Empowering Youth to Make Positive Change Across North Macedonia

Through the USAID Youth Actively Create Opportunities Activity and in partnership with the Youth Educational Forum, IESC has established 10 youth engagement clubs in North Macedonia. The clubs have empowered more than 200 young people to foster positive change and take impactful civic actions in their communities.

Thanks to the clubs, youth are leading community service initiatives across North Macedonia to raise awareness of important civic issues and inspire change. Some have organized bazaars to raise funds for children with rare diseases, while others have collected clothing for underprivileged kids. To promote a greener future, some clubs have organized eco-friendly activities, such as park cleanups and recycling events. Others have met with municipal representatives to discuss the role of youth in shaping local policies.

Mario Gjoreski, a member of the youth engagement club in Ohrid, feels that the club “has given me a platform to make a difference in my community. It’s inspiring to see how our efforts can bring about real change.” Stefanija Bitolkoska, a trainer at the same club, noted, “We realized the power of our voices and the importance of being involved in decision-making processes. Through our initiatives, we managed to bring public attention to our concerns about the pollution of our city lake and hope to influence local policies.”

Through peer-to-peer learning, the clubs also equip youth with essential leadership skills. This approach prepares youth to lead positive changes within their communities while instilling a sense of responsibility and civic duty.

By supporting these diverse youth-led community service initiatives, IESC is empowering youth to be more connected to their communities and build a positive vision for the future. The overall goal of the program is to increase positive youth contributions to society and collective youth leadership across North Macedonia to combat limited youth civic engagement.

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This story is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this story are the sole responsibility of IESC and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. This story is part of the Youth Actively Create Opportunities Activity, funded by the American people through USAID.