CET platforma Skopje

CET platforma Skopje is a voluntary, non-profit, non-governmental 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 the 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.

The 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;
- Offering assistance to local and state institutions in the creation of responsible public policies;
- 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;
- Promotion of philanthropy, volunteerism and active participation of citizens in the social, political and economic life;
- 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.

The association fulfils its objectives and tasks through an established working program through the following activities: organising specific program activities; implementation of joint projects and cooperation with local and foreign NGOs, foundations, local governments, state institutions and other organisations; organising conferences, seminars, trainings, exchanges, discussions, public debates, creative workshops, counselling and other public activities and forms of education; publishing manuals, promotional materials and publications; organising voluntary actions to raise awareness on matters of social and public interest, as well as activities encouraging active participation of citizens in decision-making.

One of our aims of the organisation is the personal development and intercultural learning of young people, especially those with fewer opportunities. We aim through our work and activities to provide space for intercultural learning and to give opportunities for participants to personally develop during the activities we prepare for them.

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-roots activism from 2008. Our members have been participants, coordinators or organisers of various local, national and international projects on different topics within different programmes. Most of the 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. The organisation has also a database of over 500 young people and youth workers who have participated in our or our partner’s activities.

CET platforma Skopje and its members have been active in youth work, non-formal education and grass-roots activism since 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 and promoting intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and active participation. 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 partners and participants on the projects we are participating.

Our members have experience working on projects supported by the local municipalities, city of Skopje and the government of North Macedonia, but mostly we have experience participating and working on projects supported by the European Commission and the European Youth Foundation, in programmes such as: Youth in Action, Erasmus+ and Europe for Citizens.

In the last 6 years, we have been very active as a reliable and professional partner on Erasmus+ mobility projects. So far, we have sent over 800 young people and youth workers on more than 150 projects abroad that were organised by our partners with the support of Erasmus+ programme.