Youth Center Bitola: 2024 by the numbers
Latest News Youth Center Bitola: 2024 by the numbers In May 2023, the Youth Center was opened in Bitola, with the aim of providing a safe and inclusive space through various programs, activities and mentoring, where we aim to encourage personal development, cultivate leadership skills and create a sense of belonging among young people. The Youth Center itself is managed by 3 youth organizations from Bitola, YMCA, Sfera International and MKC. After a successful 2023, with a total of 2,651 beneficiaries and more than 200 activities held, the work of the youth center continued with even greater enthusiasm and desire for as many participants and activities as possible. In relation to the 8 previously set specific goals of this center, program activities were offered that have been largely fulfilled. A safe space is provided where young people can spend their free time, develop their competencies, encourage their entrepreneurial spirit, promote healthy lifestyle habits, as well as raise environmental awareness, inform about opportunities for informal education, strengthen active citizenship and promote volunteering. In the reporting period from January 1 to December 31, 2024: 4,469 beneficiaries were covered by over 300 different activities, many of which were held multiple times. The activities were offered by youth workers or by different youth work providers, i.e. over 15 different youth work providers used the spaces of the Youth Center Bitola to carry out their activities. The most visited topics were digital education, mental health, environment, youth participation and youth policies as well as entertainment/social activities. We would like to highlight two program activities, led by the YMCA: The Digital Education Club is one of the most visited clubs in the center for the second year in a row, aiming to achieve greater digital literacy among young people, as well as The Peer School for Mental Health and Children, which with 60 peer educators, included around 2.000 participants in all schools in the Municipality of Bitola, as well as the Peer School against Peer Violence, which included around 170 participants from the high schools. The activities of this school continue in 2025, with a focus on students from primary schools in the Bitola. The results of the work of the Youth Center Bitola in the period from January 1 to December 31, 2024 are proof of the commitment to continuous work and organizing activities aimed at the professional and personal development of young people in Bitola, as well as to encouraging their participation in making decisions that are important to them in their local community. The success of the programs is evident mostly through the continuous increase in the number of visitors to the activities of the youth center, which in the annual period for 2024 has reached higher numbers than the total number of visitors in the previous 2023. This is the result of the organization’s commitment to promoting the Youth Center and increasing its recognition among young people. The full annual report of the youth center in the Macedonian language is available on the Youth Center website.
Peer School Against Peer Violence: Testimonies from Participants
Latest News Peer School Against Peer Violence: Testimonies from Participants Mihaela During the training on peer violence, I had the opportunity to give a presentation in front of 40 students and two psychologists at my school. It was a huge experience for me, but at the same time a big challenge. What scared me the most was whether I would be able to keep everyone’s attention, especially when I knew that not only first and second-year students would be listening to me, but professionals as well. The nervousness and fear of making mistakes were constantly present, because it was important to me that my message was clear and well understood. When the presentation was over, I felt relieved, happy and relaxed. Although I was afraid, I managed to overcome my fear and convey the topic with dedication. It was wonderful to see how my words affected the students, and to hear positive feedback from all of them. It gave me additional motivation and confidence. I would definitely present again. Every new experience of this type helps me improve and feel more confident in myself, both now and in the future. I see it as a chance to grow and pass on my knowledge to others. When it comes to working with elementary school students, I would gladly accept. I believe that working with younger students is extremely important, because they are in a period when they learn the most and form themselves as individuals. I would like to help them learn how to deal with violence and create positive relationships with the people around them. Through this experience, I realized even more that I find myself in psychology that I want to develop in the future. I want to continue working with young people, to inspire them and to help them deal with the challenges that life brings. Predrag I am Predrag, I am 15 years old and study at a technical secondary school. I was giving a presentation in front of about twenty youths, and we were learning about fighting peer violence. From the presentation I learned a lot about myself, but also about others. I have learned that people who commit violence also have problems, not just those who receive it. Ognen I am Ognen, a student at the technical school in Bitola and I was a peer educator at the School Against Peer Bullying. Before delivering my presentation, I was afraid that I could get confused very easily and not be understood or interested by the audience, but that immediately changed as soon as I started presenting. Since the presentation ended, I felt nice, relieved and fulfilled that I was able to contribute to raising awareness about the peer violence that occurs in today’s society. I would definitely like to present again, both in front of my peers and in front of elementary school students on this topic, because the topic is of great importance to everyone. Nektaria I am Nektaria, a second-year student at the SABA high school. Before coming to this workshop I was afraid of presenting in front of many people, in front of youth, as well as meeting new ones, but as time went on, with each new workshop we got to know the youth better. When we had to present as peer educators in our schools, things changed and I was very relaxed. During the workshops, I am glad that many students got relaxed and started sharing their experiences, whether they were bullies or victims of violence. I hope that in the future more will join such workshops so that we can positively affect and reduce violence. Teodora I am Teodora, I am studying in medical high school, and I am 16 years old. I think this presentation was very useful and I learned so many new things. I know that this presentation will benefit me in the future, and I know that those who listened to me will learn something more about what peer violence is actually. I had no stage fright at all about the presentation and no one should have stage fright. It’s not scary and if you’re educated about what you’re talking about and then it’s easy to express it to all those who want to listen to you. More about this program you can read here: Peer School Against Peer Violence – YMCA.mk
Peer School Against Peer Violence
In September, the selection of peer educators for the “Peer School against Peer Violence” at YMCA began! After informing and consulting with the high schools in Bitola, cooperation began with 6 high schools, which selected interested students. In the following period they underwent a series of workshops, practical implementation and by the end of the semester they became peer educators. In the following period of two months, a new group of students became more familiar with the occurrence of peer violence and its consequences, shared experiences and learned how to address it to professional services and adults and, of course, to understand it better. Topics that we specifically focused on were:1. Communication styles (followed by exercises from which we saw how our behavior and communication play a role in the messages we send to our environment)2. The concept of power and influence3. Types of violence (physical, psychological, social and cyber-violence) and4. The concept of non-violent communication, as an approach that everyone can be prepared for and learn to apply in their everyday lives. The next 2 workshops took place in a different atmosphere, where the participants first thought about peer violence through guided meditation, regardless of whether it happened to them or they witnessed it, and then through art all of this was expressed individually. Through colors and creativity, by drawing and creating works of art, they shared what it means to feel supported by peers and how we can all play a role in ending bullying. Each picture is its own story of resilience, empathy and hope. The peer school was led by a psychologist and a youth worker from the YMCA. After completing the 4 modules and 2 art workshops, which dealt with peer violence and topics related to it in our local environment, the trained students – peer educators conducted a presentation in front of their students and their class by the end of December this year. These peer educations were very well received by schools, professional services, but above all by the students themselves to whom the educations were dedicated. At the end of the school year, we had a ceremonial awarding of certificates to the peer educators, who successfully completed the education against peer violence and held workshops and educations in their schools. The goal of these workshops was to raise awareness about this phenomenon in order to reduce it. We continue with activities in the second semester with students from primary schools in Bitola. The project “Peer School against Peer Violence” of the Youth Association YMCA Bitola is a continuation of the peer school initiative within the Youth Center in Bitola, on topics related to mental health, which are relevant for young people, as well as for the Municipality itself. The project is supported by CVJM #SignsOfHope and the Municipality of Bitola and is implemented in cooperation with 6 high schools in the city.
GLOW Club Summary 2024
In 2024, the YMCA, in collaboration with the Peace Corps and American Corner Bitola, revitalized the GLOW Club (Girls Leading Our World) in Bitola. This club aims to encourage young girls to develop their skills and to prepare them to begin long, successful careers following the conclusion of their education. GLOW Club existed in Bitola and the rest of the country before the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, this event put a pause on this club, but we are happy to have brought it back in 2024! So far, we have hosted 6 sessions since resuming, and we will continue to run this program for the foreseeable future. We began the return of this program with a series of information sessions hosted at the American Corner Bitola. These sessions aimed to inform potential participants about the GLOW Club and gauge interest. These sessions were very successful and we were able to recruit a large group of interested girls. Let’s take a look at each of the sessions we hosted once we found our group of participants. The first session was hosted at the American Corner by YMCA youth worker Natasha and Ivana from the American Corner. This session served as an icebreaker and team-building event for the girls, allowing them to get to know each other in a relaxed and welcoming environment. On this day, we aimed to introduce the participants to one another, helping them feel comfortable and fostering a sense of connection within the group. Through engaging activities and open discussions, we encouraged them to share their interests, experiences, and expectations for the program. Our main goal for this session was to create a safe and inclusive space where everyone felt valued and supported, setting a positive foundation for the journey ahead. The second gathering was dedicated entirely to leadership. We started the day with a few more icebreakers and energizers to help everyone feel engaged and ready to participate. Natasha introduced a series of leadership and team-building activities to set the tone for the workshop. The girls had meaningful discussions about what leadership means to them and the qualities that define a strong leader. These conversations paved the way for a presentation from Natasha, where she provided insights to explore this topic further. By the end of the session, the girls had a much stronger idea of what it means to be a leader, and we hope to inspire them to bring this lesson further into their lives and become strong leaders themselves. Our third session was hosted at the Youth Center by Peace Corps Volunteers, Jack and Altaf. along with Fullbrighter Shelby and Viktor from the YMCA. Together, the four of them hosted a presentation to teach about the value of community service. Jack and Altaf pitched the idea of community service as a fun and fulfilling experience that every young person should be involved with. They also spoke about their experiences as Peace Corps volunteers and their motivations for embarking on such a demanding, yet rewarding journey. In addition to this, they also portrayed the different benefits of volunteerism, including community development, network growth, altruism and personal growth. After, Viktor joined in to educate the girls about local volunteering opportunities around Bitola, as well as international options. Overall, this session served as a great introduction to the concept of volunteerism and community service. The fourth session was a follow-up to the third session. After teaching about volunteer service, we applied the knowledge we learned and engaged in hands-on volunteer work. Together with the YMCA Staff and Peace Corps volunteers, the participants went to Pedagoshki Faculty and did a big clean-up. Together, we worked to clean up all the leaves plaguing the parking lot and pathways, along with branch and tree disposal. This event was a great addition to the previous session, allowing the girls a chance to see volunteering in action and actively participate in strengthening their community. For the fifth session, Natasha led a workshop on Social Media Marketing. With the assistance of online HP courses, the girls were able to engage with interactive, digital workshops related to the topic. These modules taught the participants about how to utilize social media to grow a small business. They were very educational and taught the basics of social media usage, such as how to post organically and how to use Facebook to run ads for the business. Our sixth and final session so far saw the inclusion of a representative from the US Embassy, Vanessa, to teach the girls about proper communication regarding difficult topics. Some of these topics included how to send proper emails, how to communicate with both superiors and peers, and when to use active or passive voice. Vanessa came with a wonderful presentation and showed great patience when teaching about such sensitive topics. The girls responded very well to this session and we believe they learned some valuable lessons in communication. Thus far, we believe our GLOW Club has had a positive impact on the girls who have attended our sessions. In our first six sessions, we have covered a wide variety of topics to educate and prepare participants for their next steps in life. We look forward to continuing this wonderful project in 2025 and hopefully expanding it as well!
Play4Peace Camp in Kosovo
From July 1 to 6 a team of 8 people from our YMCA attended a Play4Peace youth project in Peja, Kosovo along with 20 other young people and youth workers from Serbia, Kosovo and Italy united for peace-building through sports. This project included a 5-day program where through various sports activities and workshops, participants gained a deep understanding of the critical role of youth in peace-building and reconciliation efforts. Play4Peace was an interactive event with discussions, home groups, personal reflections, activities and games that can be applied in any organization. In addition to the educational activities, the participants had an opportunity to visit 3 cities, where they were divided into teams involved in numerous team-building activities such as Escape Room, Photo Challenge, and intercultural evening. In addition, are a few testimonies of some of our participants: FilipI have only a positive opinion about the project. The expectations I had were high, so I’m glad that after all that, they were met. While I was there, I learned a lot about what peace is as a concept, and how to convey it in my environment. I am truly grateful for the chance to participate. AndreaAs for the first time on a project, I had a lot of fun. I learned many things and games and met many new people. And I am especially happy that I got closer and better acquainted with everyone from my group, and that I had some unpleasant moments, but at the same time funny situations that made my experience even more beautiful. TeodoraIn the past week, the YMCA provided us with a project and fellowship that we as participants did not expect. This project for me was a great challenge and study of myself and the people who were around me. The activities that were assigned to us during the sessions, left a lasting impression that I believe we will apply in our everyday lives in the future. Meeting new cultures, and friends, their open-mindedness and honesty left a strong impression on me. “Play4Peace” is a project that made us open up emotionally to new things, to know how to respect each other and what friendship means. There are no wrong answers, there is only the study of new challenges and adventures that await each individual. I highly recommend all those who are keen on learning new things to become a part of the YMCA youth team. DimitriјI have only positive impressions about the project in Kosovo. My expectations were exceeded. The project allowed us to meet and work together with young people from Kosovo, Serbia, and Italy. Together we discussed topics about peace and through sports activities. LoraThe project in Kosovo in which I participated left a great impression on me as I was delighted by their hospitality, their professional approach to the given obligation, the way of realizing the project, as well as conveying the main message to each of the participants. The activities that were implemented should be applied in everyday life because they have a positive impact on each one of us in gaining new knowledge about other cultures, their history and forming new friendships that I believe will be lasting, learning what peace is and how to play for peace. If you get a chance to participate in such a project, sign up without thinking and prepare for an unforgettable experience that will be permanently engraved in your hearts and memories. LukаI have very good impressions of my first youth exchange, and I can say that it exceeded my expectations. When I first heard about this exchange I wanted to go to experience something new in a new country go to a new place and meet new friends. While participating I was very happy because the project was related to sports. I am very grateful to the YMCA for the idea of getting to know the youth from Kosovo, Serbia, and Italy through sports, teamwork, through joint participation. I met many good friends from other countries with whom I still communicate, from whom I learned a lot about their countries, their culture, their religion, etc. I recommend the activities to anyone because they are related to a healthy life and can contribute to improving ourselves mentally. Younger individuals will benefit the most because they are developing and need a good example of how to grow, and develop, just have confidence, not be afraid to express themselves, and know that you can find friends from another country.
Voices of Change: Testimonials from the Participants of the Peer School for Mental Health
Nata Marija Seshic – Elementary School, Gjorgi SugarevI am Nata Marija, and I was part of the Peer School for Mental Health of Children and Youth. Through communication and socializing, I learned how to deal with anxiety and panic attacks, as well as how to stay calm when giving a speech in front of an audience. In addition to learning new skills, I met and made new acquaintances and friendships. That’s why I highly recommend being part of the activities at YMCA Bitola. Andrea Grozdanovska – High School Student, Taki DaskaloWhen I heard about this training, the first thing I did was sign up without hesitation, and I couldn’t wait to start the meetings. This training was something new and a step ahead of just talking about how important mental health is. It was the first training that worked with young people to help them understand its importance, pass it on to their peers, and gradually break down stereotypes. It encouraged personal growth and development, working on self-confidence, building healthy relationships, etc. For me, this school was very interesting because at every meeting there was a different atmosphere—positive, fun, but at the same time calm. We often gathered in a circle and shared various experiences, where we felt heard and accepted as we were. During the few months that the school lasted, I slowly changed some of my thoughts and attitudes, realizing more about myself and how to keep my mental health in good shape. I gained good socialization, made many new acquaintances, and got rid of the fear of public speaking. Furkan Metliku – Elementary School, Goce DelchevI had a very good time at this school. I learned something at each training session and realized what I needed to change about myself. From all the trainings held, I shared what I learned with my close friends. Emilia Ilievska – High School Student, Jane SandanskiI had a great time during the mental health training. I learned many things, especially how to express my negative feelings such as irritability and outbursts. Also, through these trainings, I gained more confidence in speaking to others, especially when presenting in front of a crowd. I believe this training has helped me a lot in my daily life, and I recommend everyone attend at least one such training because it will help them a lot. Sara Petrovska – Student, Music AcademyThanks to the Mental Health Peer School, I became a peer educator. I managed to give a lecture on resilience to about ninety pupils and students. Our preparation for this lasted 12 teaching hours, during which we worked on several topics that contained both theoretical and practical parts. We studied and worked with the help of psychologists, for which I am very grateful. Today, I know much more, I have improved myself, and the knowledge will serve me in everyday life. I believe we should have more workshops of this type and speak out in order to help, educate, and grow healthily—as we have now. Jovana Talevska – High School Student, Dr. Jovan KalauziThis was the perfect opportunity to first learn to identify my own emotions, then learn techniques and methods that will help me make the most of them, and finally be able to apply all of that to help and support my peers. Sara Gjorgjievska – Elementary School, Goce DelchevI am so happy that I had the chance to be part of this project and become a mental health peer educator myself. The friendships, experiences, and knowledge I gained will stay with me forever, and I am very grateful for that. I hope that in the future, I will again have the chance to further develop in the field of mental health and peer education. Viktorija Jovanovska- International Slavic University, Faculty of Psychology The Peer Educator School, organized by AMOS, YMCA, and Poraka Nova, took place at the Youth Center in Bitola. Initially, I heard about the school from acquaintances, but I wasn’t exactly sure what it was about. A few days later, my dear professor, Sašo Kočankovski, sent me more information about the event, and then I knew it was something that would be really useful to me and definitely worth participating in. The things we are learning in the school are applicable and well-explained, so anyone from any field can understand them, use them for their own benefit, and then share them with their close ones and peers in a simple and understandable way. I would recommend to all young people to participate in such events more often in order to exchange opinions, meet new people, and discover different perspectives. This would contribute to their personal growth and development, and then to the development of the community. Read more about the event: Peer School Against Peer Violence – YMCA.mk
Final Promotional Event of the Peer School for Mental Health
On June 26, after the completed education of peer educators and the largest peer education held on the importance of mental health in Bitola with a coverage of over 2000 students from elementary and secondary schools in Bitola, as well as in several faculties, the final promotional event of the project. It was a several-hour event, which consisted of presenting the project results, but also a presentation of the additional intellectual and creative results that resulted from the project activities. The promotional event began with a presentation of the steps and phases through which the project moved and how all the modules were through which children and young people from primary, and secondary schools and students were organized. The discussion was opened by Viktor Iliev, president of YMCA Bitola, followed by Prof.Ph.D. Sasho Kochankovski about how the atmosphere was built among the participants of the peer education modules and the social impact that was realized on the involved educators. In this section, the work of the two support groups (groups for persons with disabilities in the family and groups for single-parent families) was shown. The coordinators who led the groups, Renata Dimanovska for the group with single-parent families and Martina Durljanova for the group of families with persons with disabilities, gave presentations for them. Then the manual was shown according to which the work modules for children and young people, as well as for vulnerable groups, were conducted. The explanation for the manual was given by Jovce Krsteski, who in cooperation with Prof.Ph.D Sasho Kochankovski was preparing the appearance of the manual. Before awarding certificates for completed peer education modules, a group of peer educators who have been actively preparing in the past period performed in front of the present audience with their musical score. From the mental health topics they worked on the past year, they created their text and under the guidance of Jasna Dimitrovska, they managed to create their melody for that text and sang their entire idea in front of the audience at this final event. In the end, there was the awarding of certificates of participation and the sharing of gratitude to everyone who participated and helped this project throughout the year. The Mayor of the Municipality of Bitola, Toni Konjanovski, also addressed some of the young people who participated in the activities, as well as participants from the support groups who emphasized the need to continue this type of activities in the city, because there is no enough for this type of work with marginalized groups. offer at the level of the Municipality of Bitola. The event took place on the premises of Europe House in Bitola, where most of the peer educators were present, of course also their peers, parents, some of the professional services from the schools, representatives of civil society organizations, and representatives from the municipality. The representatives from the Municipality gave words of praise for the invested effort, work, and energy for this project to be completed properly and to contribute to enriching and encouraging interest in this issue at a higher and more professional level. With the publication of the manual, Bitola as a city also joins the trend with its contribution to the topic of how to work with peers on topics important to their mental health and well-being. The manual is free and can be downloaded at the following link. The project “Peer school for children and youth mental health” of the Youth Association YMCA Bitola has been implemented in the frames of the regional program for local democracy in Western Balkans2 Reload2, financed by the European Union (EU), implemented by United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The project is co-financed by the Municipality of Bitola. The project has been implemented by the YMCA in cooperation with Poraka Nova and Amos.
Participants’ Impressions from the mental health support groups
Biljana StefanovskaAs a participant in the support group for parents of children with disabilities at the beginning we talked about the problems we face in our daily lives, something that was a familiar story to all of us, but over time it turned into mutual support and we started to we help each other, together fighting the barriers of the system in which we live. Seeing the group made up only of mothers of children with disabilities who are fighting for the welfare of the children my desire in the future together with the help of other participants and collaborators to encourage the fathers of these children to participate in such support groups is with the aim together to overcome the barriers and stereotypes surrounding the adaptation and acceptance of our children in the place where we live and to feel that this struggle is shared. Biljana StojanovskaAt the very beginning of the support groups, I had one thought going through my head, and that was that these would be like any other project we have been involved in, for the sake of order to go through the process or to have some background. However, over time I was very positively surprised by how we were accepted, allowing us to share our problems, and for which we received specific directions to find the root of that problem if we could, or to learn to solve it with appropriate techniques, master or reduce the difficulty of our problem. The group, the members, the collaborators made us feel special as individuals, and not only as parents of children with special needs. In the future, I would like to involve the whole family in this project, i.e. the fathers, as well as the brothers and sisters of the children with special needs, and together we can overcome the problems that occupy us every day. Jasmina GelevskaThis year, for the first time, I joined a support group for parents who have children with disabilities. It was a wonderful experience from which we became more positive people, we received a lot of support, advice, and courage and realized that we are worth more and worth fighting for. All participants have become like one family and our association will continue in the future. We have created a strong bond with the help of the professionals and we are grateful to them for that. I invite all people who are facing this kind of problem not to hesitate and get involved in such groups because together it is easier and we can do anything. My motto: We have no choice to choose, we must fight for ourselves and our loved ones. Bojana ArtinovskaI didn’t know what to expect, it’s my first experience with psychologists. I just knew I had to face my truth. Fortunately, I quickly gained confidence and felt safe in the group. I was able to face more fears and learned to share and at the same time be there for other members of the group ie. to listen. I learned a lot about mental health through theoretical lectures, but the experiential Gestalt exercises helped me to find answers very quickly and opened the possibility for further work with myself. The biggest benefit I think is that I learned to consciously approach problems, knowing that there is a solution, I just have to look at it from a different perspective. Recognizing a problem helps me personally, but also the feeling of support and compassion in me is now more pronounced when I see it in another. I encourage anyone who finds himself or herself in this predicament to join if they can. I think accepting help is one of the hardest things we all have to learn. This was a wonderful experience for me and I am infinitely grateful.
An overview of the activities of the support group for single-parent families
By Renata Dimanovska Reflecting on the past six months of leading our support groups, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the incredible journey we have shared. When we started this activity, my colleague Ljupco and I had a leading motive to create a safe space, free from prejudices, where everyone can openly discuss the difficulties they face daily and the ways they can deal with them. Together, we have cultivated a community where every voice is heard and every story is valued. We witness profound moments of vulnerability, resilience, and growth. Members bravely shared their experiences, finding not only support but strength to face their challenges. And most importantly, our discussions fostered empathy and connection, reminding members that they are not alone in their struggles. The tools and insights gained here have encouraged members to make meaningful changes and approach their challenges with renewed hope and confidence. Over the past few months, a wide range of mental health topics have been covered, including: What is mental health and how to take care of it, what exactly is anxiety and how to deal with it, the occurrence of panic attacks, and techniques for coping, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma and working with a traumatic event, challenges of modern parenting, parenting styles, communication styles, resilience, and many other topics. I must emphasize that most of the topics were followed by experiential exercises that also helped the participants experience what we discussed. We are grateful to our participants for being a part of this journey and for making the past six months truly transformative. The project „Peer school for children and youth mental health“ of the Youth Association YMCA Bitola has been implemented in the frames of the regional program for local democracy in Western Balkans2 Reload2, financed by the European Union (EU), implemented by United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The project is co-financed by the Municipality of Bitola. The project has been implemented by the YMCA in cooperation with Poraka Nova and Amos. For participant’s impressions, you can read here
An overview of the activities of the support group for parents of children with disabilities
By Martina Durljanova Our support group is a “Respite Group” as parents of children with disabilities often call it. It’s about hero parents, who left themselves far behind others, in the ravages of time, to be the backbone of the family. But that’s what every parent does, right? However, the parents of children with disabilities do not only have the burden of the family but also the burden of invisible community barriers, the burden that society makes to make their difficult situation even more difficult, the non-acceptance of the extended family, the separation from all social gatherings, events and socializing. Thanks to the “Peer School for Mental Health” project, we opened a support group where space was opened not only for socializing but also for psychological support and a place where the darkest sides that were hidden for a long time in these parents are revealed, topics that they never had the opportunity to discuss. To talk, directions they didn’t know could be opened and conversations they didn’t know could happen. Through the twelve meetings that started in November of last year until June of this year, we discussed numerous topics. We started with mental hygiene as a topic, so after the mental cleansing we continued to delve deeper into new topics and discover the dark sides of endurance (the expected and assertive one), how it gives rise to anxiety and depression, quiets self-esteem and all this contributes to the stress in everyday life increases so that in the end they cannot cope with the (lack of) support and (lack of) acceptance from the environment and institutions, but also the most difficult thing, the support from the family, which they rarely have. And that whole process is repeated constantly, with every new incident, outside or at home, with every single event related to the child. Fortunately, we have created a comfort zone, where parents are eagerly waiting to come and talk about new topics, but also to return to some of the old ones, because every day is a new story, a new challenge that they currently have to face, so with the help of the psychologist, they discuss them, go into details about how they felt then at that moment, and how they feel now while they are telling. And let’s not neglect the support from the group itself, which helps each other to deal with problems more easily. The desire of the parents to continue leading the group even after the end of the project is great, so we would not stop here but would continue to move at the same pace and further to meet their needs. The project „Peer school for children and youth mental health“ of the Youth Association YMCA Bitola has been implemented in the frames of the regional program for local democracy in Western Balkans2 Reload2, financed by the European Union (EU), implemented by United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The project is co-financed by the Municipality of Bitola. The project has been implemented by the YMCA in cooperation with Poraka Nova and Amos. For participant’s impressions, you can read here.
