1. Introduction of new participants/adoption of
minutes.
Minutes of the last meeting were adopted; participants
introduced themselves.
SOS Kumanovo sent their apologies.
2. Brief Update on present situation.
UNICEF reminded participants that although the situation
in fYR Macedonia remained stable, the situation in general was tense and
liable to change.
3. Update on ongoing field work, mobile teams etc.
For a Happy Childhood shared photographs and materials
from their exhibition held on Saturday 9 March 2002. The event was
attended by many local officals as well as beneficiaries of the programs
For a Happy Childhood has been running, including the local Minister of
Education, the Mayor of Brvenica, representatives of the Community of
Jegunovce, the head of the Organization of Disabled People in Tetovo, the
President of the Parents’ Council from the Elementary School in Jegunovce,
Vice principal of the Gimnazija in Tetovo, representatives of
international organisations located in Tetovo (USAID, IOM, IRC), local
NGOs, many teachers, parents and children and young people. The media were
also in attendance. Roma children from the NGO "SONCE" from Tetovo came to
the exhibition and expressed their wish to cooperate with us and have
workshop activities of this kind. For a Happy Childhood agreed to deliver
workshops to this NGO in the near future.
UNHCR continues to implement QIPs projects, which may be
utilized to fund psychosocial activities implemented by local NGOs. 2
projects have been approved in Kumanovo area with a psychosocial focus.
Also the nationwide program "Peace is …", to be implemented by the local
NGO MICS, has been initiated in conjunction with support from IOM and
Soros as well as UNHCR.
Safe Childhood has been operating minimal activities
during the recent month; volunteers visit the remaining IDP population in
collective centres in Skopje on a sporadic basis. It was noted that
virtually all NGO and Donor supported psychosocial support for IDPs
remaining in collective centre and host family accommodation in Skopje has
ceased in recent months. This was felt to have created a ‘gap’ in
providing humanitarian assistance. The group asked that this concern be
passed to international NGOs and donors in order to try to identify
funding sources for assistance to IDPs remaining in Skopje.