First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi

Total budget: 2,833,977 MKD

Implementation period: 01.01.2026 – 31.12.2026 (12 months)

Specific topic: Advancing digital transformation

Partners:

IMPETUS Centre for Internet, Development and Good Governance – Skopje

Constituents:

Children, youth and their families, civil society organisations working with children, educational and social institutions, professionals working with children, and the wider public interested in advancing children’s rights.

About the project supported by Civica Mobilitas: Safe Internet Space for Children and Youth

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED SPECIFIC TOPIC

The action is aimed at advancing and protecting children’s rights through strengthening public awareness, supporting institutional accountability, and promoting active participation of children and youth. The project combines research, educational, and advocacy activities with the aim of improving systemic mechanisms for the protection of children’s rights and promoting non-violence, equal opportunities, and active citizenship based on respect for diversity.

OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS

Overall objective:
To establish a sustainable and integrated national safe internet service which, through multi-sectoral cooperation, will provide protection, education, and support for children and youth, contributing to systemic change in digital safety and increased civic participation in policy-making.

Specific objectives:

• Expansion and improvement of digital safety services for protecting children and youth from online abuse and violence through the creation of an easily accessible and recognisable online space that integrates all options for prevention, reporting, and advisory support
• Alignment with European approaches to addressing digital threats through initiating processes for establishing the first hotline in Macedonia
• Encouraging intersectoral cooperation and advocacy

RESULTS

• Digitally accessible service for reporting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), first psychological aid via the “AloBushavko” helpline for children and youth, and counselling through upgrading the “AloBushavko” website with new functionalities that integrate protection options in one place
• Initiated processes for establishing the first hotline in Macedonia
• Strengthened multi-sectoral cooperation and reporting on trends of violence among children and youth in the digital space

ACTIVITIES

• Workshops for promotion of children’s rights in the digital era
• Improvement and operational functioning of a confidential helpline to support children, youth, and parents in dealing with digital risks, mental health challenges, and cases of cyber violence
• Providing access to support services for children and youth for psychological support, counselling, and reporting of child sexual content through upgrading the existing website alobushavko.mk with new web functionality
• Preparation and dissemination of semi-annual and annual reports on the functioning of the “AloBushavko” confidential helpline for children and youth, aiming to inform and network with relevant public institutions and partner organisations
• Training on personal data protection and digital safety for employees of the First Children’s Embassy Megjashi, with a special focus on SOS-line operators
• Development of a manual on risks in the digital space intended for “AloBushavko” helpline operators to provide more effective support in cases of digital violence
• Design, implementation, and evaluation of awareness-raising campaigns in educational institutions, online spaces, and media to increase visibility and use of the “AloBushavko” confidential helpline for children and youth
• Participation in national and EU platforms and policy working groups, monitoring legal changes and alignment with strategies for protection of children in the digital space
• Preparation of a comprehensive feasibility study with a sustainability plan for establishing and continuous operation of the hotline
• Mapping through meetings with representatives of state institutions, civil society, and the business sector
• Mapping through focus groups
• Organisation of an annual press conference to present findings from the “AloBushavko” helpline for children and youth, within the marking of “Safer Internet Day 2026”

WEBSITE

https://www.childrensembassy.org.mk – First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi
https://impetus.mk – IMPETUS Centre for Internet, Development and Good Governance – Skopje