Civic Impulse #12: Monthly Review of Grantee Activities

December 2025

In the last month of 2025, CSOs which are current Civica Mobilitas grantees continued with the same pace in opening important issues and offering solutions for the everyday challenges in the communities around the country. With specific activities of the organization supported, the civil sector has confirmed the role of an active partner in promoting health, protecting the environment, gender equality and youth participation.

In the area of health, the focus was on prevention and timely HIV testing as crucial preconditions for eliminating the epidemics in the coming years. The National Conference on the Occasion of the World Day of Fight against HIV, organised by HERA – Health Education and Research Association, part of the project “Advancing Health Rights of Girls, Women and Vulnerable Groups”, supported by the Swiss Government via Civica Mobilitas has focused on the data that around 620 people live with HIV, but only 71.4% have been diagnosed. The conference was implemented in partnership with the association “Stronger Together’ ESE and the Initiative for Women’s Rights from Shuto Orizari and it stressed the importance of the continuous cooperation between the institutions and CSOs in protection of health rights.

At the same time, the topics of the environment and sustainable development were present via activities that connect education, science and local action. The project “Civic Activism for Implementation of Circular economy in Organic Waste Management”, implemented by the Center for Resources in the Environment (REC), Eco Logic and Florozon enabled the students from several primary schools in Skopje to participate in one-day workshops on techniques for biowaste transformation. With the scientific caravan and the visits to schools, the students got acquainted with the equipment of the Bio-technological Laboratory and with practical experiments they learned how the organic waste can be reused. Within the project, there was also an article on selection  and optimization of the organic fraction from solid communal waste which explains the steps and principles for proper biowaste management.

Care of climate changes was in the focus of the activities of the Center for Sustainable Community Development – Debar, which, via the project “We Learn about Climate Changes” organised an educational visit to Mavrovo National Park for students from “Said Najdeni” primary school and “28^th November” high school. Via direct contacts with the experts from the park, the students were informed about the conseque3nces of the climate changes and their impact on biodiversity.

At local and regional level, the project “Regional Partnership for Better Implementation of the Green Agenda at Local Level”, implemented by the Center for Climate Changes with seven other organizations, resulted in specific steps to better waste management and sustainable policies. Thus, the Municipality of Aerodrom started a pilot project for waste plastic selection, which covers 50 households in its first phase, and it planned to gradually expand to 600. Additionally, on 11^th December there was a Regional Forum on the Green Agenda in the Polog Region; key challenges were identified there, together with the municipalities, communal enterprises and business community; on 23^rd December there was a working meeting held with the municipalities of Tetovo, Bogovinje, Brvenica, Gostivar and Tearce, which started the process of preparation of the Roadmap for the Greed Agenda for the Polog Planning Region.

In December, Platform 27 presented their fourth “Shadow Report on Chapter 27” on the period of 2024-2025, which indicates a minimal or no progress in the approximation of the country with the EU standards on environment and climate changes, but also offers specific recommendations for a more sustainable development.

December was also a month of intense activities in promoting the rights of women and fight against discrimination. The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, as part of the project “Equality Now – Empowering the Marginalized Communities on Social Inclusion and Non-Discrimination” which is implemented in partnership with HOPS and Margini coalition, published the results of the monitoring of the work of the Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination. The data show that from July to September there were 89 appeals, 30 of which by women, which indicated the need for a more efficient intuitional protection, especially for women from marginalized communities.

With the project “Active Women”, the humanitarian association “Mother” organised workshops with women from the neighbourhoods of Igo Trichkovik and Karposh, in order to strengthen their skills in advocacy and active participation in the community. Parallelly to this, “Antiko” Women’s Initiative, together with partner organizations within the campaign “16 Days of Activism against Gender Based and Domestic Violence” organised an educational event in “Gatex” textile factory in Prilep, as well as a panel discussion on the Human Rights Day entitled ”Behind the Smile: How to Prevent Violence against Women Facing Reproduction Challenges?”, opening topics on psychological violence, stigma and challenges at work. Via their project “Voice and Participation of Women and Young People in Public Policy Creation and Enabling Environment for Civil Society” in Negotino there was a handover of certificates for women who had successfully completed the free of charge trainings in makeup artists, pedicure and manicure. With these certificates, so far the project helped 53 women in their professional and economic development. Additionally, with the project “With Women’s Activism and Initiatives to Gender Inclusive and Responsible Municipalities”, Loud Textile Worker signed a Memorandum for Cooperation with the Municipality of Delchevo, in this way setting up a basis for further activities directed to gender equality and strengthening the women at local level.

The young people and education were in the focus also via the project “Youth Network on Financial Literacy of the South-East”, implemented by Promo Idea, together with Novis from Strumica and “Kruna Plus” from Radovish”. In Up Hub Strumica they held an educational lecture for investment and management of personal finances. At the same time, Pro Local and their partners with the project “Youth Policies Fit for the Young” organised the fourth meeting of the Regional Platform for Young People in Bitola, where CSOs, mayors and young people discussed the challenges and needs in the area of education, social protection, sport, public transport and youth participation.

The December issue of Civic Impulse has confirmed the role of CSOs as crucial mover of social changes which create specific, visible and sustainable results in the communities around the country with the projects supported by Civica Mobilitas.