Civic Impulse #6: Monthly Review of Grantee Activities
June 2025
Ranging from young people who undertake an initiative to protect the environment to women who fight for equal opportunities in the rural areas, June was marked by citizens who do not wait, but act. With trainings, actions and public debates, the organizations in the field sent a clear message that the changes do not happen themselves, but are rather a result of a joint, informed and persistent civic action.
The youth engagement on climate changes had a new energetic and creative impuls focused on changes. During the “Civica Mobilitas Week – Climate Changes and Youth Activism” 30 young people from Struga, Debar and Ohrid were not only trained in project development, but they also designed their own eco-initiatives, prepared to be implemented in their communities. The five-day camp and the regional event at “Galeb” ship opened key questions on the protection of water resources, and the young people have become careers of ideas that flow into the broader climate responsibility movement. The project “Let’s Learn about Climate Changes”, implemented by the Scout Poreche brigade “Krste Jon” – Struga, the association Center for Sustainable Community Development – Debar and the Regional Green Center – Ohrid provided this opportunity for the generations that learn, cooperate, think of solutions and bravely go towards sustainable future.
The students from Negotino also had their ecological contribution. With funds raised with an action for collection of textile waste, they planted new plants at several locations. The action, led by the Center for Climate Changes “Kreativ” from Negotino and the other partner organizations, clearly demonstrated that the waste does not have to be a problem, but also an opportunity. With every collected kilo of textile and newly planted plants, the citizens have proved that small steps can lead to significant and sustainable changes. With this same project, there was a regional sustainable agriculture forum held in Gevgelija, where the young people, institutions and farmers discussed about fair land management, agro-ecological practices and the need for support of green start-ups. At the same time, in Bitola and Mogila there was a screening of the municipal capacities, where the crucial problems in the waste management systems were identified and the need for energy efficiency, education and public awareness raising was stressed.
In Skopje, at the thematic forum “From Difference to Justice”, organized by CMA “Krik”, CSI “Hope” and the Association of Social Workers of Macedonia – ZSRM, CSOs and institutions stood side by side with the young people, stressing the need for inclusive ecological policies. The presented analysis revealed that 90% of the young people do not know where to report pollution, but almost 80% would join as volunteers, if they had such a possibility.
The possibilities for the young people were the focus in Radovish too, where there was a regional conference on financial literacy, organized by the associations “KRUNA Plus” from Radovish, “Promo Idea” and “Novus” from Strumica. The interactive sessions helped the young people understand how to manage their money, set personal budgets and use digital tools, while the direct communication with experts motivated them to take the control of their financial future.
Women, especially those from rural areas, started to speak openly and loudly. In Kriva Palanka, at the regional meeting of the rural women of the north-east, the challenges of the initiatives that were already implemented were shared – such as the improvements in the local infrastructure and the demands for transparent decision making. The meeting took place within the project “Active Women”, which is implemented by HZ “Mother” from Kumanovo, the Regional Center for Sustainable Development from Kratovo, RCS “Spektar” from Kriva Palanka and the Foundation for Small and Medium Enterprise Development from Kumanovo.
In Strumica and Tetovo, the topic was economic independence. Women learned about access to microfinancing and the possibilities for starting their own business. These activities, included in the project “The Voice and Participation of Women and Young People in: Creating Public Policies and Enabling Environment for Civic Participation”, implemented by ZGI “Antiko”, “Always Cohabitation” from the village of Kanatlarci and “Adrion” from the village of Zhelino, once again showed that women have ideas, motivation and strength – and most of all, they need support.
When we speak of support – digital transformation had a new impulse. With the project “(DIGILOC) Digital Transformation at Local Level – Involved Community for Resilience to Corruption”, Blink 42-21 and its partner organizations presented the #mCommunity platform in Negotino – a tool that enables direct communication between the citizens and the local self-government. With this tool, reporting of problems, participation in public consultations and monitoring of local policies becomes a simpler and more efficient interaction with the municipality – via a mobile phone or a computer.
At national level, Finance Think and its partner organizations presented the platform COMPASS which monitors the implementation of 139 promises, divided in five priority areas: socio-economy, education, health care, youth and gender equality. According to the initial data, there is a moderate progress in the fulfilment of government promises for the period of 2024-2028. The education sector is a frontrunner, there is an initial progress in health care, but the gender equality is still in the waiting room.
June was a month of exceptional energy that is felt in the field. From idea to implementation, from discussion to changes, from local actions to national initiatives, the civic sector continues to face the challenges and jointly and consistently.
