipalities, including schools (111), centers for social work and civil society organizations. The focus of the research was on access to education, right to participate and associate, right to non-discrimination as well no-violence. The research resulted in an Alternative Report submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, in direction of providing specific recommendations for improving the application of children’s rights at all levels.

VCS was part of the project “Youth and European Values” implemented by the Coalition of Youth Organizations “SEGA”, and supported by the General Secretariat of the Government through the Program for financial support of associations and foundations. During the implementation of the project, two activities were realized. The first in March 2020 in Struga was a training on the application of EU methodology for integration of European trends and practices, and the second was a panel discussion with a working title: “Youth and Europe” held last September in the Municipality of Kisela Voda.

KA3 project

The project provided a platform to empower young people facing fewer opportunities to explore innovative ways for active civil participation in the democratic processes in our European societies. A selected network of youth multipliers was trained, mentored and received financial support for grassroots youth- led outreach initiatives, with the objective to directly support the societies’ aspirations to achieve social and economic prosperity. In 2021, VCS hosted final conference of the project, where 25 youngsters presented their projects how they improved their community. Read more here.

Partners: Citizens In Power / Πολίτες Σε Ισχύ (Cyprus), Young Europe Society (Y.E.S.) (Romania), Asociación Mundus (Spain), EUCMC Aarhus (Denmark).

PeerAct is an international effort of 8 partners from 7 European countries to contribute substantially to building peaceful societies and to tackling all forms of discrimination, intolerance and inequality by involving youngsters and communities from different backgrounds and countries in the AWOD - A world of difference” training programme and by creating synergies between the formal and the non-formal education system. The general objective of the project is to equip 1300 young people across various communities with necessary social and civic competencies that will make them embrace the values of non-discrimination, tolerance, solidarity, and equality. Alongside this, the aim is also to provide 70 young people with the competencies and certification needed to facilitate the process that leads to these acquisitions and to develop a framework for cooperation. Read more here.

Partners: EPTO, Ofensiva Tinerilor, Youth On The Move, Par, Humanitas, VCS, Pomoc Deci, European Institute of Education and Social Policy

KA2 project

Project is aimed at preventing gender-based discrimination towards youth. The project addresses in particular cross-sectorial cooperation, allowing for greater synergies across all fields of actions concerning young people, with a special focus on access to rights, autonomy, (e)participation and the active citizenship of young people, avoiding gender self-segregation phenomena and promoting common values of mutual respect between genders and without prejudice to their sexuality. The primary outcome of TWOST is an online self-assessment tool to develop personalized guidance towards gender awareness, with a particular focus on analyzing strategic areas within the organization such as HR management, leadership, coaching, mentoring, youth animation, stereotypes in communication activities, gender-based violence, and participation, and also online database.

Partners: CSCS, Asteri, Associacao Animam Viventem, Xeracion, Club Basquet Granollers, CGFS, VCS

KA2 project | Training course | 12 - 18.8 | Struga, Macedonia

“Shake a leg, together!” is a project about healthy and active lifestyle.With this project we aim to reach as many people as possible in participating countries and encourage them to take up any sort of physical activity, to inform them about its benefits and to help making physical activity an attractive hobby.

Partners: Saltes, Zavod Voluntariat, Pi Youth Association, Jovobarat Egyesulet, VCS

KA2 project

The project aims to enhance the capacities of the civil society youth organizations using digital radio as a tool for active citizenship and democracy. In October 2021, we attended the Transnational Project meeting that happened in Antwerp, Belgium, to discuss further development of the project.

Partners: Stamp Media, Carpe Diem, Abrashevic, Aarhus Global Media, VCS

KA2 project

The aim of this project is to get youth to develop key skills for their future through creativity and arts, specifically music and crafts, since they will be able to create recycled instruments from waste, and they will also learn how to play these instruments with basic notions of music theory so that they can get involved in projects related to music, arts and culture. More information here.

Partners: Xeracion Valencia, Euro-Net, Κ.Α.Ν.Ε., VCS

KA2 project

VCS is part of the #YouthToo project, approved by EACEA in the frame of Erasmus+ program - Western Balkan Window, officially started at 7. December 2019. The main goal of the project is to learn about gender-based and sexual violence in the love affairs of young people and to open those issues that are, more or less, in all our societies related to shame, fear, guilt, in short - taboo. Strengthening the capacities and competencies for working with young people on the topic of gender and sexual violence in the love / relationships of young people, through trainings for volunteers and youth workers.

Partners: NVO prima, Bravo Sarajevo

TEHV project aimed to prepare organizations for hosting EU Aid volunteers i.e. Humanitarian aid volunteers through multiple online trainings on safety and security, policies (e.g. safeguarding, data protection, equal opportunities), communication, volunteer management, mentoring, and DRR (disaster risk reduction). We seek to strengthen the capacity and resilience of vulnerable and/or disaster-affected communities in Non-EU countries. It also aims to improve opportunities for EU citizens to participate in humanitarian aid activities and operations through volunteering. Read more here.

Regional Project Cooperation - OEAD Austria
Workshops | 1-2.4 | Skopje, Macedonia

VCS continued its coordinating and logistical support role in 2021 on the project “School Meets Business” targeting VET school coordinators from Macedonia to be trained as a link between the schools and the companies where the students do their internship and practical work.

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KA2 project

Young GEEKS was a project with innovative concept to empower youth entrepreneurs in the field of Agro-tourism, Agribusiness, Tourism and ICT towards sustainable developments. More than 100 young people exchanged experiences, traditions, gained entrepreneurial spirit, knowledge and strategies, learned lessons, gained many friendships. It strived for a holistic approach that combines capacity building, mentorship and technical training, technological tools, including non-formal E-learning through a common ‘Collaboration Platform’ and cross-country collaboration/exchange experiences. There were 5 activities in Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Ital and Turkey, and VCS was represented by the students and teachers from the Technical High School "Gostivar" from Gostivar.

Partners: Bashkia Korce, Koinonia Ison Eukairion, Sistem ve Jenerasyon Dernegi, Associazione Culturale, Ambientale e del tempo libero Usamborgia, VCS

Local project with City of Skopje

A project that encouraged high school students to take action toward a more ecological society. We held 23 workshops in all the public high schools, did a total of 11 clean-ups in every municipality in Skopje, and organized a poster contest between the schools in which the winning design was printed on the side of a public bus. A final event took place in the transport center and was joined by the schools and the City of Skopje.

Partners: Za Pochista Makedonija, City of Skopje

KA2

Crowdfunding from the community to the community, offering an opportunity for citizens to take part in creating a better society. All the partners are organizing SOUP events in their countries and will write a guide, open to everyone, on how to manage SOUP in your local community.

8 partners: Passion Udflugt (Denmark), C-Cube (Spain), Associação Check-IN (Portugal), Community Labarotories (Lithuania) Allianssi Youth Exchanges (Finland), Kreaktiva (Croatia), Skola6 (Latvia), VCS (Macedonia)

 KA2

Digital Art for Learning, Inclusion, Creating equity & embracing diversity targets youth workers and young people, especially NEETs, who need to be prepared to face the current needs of the youth sector after the COVID-19 pandemic, including a feeling of belonging to our society, more and improved digital skills, a higher level of creativity to adapt to the new reality and more awareness of the situation NEETs are experiencing.

5 partners: Ici et Ailleurs (France), Open Europe (Spain), Zini Foundation (Latvia), CRES (Italy), VCS (Macedonia)

KA2

In this project, the participants can find their voice and use it to motivate other youngsters. All the participants that participate in the project will be in charge of creating and making podcasts about issues that are important to them.

3 partners: Baltic Regional fund (Latvia), Asociatia Erhangja Egyesulet (Romania), VCS (Macedonia)

KA2

The project aims to strengthen and build good practices and capacities of the partner organizations through training and exchange in the field of digital youth work. More concretely to use the community radio and smartphones as tools for building and strengthening young people's competencies, including those from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

4 partners: Bergmál (Iceland), Art of the Box (Belgium), Aarhus Global Media (Denmark), VCS (Macedonia)

Regional project

The project is funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of education, science, and research, in collaboration with the Macedonian Ministry of education and science and the Center for vocational education and Training. This regional project is in coordination with the OEAD agency for education and internationalism from Austria and it includes Kosovo and Albania as well. The project provides training for all vocational high schools in the country and promotes teachers-coordinators that are a link between the school and the companies where the students do their practical work and work-based learning. Volunteers Centre Skopje as a partner organization, since the beginning, is responsible for the local logistical support and successful implementation in Macedonia.

KA2

The project aims to initiate the strategic digital transformation of youth work and raise awareness about the entrepreneurial potential of social media marketing as a new form of youth employment.

5 partners: Ass. A Rocca (Italy), Way SAS (Italy), Aproximar (Portugal), GrowthCoop (Spain), VCS (Macedonia)

IPA

The project aims to contribute to an independent and sustainable society that encourages participatory and gender-sensitive youth policy through structural cooperation and substantial participation in networked civil society. Read more here.

4 partners: Coalition of Youth Organizations SEGA, SOS Children’s Village, Association Woman’s Forum, VCS

Youth Exchange | Ljubojno

The project took part from the 11th to the 20th of June, gathering over 30 participants from Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Portugal, Denmark, and Latvia. It aimed to empower young people to address online and offline hate speech. During the project, participants learned key competencies to do so in their own realities and challenge their peers to speak up as well.

Partners: Esprominho (Portugal), Mladinski Center Dravinjske Doline (Slovenia), 3D Friends (Latvia), and Mladi za Marof from (Croatia), VCS (Macedonia)

Seminar | Skopje

A project attended by 30 youth workers and representatives of municipalities from 8 different countries: Macedonia, Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was organized in the House of Culture from the 6th to the 13th of May. The participants discussed the need for Youth Centers and the implementation of the Law on Youth. They also agreed on further cooperation to improve the conditions for young people and provide opportunities for their more active participation in public life. The seminar was organized with support from the Municipality of Kisela Voda dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Quidem, provident.

Partners: ART of the BOX, Општина Кисела Вода, Carpe Diem, Don Bosko Centar Podgorica, Environment Engineering Group, NaturKultur e.V., Mladinski center Postojna, Zdravo Da Ste OC, Nvo Prima.

KA2 project

The PWoEE project aims at providing digital means to support young female entrepreneurship in Europe by providing tailored made training curricula and a digital mentorship community for real life situation and support through their entrepreneurial pathway focused on preserving our environment.

Partners: Youthpreneur Stichting from the Netherlands, Eprojectconsult – Istituto Europeo di Formazione e Ricerca from Italy and Volonterski Centar Skopje from Macedonia.