We create future leaders ready to contribute to positive social change

The program was filled with activities that deepened awareness of democratic values ​​and engagement among young people. The purpose of the visit is to exchange experiences, share good practices, as well as joint research on the concept of democracy through various activities, workshops and visits to institutions, say Vasil Antevski-Dren professors, Iva Stojanovska Jakimovski, project coordinator from the Macedonian side, and Nikolina Kirkova, and Nikolina Kirkova.

As part of the Erasmus+project, « Democratic Journey for Future Powerful Leaders », the Vocational Education School « Vasil Antevski-Dren » from Skopje from May 4 to 8 was a proud host of the Latvia and Belgium. The aim of the project is to educate and inspire young people about democratic processes, leadership and active citizenship, which will create future leaders ready to contribute to positive social change.
– The program was filled with activities that deepened the awareness of democratic values ​​and engagement among young people. The purpose of the visit is to exchange experiences, share good practices, and joint research on the concept of democracy through various activities, workshops and visits to institutions. The visit began to get to know the participants, including activities where students presented different types of democracy and what it is for them. During the days that followed we had a symbolic visit to the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia, where representatives of each partner gave a 5-minute speech on the subject « Democracy and Youth Participation »-say Vasil Antevski-Dren professors, Iva Stojanovska Jakimovska, Project Coordinator.

Inspiring lecture on the concepts of civil liability and freedoms

The participants also had an inspiring lecture by representatives of the NGO « Balkan Civil Society Development Network » in collaboration with Young Hub, dedicated to the protection of civil rights, which introduced students in the concepts of activism, civil responsibility and freedoms.
– Furthermore, young people were working on the challenges facing their peers and developed action plans to overcome them, developing critical thinking and creative solutions to a positive community change. Students and teachers actively participated in debates, simulations and creative presentations, building friendships and deepening their understanding of democratic values. This meeting is another important step in a joint European journey to a more inclusive and responsible society – added Stojanovska Jakimovski and Kirkova.
The project will develop democratic culture among young people by acquainting with the basic principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, as well as fostering critical thinking and debate on social issues.

Students designed challenges on the topic of « Democracy »

– While we were developing the concept of our project, it was essential for us to overcome ideas and focus on creating true influence through concrete actions. So, throughout the week, students designed challenges, shared practical tips and made videos on the topic « Democracy ». We believe that efforts will inspire all young people to make their first steps towards active civic engagement. We are really grateful for the warm welcome we received in Skopje. It was a pleasure to experience your beautiful country and its rich culture and to work with all the participants during the project – Latvian participants told us.
The implementation of the project « Democratic Travel for Future Powerful Leaders » is expected to achieve concrete results, which will contribute to the development of young people as active and responsible citizens.
– As Belgian teachers, we are incredibly proud of our boys and girls who participated in the Erasmus+project in Skopje. Throughout the week, they have shown engagement in discussions on democracy and youth leadership. It was so inspiring to see how they cooperate with Latvia and host Macedonia participants, increasing their confidence and critical thinking while improving their English and social skills. This experience not only enriches them as people but also gives us hope to all of us for the future of Europe – say Belgian participants. SJ