Thursday, March 7, 2013



Europe for Citizens Programme

The aim of this programme is to bring Europe closer to its citizens and to enable them to participate fully in the European construction. Through this programme, citizens have the opportunity to be involved in transnational exchanges and cooperation activities, contributing to developing a sense of belonging to common European ideals and encouraging the process of European integration. More about Europe for Citizens The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Agency Executive Agency (EACEA) is responsible for the management of certain parts of the EU's Culture programmes under supervision from its parent Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM of the European Commission). Europe for Citizens Points (ECPs) have been set up to facilitate participation in the Europe for Citizens Programme. ECPs give advice and guidance on all aspects of this programme, including how to develop a project, prepare funding applications and build international partnerships.
You can find all the information about the Europe for Citizens programme through the following four sections:

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Evaluation meeting, venue Gevgelija, Macedonia


Evaluation meeting, venue Gevgelija, Macedonia


















After the arrival of the participants small welcoming was made just for celebration of the last activity of the project that lasted 9 months and helped lots of people to improve the knowledge, skills and in the same time open opportunities for further ideas and project proposals that were/or planned to be implemented. The next day started with the evaluation of the previous activities, sharing the main questions that were mentioned and the working plan in all 4 municipalities. Then the next phase was project reports that took most of the time mainly because all of the things and activities passed but most of the things that were happening between them were also discussed and open in a conversation mainly because of the quality of the project, results that were received and accomplished and changes on local level in all 4 municipalities. Also FB group was made for sharing the personal photos from the project, videos, impressions and news feeds connected with this topic. Group was open also for other interested citizenships that want to join and get news and information about the project and topic connected with it.

Poster for promotion

Poster that was made for promotion of the project Volunteering Platform and all the events that were part of it



Sunday, March 3, 2013

VOLUNTEERING PLATFORM



Specific objectives are:
- Promotion the concept of twinning between Negotino and Popovo;
- Making relations for a permanent cooperation between both countries through creating of Volunteering Platform;
- Sharing points of view about volunteering as a one of the main tools that stimulate active citizenship;
- Building of capacities of representatives from local authorities and NGOs for developing volunteering practices in great projects;












Through this project the citizens, precisely people from Macedonia and Bulgaria,  had the opportunity to participate in events within the project activities in order to develop closer citizenship's relations, based on democracy, common values and mutual respect and understanding. 

According to the specific objectives, Municipalities of Negotino, Macedonia and Popovo, Bulgaria are already twinned and planned project activities contributed for continuing, reinforcing and improving of already established twinning relations. The project involves also other partner Municipalities - Gevgelija, Macedonia and Sofia, Bulgaria so this was an opportunity for starting new twinning relationships and activities.

Project Volunteering Platform was realized with an active participation of Local authorities, public institutions, NGOs and young people in the main active role. The project activities  contributed to promote European values and informal learning through planned seminar and Discussion Forum. Generally the project proposal  aimed to promote the volunteering as an active European citizenship.


Platform of Volunteering is made as a result of this project, which will be important for permanent cooperation amongst all involved parties. Through the activities was  achieved capacity building of organizations and Municipalities representatives for making quality and sustainable further projects. The elaborated data base (researching results) was  a base for undertaking activities and initiatives in accordance with the real needs. The reinforced twinning relationships were contributed for wider development of the Municipalities and their promotion. The established partnerships amongst all partners will enable future cooperation which can result with other twinning relationships establishment. After the project it will be created a network of interested citizens for volunteering and hosting volunteers, in order to stimulate the sharing of new project ideas and volunteering practices for future interventions among them. This way they can actively participate and collaborate to the proposal of new ideas.

     

CENTRE FOR REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CRSD) - NEGOTINO, MACEDONIA

Background on the organization:

The civil association, Centre for Regional Sustainable Development (CRSD) is the former NGO support centre Negotino which was opened in June 2003 as a part of the project Support for the civil society – strengthening of NGOs and activities for establishment of 8 NGOs support centers in Macedonia by the European Agency for reconstruction and The Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia.

In October 2009 CRSD was established and started to work with separate legal entity. Regarding to the organization missions CRSD works on stimulation and support to the regional development in the Tikvesh region in accordance of EU integration process of Republic of Macedonia, by implementing programs for promotion and development of civil sector in partnership with business sector and local self government units. Moreover CRSD believes that sustainable development and correct lifestyle are the basic tools to build a better future for us and future generations as well and uses non – formal education methods to work with youth on social, economic and environmental uses increasing the awareness about the importance for the subjects. The organization has experience in working on projects for local and regional development in great cooperation with the municipality of Negotino.

In addition, has the knowledge resources and experience necessary for sustainable development of the activities and objectives as well for improving of the regional development increasing of national and international cooperation in social sphere. The previous experience and expertise on working in European projects and training activities and other issues mention above will insure the expertise needed for various topics and fields of interest. Since its constitutions CRSD also organizes exchanges in education field, stimulating the creation of networks and partnerships, with a particular focus on youth participation.
As part of national network of youth clubs all over Macedonia CRSD work on promotion and stimulation of volunteering. It is also accredited as sending, hosting and coordinating organization within YiA – EVS program, with reference number 2010-SI-90 and is working on recruiting interested volunteers on international level. CRSD has relevant previous experience in organizing events, seminars, forum discussion, presentation, round tables, debates, workshops, etc. within Europe for Citizens program involving the local communities. Thanks to tools like life long learning, non formal education, intercultural dialog, exchanges and networking, our organization aims to develop active citizenship educational programs, especially in the fields of Youth, Equal opportunities, Social inclusion, Human Rights and Gender balance. CRSD managed local and regional - level projects, workshops and activities on non- formal education intervention methods, facilitating working group sessions and group dynamics. Within CRSD operates Youth Clubs aimed to motivated young people for building active Citizenship and sustainable partnerships. Our organization has five Clubs: Debate Club, Club for Human Rights, Multimedia Club, Club for writing and publications and Creative Club.

The organization also cooperates with Italian youth organizations (CISS, Palermo and Tempo Libero, Brescia). CRSD also have been cooperated with other international and domestic organizations such as: Human Rights institute Ludwig Boltzman, Austrian Development Agency, and SNV - Netherlands organization for development. At the moment we are implementing project named Volunteering Platform in partnership with two Bulgarian organizations, Alternativa - Popovo and Open Education Centre Sofia, financed by European Commission.
The organization disposes of sufficient technical equipment and an easily accessible office situated in Negotino, equipped with IT, communication and other office equipment. The organization also has established a pool of trainers on different topics, such as: Project Cycle Management, Strategic planning, Team working, Leadership, Communication skills and Conflict resolution, etc.







The main activities of Association “Alternative Popovo – 21 centuries” are:
Organizing and financing development and realization of projects, self-depended or together with other physical or juridical persons; Research and analyze material, intellectual and professional resources for drawing into economic turnover; Create motivation for enterprise and develop of own business and for drawing of large number of inhabitants into developing of strategies for sustainable development; Developing, organizing and managing of training's for raising qualification of unemployed and employed persons and mediation in finding work.


The mission of civil association “Regional Centre for Sustainable Development” is to strengthen the role of N GO sector in the society through capacity building of NGOs that will enable better cooperation with other NGOs, as well as with the local authorities and private sector. In its current work the Centre is implementing the following programs: logistic support; Program for networking and initiatives which is implemented through networking of NGOs; Stimulation of activities for active citizenship and volunteering.


Open Education Centre  are a leading in the field of Education for democratic citizenship and  general education developing new educational technologies, models of  educational changes management, programs for civic education, professional development of teachers, programs for training and development of school  boards and NGOs;The organization is supporting the development of Civil Society in Education through a Network of Community Educational Councils, through a system of Youth Educational Centres and City Councils for students’ self-government, promoting the volunteering as significant practice for active citizenship.


Organizations that are partners in the project
VOLUNTEERING PLATFORM

The aim of this programme is to bring Europe closer to its citizens and to
enable them to participate fully in the European construction. Through this programme, citizens have the opportunity to be involved in transnational exchanges and cooperation activities, contributing to developing a sense of belonging to common European ideals and encouraging the process of European integration.
 "With the support of the Europe for Citizens of the European Union"  
"This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein."



Discussion Forum, venue Popovo, Bulgaria

Discussion Forum, venue 

Popovo, Bulgaria


With the arriving of the participants in Popovo, Bulgaria and setting down the impressions for other meeting, the night was used for small discussion among the participants and sharing some changes in this period that passed since the first meeting. Next day was used for the Discussion Forum "Possibilities for volunteering exchanges amongst involved Municipalities and presentation of European programmes, especially Europe for citizens". Starting with a presentation from ll 4 Municipalities about the situation on now days on local level, talking about the volunteering work and possibilities for doing it, the same including the results from the questionars and opinion of the youth and seniors on this topic was opened a discussion that purssuit a nice atmopshere between the particiapnts and put a base for save sharing of ideas and experience with this topic. With specific value were presented some of the programmes that are offering those kind of work and opportunities for self development, spreading knowledge with the community, empowerment of the organizations/institutions that participant's are part of and setting a goal for us and people aound us to use those benefits for all the ideas and support that is needed. So specialy we put accent on the programme Europe for citizens mainly because this project was part of this programme but as well as all of the partners were partners or implementors in such as projects part of this programme. The participants that already experienced this programme were sharing their experience with the programme and the one that still didn't have more information were pleased to listen and use the benefit of the programme in future. Afternoon session was opened for creating a platform. Firstly were shred the different concepts, experience with such as platform and the we spend more time in talking about the further steps after finishing with the project, combaining information and knoweldge among paryicipants and puting on paper everything that can be used for future cooperation, partnerhips and individual work. Main ideas for creating Volunteering Platform were already presented and the concept was clear and justified from all of the participants. Night was tasting traditional Bulgarian food and dance and a nice atmopshere for the participants for bonding in the free time and share among them. Next day was arrival day and all of the participants after breakfast finished this activity and spread.