Civic Impulse #18: Monthly Review of Grantee Activities
June 2026
In June, civic activism showed that the change comes from the daily, specific work in the field. In Bitola, the young people were trained to make decisions in crisis situations, and in Demir Hisar, after more than two decades, the city cinema started working again. Parallelly, women around the country opened issues about gender responsive budgets, and there were environmental initiatives resulting from the trainings in clean air in Kichevo, up to underwater cleaning of the Ohrid Lake. In this issue of Civic Impulse we inform you about the most important activities of Civica Mobilitas grantee in this month.
In Bitola, “Sphere” youth centre was the host of a test simulation of checking the functionality of the National Crisis Management Protocol, via the project “Connected in Crisis: Young People Building Resilience and Togetherness”, organised by “Young People Can” and “Suportko” Kochani. Young people from Skopje, Kochani, Bitola, Strumica and Gostivar were put in a role of decision makers in crisis situations via an interactive social game. A similar youth energy, but directed to culture, led to the reestablishment of Demir Hisar cinema, where Pro Local, in partnership with “Civic Active Icarus”- Demir Hisar, opened the cinema on 19th June, after more than two decades of not working.
Creativity has continued to be a bridge to gender topics at the workshop of the project “Mentorship in Judiciary and Youth Engagement for Gender Equality”, implemented by the Center for Legal Research and Analyses and the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association (MYLA). Young people spoke about gender equality and activism by painting, inspired by traditional embroidery.
Practical skills were in the focus in Strumica, where “Novus” implemented the Academy of Financial Literacy with the project “Youth Network on Financial Literacy in the Southeast”, a four-day training where the young people obtained know-how in budgeting, saving and financial planning.
The question as of where education of the young people should lead was in the centre of the public debate, at the panel discussion of the project “Advocacy for Inclusive Development”, organised by the Balkan Institute for Regional Cooperation (BIRC), the Forum for Reasonable Policies and the Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities – Skopje (ISSHS). The participants indicated that there was a significant gap between the educational system and the labour market needs, especially in the engineering and IT-sector.
While some people build skills for the future, others work on protecting the children in the present. The First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi, in partnership with IMPETUS – Centre for Internet, Development and Good Governance, within the project “Safe Internet Space for Children and Youth” held three workshops on children’s rights in the digital era, and on 16th June they were also present at the signing of the Declaration of Intent on Youth Violence Prevention, organised by the OSCE Mission in Skopje.
The care for the community was also transferred to the environment. On the occasion of the World Environment Day, the Center for Climate Changes via the project “Regional Partnership for Better Implementation of the Green Agenda at Local Level” held an eco-workshop for the youngest in Karposh, and several days later, in partnership with the Foundation for Local Development and Information Technology Development Gevgelija, they organised a forum for the future of the Kozhuf Mountain.
The protection of the natural resources also continued under the surface of the Ohrid Lake, where the scout Poreche brigade “Krste Jon” – Struga, together with the Regional Green Center Ohrid and diving clubs from Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and Croatia, implemented an action for underwater cleaning of the coast as part of the project “Let’s Learn about Climate Changes”.
Circular economy found its home in composting as well. The Center for Environment Resources (REC) with “Eco Logic” and “Florozon” implemented actions in “Vlado Tasevski” primary school and ”Avram Pisevski” primary school in Skopje via their project “Civic Activism for Implementation of Circular Economy in Organic Waste Management”.
At regional level, this topic was opened by the Green Institute, which, together with the National Association of Private Forest Owners, held forums for biowaste treatment in Kavadarci and Radovish via their project “Zero Biowaste: Systemic Changes in Partnership with the Citizens”. The air remained a priority for the Association of Ecologists “Natyra” – Struga, which continued with the trainings for clean air in Debar and in Kichevo via their project “Citizen Network for Clean air in the Southwest Region”.
The environmental messages also found a most informal way to the citizens. The Centre for Youth Activism KRIK with the Centre for Social Initiatives “Hope” and the Association of Social Workers of Macedonia led the 2026 Green Caravan through Tetovo, Kumanovo, Bitola and Kichevo, combining the climate issues with music and stand-up performances, as part of the project “ZZZ – Together for Green Advocacy for Environment Protection”.
From green initiatives, the focus was moved to economic empowerment of women. The humanitarian association “Mother” from Kumanovo, with the Regional Cooperation Center Spektar, the Regional Center for Sustainable Development – Kratovo and the Foundation for Small and Medium Enterprises – Kumanovo put together these two topics – from an educational workshop and an eco action in Kumanovo, to a sustainability workshop of women’s core groups with participants from Kumanovo, Kriva Palanka and Kratovo, within their project “Active Women”.
The entrepreneurship of women was in the focus of Antiko, which in partnership with ‘Always Cohabitation” and “Adrion” organised a gender responsive budgeting event in Centar Zhupa, and in Shtip ended the training in make-up with certificates for 70 women from 10 municipalities, within the project “Voice and Participation of Women and Young People in: Creating Public Policies and Enabling Environment for Civic Participation”.
The voice of the women was also transferred into municipal budgets. “Loud Textile Worker”, EHO Educational Humanitarian Organization and the Initiative of Unemployed Intellectuals (INI) held budget advocacy forums in Vinica, Shtip and Delchevo, including the forum “Voice of the Women in Municipal Budget” in Vinica. The forums were part of the project “With Women’s Activism and Civic Initiatives to Gender Inclusive and Responsible Municipalities”.
The rights of the vulnerable categories of citizens remained in focus in Veles, where the Association of People with Cerebral Palsy and Other Disabilities, in partnership with “Poraka” – Negotino and “Eco-Life” from Kavadarci organised a discussion on the rights of the patients with a focus on the people with disabilities within the project “Facing Challenges and Stigmatization”.
At institutional level, the question on the extent to which government promises to citizens are fulfilled was opened by Finance Think, who, in partnership with the Macedonian Center for Civic Education (MCGO), the Macedonian Doctor Society and the Youth Educational Forum (MOF) presented the findings of KOMPAS platform which monitors these promises. Almost half of them show progress, while gender equality has not had any movement forward for a second year in a row.
Transparency was the topic for the civil sector as well. Konekt association, in partnership with the Youth Association IMKA Bitola organised a meeting of banks, regulatory institutions and CSOs, followed by a training on the recommendation number 8 of the Working Group on Financial Actions (FATF), within the project “Changes for Sustainability”.
This issue is closed with media. RESIS Institute and the Council for Media Ethics of Macedonia (CMEM) held a series of workshops in Strumica, Ohrid and Tetovo, in order to expand the initiative Local Active Polog – Journalists, Activists and Young People Will Cooperate for a New Community Medium. The idea is part of the project “Community Media for Stronger Civil Society”.
These activities, supported by the Swiss government via Civica Mobilitas continue to confirm the continuous dedication of CSOs in creating better and more quality living conditions for the citizens in the country.
