CET platforma Skopje is a voluntary, non-profit, non-governmental, non-partisan association of citizens with mission to: strengthen civil society on local, national and European level, promote and protect the human rights, perform activities which encourage moral and civic values, strengthen inter-ethnic relations, empower youth in society, advocate for social inclusion of vulnerable groups, promote non-formal education and offer support, education, training and mobility opportunities to young people. CET platforma Skopje is established in January 2016 by young, motivated, competent and experienced youth workers, leaders, activists and experts who are active in civil sector and youth work from 2008. Furthermore, CET platforma Skopje is the Macedonian branch of CET platform network that has member organisations in Serbia, Croatia, Poland, Montenegro, Slovenia, Kosovo, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Vision of CET platform is to fulfil a broader social interest, to act and achieve objectives in the areas of civil society, democratic order and institutions, civic values, human rights, media, non-formal education and vulnerable categories of citizens in society. We strive to stimulate and sustain the personal, professional and social development of the local youth and to foster their active and responsible participation in educational, social, cultural, political and economic life in the communities they live in.
To achieve the mission and vision, CET platform’s main objectives and areas of work are:
- Development of civil society, democracy and democratic institutions;
- Promotion and protection of human rights, civic values and rights of vulnerable groups of citizens in society;
- Strengthening of interethnic and interreligious relations and contributing to equality and solidarity in society;
- Promotion and protection of media freedoms, rights and standards;
- Promotion of non-formal education among citizens, especially among young people;
- Support of marginalized people and contributing to their social inclusion in society;
- Affirmation of youth in society and stimulating their participation in decision-making;
- Encouraging and promoting the development and knowledge in the field of domestic, regional, European and international relations and cooperation;
- Promotion and development of creativity, innovation, sustainable development and entrepreneurship;
- Capacity building of civil society at the local and international level;
- Establishing cooperation with local and foreign NGOs, foundations, local governments, state institutions and other organisations whose objectives are compatible with the goals of CET platform.
CET platform Skopje at the moment has 25 active members and 3 volunteers who belong to different ethnic, religious or gender groups that live in North Macedonia. The members have different backgrounds and experiences, but many of them are active in youth work, non-formal education and grass-root activism from 2008, either as participants, coordinators or organisers of various local, national and international projects on different topics within different programmes such as: Youth in Action, Europe for Citizens, No Hate Speech Movement and Erasmus+. During these years of our work we gained a lot of experience, knowledge, skills, practices, tools and techniques on non-formal education, youth work and project management while working with young people from different cultural backgrounds from all around Europe. We have knowledge and years of experience in project writing, project planning, project implementation and evaluation of local and international projects that we will be happy to share with the other participants of the project. The organisation has also a database of over 200 young people and youth workers who have participated in our or our partner’s activities.
Most of our members have been volunteers or worked for other non-profit youth organisations in the past and have huge experience in preparing, managing and organising local and international activities. Few members have been EVS volunteers in different countries. Most of the members have a university diploma and have finished or still studying in various departments of different faculties, such as journalism, language studies, economy, law, diplomacy, mechanical engineering, technical and social work studies. The association is open to all who want to become members, regardless of ethnicity, beliefs, racial, religious or other affiliation.
Our working plan for this year envisions broadening of our activities and work on the regional and international level, so international projects are a perfect opportunity for us to meet, share experiences, knowledge and practices as well as to conclude valuable partnerships with various European youth organisation who are working in our fields of work.
In December 2018, we were awarded with grant from the Agency for Youth and Sports of North Macedonia for the 6-months project “Together for a stronger civil society” that will inform and educate civil organisations and young people about EU funding programmes, teach about drafting grant proposals, provide space for networking and promote volunteerism.
In May 2020, we will organise a Erasmus+ youth exchange “It is all about love” in order to explore the cultural universal of marriage and wedding ceremonies in different countries as a way for young people to appreciate and learn more about different cultures, traditions and religions. The project aims to promote mutual understanding and intercultural learning by allowing youth to discover new cultures and to encourage their active participation in society.
In the last 3 years, we have been very active as a reliable partner on Erasmus+ mobility projects. So far, we have sent over 350 young people and youth workers on more than 90+ projects abroad that were organised by our partners with the support of Erasmus+ programme.
