History of the MCIC: A decade dedicated to the development

Rehabilitation, integration, promotion of peace...

 
In 1993 in the middle of the war that tore apart the ex SFR Yugoslavia, the World Council of Churches with its ecumenical presence, tried to alleviate the consequences of the fratricidal war in this region. In the system of leading WCC agencies, Macedonia was under the authority of the Dutch Inter-church Aid, whose attention was to establish a long-term presence in our country, with a goal to help in the peacekeeping process and the development of the civil society; and to help people in need.

In September 1993, the DIA opened its office in Skopje. It existed until the DIA operational partner in Macedonia was established, that is, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation. The MCIC Founding Assembly took place in December 1993.

This year is an important jubilee for the MCIC - 10 years of growth and development for the Macedonian development. On that occasion, in the next four editions of "Civic World", we will publish two-page texts dedicated to the MCIC activities and its development.

In this issue, we are presenting the activities implemented by the MCIC in the period between 1993 and 1997. 

 
The Macedonian Center for International Cooperation was initiated as a common project of the Dutch Inter-church Aid and the local initiative of a group of young people, who had courage, virtue and vision to recognize the right way in the chaos of the fallen apart SFRY. And that way lead through the labyrinth of events: the efforts to get out of the chaos n a peaceful manner, to establish the young Macedonian country, to develop the democracy and the civil society in it, to keep the peace

The road turned out to be the right one and the gal was becoming more and more obvious: contribution to the Macedonian sustainable development, through activities for promotion of the marginalized groups, local development, civic associations, encouraging the initiatives, etc.

However, the beginning, as all beginnings are, were not so simple.

 

1994: Formulating the goals

 

The MCIC was officially registered as a national non-governmental organization in September 1994. Until then, as a civic initiative, it had realized several important activities and had formulated its goals.

The main MCIC goals were: promotion of peace; organizing the civil society, and help to people in need. For the realization of these goals, MCIC established several programmes.

The programme for rural development was directed towards the villages struck by the ten-year draught in the municipalities of Prilep, Titov Veles, Sveti Nikole, Stip, Radovis and Strumica, and later on in the western mountain villages in Macedonia, in the municipalities of Gostivar, Debar, Kicevo, Makedonski Brod and Struga Within this programme, projects for basic aid were implemented (966 families from 133 villages received money and hygiene products) and projects for rehabilitation and development (help in agricultural repro-materials, improving the water supply and support to employment). Many families got the initial help for recovering from the consequences of the draught; water supplying systems and three micro-accumulations were initiated and built, 20 jobs were opened at the textile factory in the village Slavej, Prilep.

New jobs were provided through the Programme for promotion of the employment, foremost, for the vulnerable groups - handicapped people, self-breeding mothers and others. With this programme, 130 new jobs were opened. Projects were also implemented through the Programme for dignity of the handicapped and marginalized, whose target group were Roma people and the handicapped. Several initiatives were enabled at the institutions "Demir Kapija (renewal of the sewing workshop), "Ranka Milanovik" (construction of furniture), "Saint Naum Ohridski" (renewal of the beds) and "Banja Bansko" (use of thermal water as an alternative source of energy). For the Roma population, they implemented projects for education and help in clothes for the children.

The Programme for strengthening the civil society supported several activities of some humanitarian and women associations (the S.O.S. phone of the Women Organization from Skopje, establishment of ESE, help to Homas, Daja and Mesecina).

In this period, the MCIC and DIA had published six issues of the bulletin "Dialogue Macedonia", which later, in March 1994, was published as "Macedonian Dialogue" - MCIC Bulletin. They had also published other informative publications.

 

1995: Focus on rehabilitation and development

 

In 1995 the MCIC focused themselves on the rehabilitation and development, and not so much to the humanitarian projects as before. In fact, this was the period when the MCIC development character was profiled.

Most of the projects were directed towards the rural development. The Water supply programme was implemented (the total of 56 projects in 45 villages from 10 municipalities, that is 23, 857 inhabitants) through construction and reconstruction of water supply systems in the villages and the Rural Development Initiatives Programme, which covered projects for sanitation, water supply, education, generating income and communication in five municipalities. Many villages got a sanitary network, visual aids for the schools, watering places, radio stations, production plants.

The programme for encouraging the employment did not only create new jobs, but it provided training for many people and created economic relations and business contacts for companies from Western Europe.

Gert Jan Van Apeldoorn The man who unselfishly shared his knowledge In 1994, the MCIC made their first steps with great support from a great man- the Dutch, Jan Van Apeldoorn. As a representative of the Dutch Inter-church Aid, he unselfishly transferred his knowledge, skills and contacts with the young team that established and profiled MCIC. Without DIA's help and especially without the unselfish engagement of Mr. Apeldoorn, the MCIC would not have been what it is today.

Eight projects for dignity of the handicapped were also implemented, directed primarily to generating income for the institutions that take care of the handicapped and which worked together with the MCIC the previous year. The Programme for strengthening the Roma people covered settlement inhabited by 75% of the Roma population in Macedonia. Project had been supported for improving the Roma people education, and NGO center for Roma people training was opened in the Suto Orizari municipality.

The development, of course, is not possible without the development of the civil society. The Civil Society Programme was a very important MCIC component that year. Within this programme, 39 civic associations' projects had been supported. That year, the MCIC worked on encouraging the humanitarian agency of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, started as an initiative the year before. In 1995, the Holy Synod of the MOC passed a decision to establish a church humanitarian organization "Milosrdie" (Mercy), and the MCIC helped its operationalization.

In this period, an important advocating activity was initiated - in order to modernise the legal regulations for NGO working, a study of the condition with the legislation in Macedonia in comparison with the legislation in other countries was prepared. A public tribune on this subject took place as well. The MCIC founded an NGO Supporting Center and implemented a computer-training course for the civic associations' activists. A four-year programme for the civil society development was also prepared and supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 
1996: Integration on ethnic level, economic development


That year's challenge for the MCIC was the integration of different ethnic groups, reduction of the deepened economic crisis, maintaining the normal living conditions. This year was also important for the MCIC inner development - they moved to a new location, in the new offices which they have had for seven now.

The Water supply programme continued to bring the liquid of life closer to the families. Water supply system were either built or reconstructed in 38 villages with 25, 883 inhabitants, in 15 municipalities throughout the country. A training course was implemented on organizational structure for construction and maintaining the water supply systems, for their technical performance and for finding sources of financing. The rural development initiatives programme supported initiatives in multi-ethnic environments as a contribution for improving the inter-ethnic relations through development initiatives. Three loans had been approved and 11 jobs had been open. The employment was one of the goals of the Programme for encouraging the employment through which 4 new projects had been initiated and 14 new posts had been opened, mainly for women.

The MCIC continued the implementation of the handicapped dignity and Roma people strengthening programmes through training courses, employment, support to education and civic associations' institutional development. The first Seminar for Roma people in Macedonia was supported, the bearer of which was the Roma association Mesecina from Gostivar. The Civil Society Programme supported 21 projects and trained 86 activists from the civic associations. In that period, MCIC published the first NGO Address Book in Macedonia and the first NGO bulletin, which in 2001 grew into the "Civic World". Preparations for the text on the Law for Civic Associations were done and a tribune on this subject was held as well.

In the village Kalista, Struga, MCIC supported and financed the Religious Communities Conference on "Religions and the search for peace", which was attended by 40 representatives from various religious communities in the Balkans, Europe and USA. 

 
1997: Development of the local communities
 

The MCIC activities focus for 1997 was directed towards the local communities outside the capital city. In the conditions of reduced presence of foreign donator, MCIC managed to keep about 70% of its project activities. The unemployment and ethnic tensions were the greatest threats that Macedonian society was facing in that period, and which MCIC tried to reduce through its programmes. Sixty-five projects had been realized and that year, the MCIC completed their first three-year plan (1995-1997). Then, a very sad thing happened - Mr. Gert Jan Van Apeldoorn, a great teacher and friend of MCIC and Macedonia, died.

The rural development continued with the reconstruction water supply systems in 16 villages, which covered 8,114 beneficiaries, and the with the Rural Initiatives Programme a new water supply system was approved and the realization of 11 projects from the previous year resumed. Within the Employment promotion programme, 4 credits had been approved that would provide opening of 20 new job posts. MCIC published the book "Improve your business", aimed for support of small and medium business initiatives.

The Programme for dignity of the handicapped supported 5 projects and 13 special elementary schools with 28 classes in 11 municipalities (the total of 397 pupils with light and moderate mental handicap). Six institutions and publication of the Guide for employing the handicapped, prepared by the association Ergos were also supported. The Programme for strengthening the Roma people supported institutional development, education, employment and urgent help for the Roma citizens.

In the course of 1997, 26 civic associations were direct MCIC beneficiaries, through the NGO Support Office, projects, training courses and information. 

Prepared by: Marijana Ivanova