Citizens for Change #6

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020

The first autumn months brought new preoccupations, but the most serious one – Covid-19, remained and grew. The world continued to function in extraordinary circumstances, counting new people infected with Corona virus, healed, but unfortunately also casualties.

CSOs also functioned under the pressure of the bigger and bigger number of infected. Part of them from home, part from their offices, and part in the field. Everything that could be moved on-line was moved; the other work, in changed circumstances, following all precaution measures, took place live. In this period, Civica Mobilitas decided, at least for a short while, to return to the old practice of holding events live.

Of course, they were far from what we had been used to, but still a small change to the on-line “experience” that had become our everyday. Because of the health protection protocols, the usual noise at the Networking Event was not there, we had to limit the participation at the National Forum to only one representative per organization, check the temperature of everybody who had come, wear masks and sit at 1.5-2 meters distance. Because of the location of the festival, in the Skopje City Park, in the open air. We did not limit the number of participants, but we did limit the open space so that we could make all the necessary checks and make sure that all health authorities’ measures would be respected. It was not the same as before, but it was a real refreshment to see the colleagues and collaborators live, to interest those who had decided to spend that day in the park, show that we can function in these changed conditions, that we are resilient, flexible, ready to help where needed.

This issue of Citizens for Change also contains a big number of texts related to CSO activities. Trying to provide bigger civic participation and help the institutions face the facts and based on them devise their policies; CSOs have been researching different topics. On these pages, you will find seven researches and analyses presented in reports or public policy documents. The focus was on a number of topics, such as on-line classes, state of affairs with children’s rights, domestic violence, corruption risks in public procurement of the enterprises owned by the government and municipalities, the situation with Shar Mountain. Apart from this, CSOs have analysed the excessive duration of shortened court procedures, as well as the European Commission Report on North Macedonia. The Corona crisis has not prevented civic engagement and cooperation of the CSOs; on the contrary, in some cases it has strengthened it. 14 organizations have organised the humanitarian action called “Feed 10,000” and the Red Cross of the City of Skopje has provided 80 packages of food and protection and disinfection means for the homeless. The Food Bank and Rural Coalition have opened the discussion for donating the surplus of agricultural produce, and Righteous and Professional have continued to remind the authorities and public about the deserted facilities owned by the state.

In order to provide continuity in their work with the children with disabilities, “Open the Windows” in partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy has created the platform which provides individualized education of children with disabilities. The Centre for Disabilities “Prkos” has promoted the book “One of My Days”, a must reading for everybody.

It will not be easier in the months to come, but we have shown that we can adjust and… we moved on. And what other choice do we have?

Have a pleasant reading!