Thirty representatives of civil society organisations from the Eastern region of Vinica, Delchevo, Pehchevo, Radovish, Sveti Nikole and Shtip participated in the advocacy debate “Forum of Ideas”, which was held on September 24 at the Resource Center in Shtip. The event was organized with the aim of better getting to know each other, providing a space for mutual cooperation, exchange of experiences and ideas, as well as encouraging joint advocacy initiatives.
The central topic of the event was the advocacy of civil society organisations, and the participants discussed their work, priorities and current challenges through interactive activities.
When asked “What are the most common challenges you face in advocacy?”, participants highlighted the following:
- Lack of capacity among young people
- Limited resources – financial, human and time
- Lack of funds for organizing events
These challenges were recognized as common and a discussion was opened on possible solutions through strengthening mutual support, sharing resources and jointly applying for funds.
In an open and productive atmosphere, several key areas for future joint initiatives were identified:
- Improving conditions for children and people with disabilities
- Raising public awareness and encouraging a culture of volunteering
- Protecting the environment and improving the health of the population
In the section on building a base of supporters for advocacy campaigns, the following were proposed:
- Forming thematic groups of associations
- Creating a registry of initiatives for easier connection and monitoring of activities
Special attention was paid to the question "How can young people be activated to engage in advocacy processes?" Participants offered a range of ideas:
- Encouraging participation through public debates, forums and workshops
- Organizing interactive events for pupils and students
- Forming youth clubs and supporting informal groups
- Inclusion in decision-making and co-creation processes
- Engagement through small roles - moderation, promotion, logistics.
Participants emphasized that these topics are relevant to most organisations and that there is interest in mutual cooperation, as well as in connecting with other stakeholders at the national level.
The event also presented the advocacy tool, which allows for the registration of initiatives by civil society organisations. Attendees were encouraged to register their activities in order to increase the visibility of the achieved results, to encourage networking and exchange of good practices, and to attract greater interest and investment from the donor community in current and future initiatives.
The event showed that civil society organisations from the Eastern region have the will, ideas and potential for joint action. Through such meetings, the basis for a broader network of support, learning and influence is created. The organizers announced the continuation of such meetings and activities, in order to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations and to create conditions for more effective advocacy at the local and national levels.
This debate was organised under the project "EU Support for the Civil Society Resource Centre - Phase 2", funded by the European Union, and implemented by the National Civil Society Development Foundation Civic Resource Center, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC), Media Plus, Shtip and the Association for Democratic Initiatives - ADI, Gostivar.
