Civil Society Festival Highlights the Fight Against COVID-19

Over 80 civil society organizations took advantage of the sunny Saturday to present their work to citizens at the City Park near the “Shkolka” venue as part of the Civica Mobilitas Festival, “Civil Society Organizations Day.” This year, the festival was held under pandemic conditions, while also celebrating the successes and the response of organizations in addressing COVID-19. As noted by H.E. Sybille Suter Tejada, Ambassador of Switzerland, this day and the Civica Mobilitas Festival are an example of how, despite the record participation of 86 civil society organizations, safety measures can still be observed while showcasing the work and activities of civil society organizations.

The program, as in previous years, included numerous and diverse activities. Organizations engaged passersby through quizzes, games, workshops, exhibitions, theatrical performances, and video projections. Citizens had the opportunity to learn how to use natural resources responsibly, become donors and contribute to their local communities, find information about different forms of human trafficking, access free legal advice, seek mental health support, and get tested for HIV with immediate results.

This year, the main patron of the Festival was the First Lady, Elizabeta Gjorgievska. During the official opening, she highlighted that the event allowed her to learn about new organizations and become informed about many activities she had not previously known. “I believe that neither the COVID-19 pandemic nor anything else should deter us from remaining active citizens, participating in civic initiatives, being members of NGOs, and volunteering,” Gjorgievska added.

A guest at the main discussion of the Festival was Mila Carovska, Minister of Education. Together with her, participants discussed the role of civil society organizations in supporting the state’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. “Civil society organizations and partners quickly reorganized in response to the pandemic. Throughout this period, we had successful coordination with civil society organizations and inspectors, which contributed to the protection of many jobs,” Carovska emphasized during the discussion.

In addition, discussions inevitably focused on educational processes during the pandemic, including teachers, students, and their families. On this basis, the Minister encouraged civil society organizations to engage in creating and supporting reform processes for quality education.

This year, the Civil Society Festival coincided with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and several humanitarian organizations organized campaigns to collect and distribute food and clothing to those most in need. While the main theme of this year’s Festival was addressing the pandemic, it also celebrated those who were among the first to go into the field to help, those who assisted in shaping measures for a more effective pandemic response, and those who consistently prioritize the needs of their communities.