Citizens for Change #20

JANUARY - MARCH 2025

Citizens taking initiative in their communities build hope from the ground up

In this issue dedicated to civic participation, we bring you the stories of those who refuse to accept the status quo. From Bitola to Skopje, through conferences, trainings, marches, and local analyses, the civil sector leads its battle and the battle of those it represents for a more inclusive, responsible, and sustainable society. The student conference “Digital Freedom and Gender Equality” opened the topic of digital gender-based violence, and young people were encouraged to break the chains of online harassment and abuse. In parallel, within the framework of the “Mentors of the Future” program, girls strengthen their emotional intelligence and leadership capacities, building networks of support and cooperation.

The European Debate Championship for high school students has also been announced, which will be held in Skopje in 2026, organized by the Youth Educational Forum (MOF). An event expected to bring fresh energy to the culture of reasoned debate and critical thinking. On March 8, citizens marched with the message: “Let them eat roses,” insisting that the fight for gender equality is not symbolic, but an urgent need. At the same time, organizations such as the Crisis Center “Hope” and ESE highlighted the real challenges: domestic violence, delays in medicines for patients with rare diseases, difficult access to gynecological services, and insufficient support for vulnerable groups.

Green policies, however, remain stalled at the local level – analyses show that most municipalities (72%) have no local environmental action plans at all or have outdated ones. The global climate action agenda lacks local implementation.

In all this dynamic, the civil sector remains a vocal guardian of the public interest. Demands for non-selective justice after tragic accidents, transparency in public procurement, better access to information, and effective health programs are repeated, while research also reveals citizens’ distrust in the media, accompanied by low media literacy.

Civil society organizations also organized trainings for sustainable tourism and marked Scout Day. The Government adopted a decision on the composition of the new Council for Cooperation between the Government and Civil Society, and the first meeting of the working group for the preparation of the new Strategy for Cooperation with the Civil Sector was held. We hope this is a step towards more systematic support for civil society.

But the key lesson is this: without active citizens, there are no responsible institutions. Without participation, there is no change. And change happens and will continue to happen where citizens don’t wait for permission to get involved, but change society with every small step, voice, and initiative.