Suzan Amet All Children to School The humanitarian organization MIR, through the philanthropy grant program in Macedonia, financed by USAID through the Institute for Sustainable Communities - ISC, and carried out by the Center for Institutional development-CIRa, since July 2007 has started realizing activities aimed to establish fund for procurement of schools books and supplies for Roma pupils who do not attend elementary education, and whose parents can not provide books and supplies to send them to school. So far, with the funds we collected from the local businesses and individuals from the local community, we have supplied schoolbooks and school tools for 32 children and included them in the education. Before that, these children were often on the streets, earning for a living, and their labor was often used by their parents. But, with the MIR action, these children gained the opportunity to become regular students in “Vasil Glavinov” elementary school in Skopje, and they achieve good results according to the course of study. Apart from the schoolbooks and school materials we also provided these children with clothing and shoes for several times. However, in this action we were not able to help the other children, who are not enrolled at school and do not attend lectures because they do not have the opportunity to buy schoolbooks and school tools. The elementary schools where Roma children study have a considerable need for additional schoolbooks and school materials supply for the students from families that receive benefits. As an example, I will point out the elementary school “Vasil Glavinov” where there are 247 students that go to school without schoolbooks and school equipment. In the spirit of this year’s leading theme of the civil society organizations forum: Equal possibilities for all, and by observing the positive effect from the implementation of the realized activities as well as the real need to contribute to better future of these children, the Center for Institutional Development CIR called for a joint action for fundraising to help all Roma children in RM. The partnership was realized as a big fundraising event (charity lottery) to create a fund for supplying schoolbooks and school tools for Roma children in RM. The event took place at the NGO Fair in front of CIR’s stand on November 16-17, 2007. During the two fair days 75.000 denars were collected from the lottery donations, as well as various equipment and services, which will be given to elementary schools in RM where Roma children attend. Each donor, during the donating action, had an opportunity to point out a school for his/her donation. According to the collected tickets, most of the donors chose the school “Gorgi Sugarev” from Bitola, and this school collected most of the funds, followed by elementary school “Vasil Glavinov” and “Braka Ramiz i Hamid” from Skopje. The event was supported by 10 volunteers from MIR organization, 15 volunteers from citizens’ association Bairska svetlina - Bitola, 5 volunteers from the citizens’ association Romani sukaripa - Prilep and the CIRa personnel, who have previous experience in organizing and realization of special fundraising events. As the action showed success and the need for all children to be provided with necessary school tools and schoolbooks, MIR plans further organization of such or similar fundraising events that would help children feel the joy and one day to become educated citizens of our country. Our goal is in the process of education to involve as many children as we can, still on the streets of Skopje and begging money for living, children who work with their parents instead of being at school. With the big support from the CIRa professional team, our further initiatives will be directed to taking actions for raising the awareness of the business sector and individuals to donate funds for prompt problem solution in the local community. (the author of the text is coordinator in the humanitarian organization “MIR”)