Youth Center Bitola: 2023 by the numbers
On 25.05.2023, the Youth Center was opened in Bitola, following its mission to encourage the personal and social development of young people through their inclusion in the community. Currently, two youth workers work in the center, while the center itself is managed by a consortium of 3 youth organizations from Bitola, YMCA, Sfera International and MKC. During the whole year, a series of activities were carried out in the direction of fulfilling the 8 previously established specific goals, and we are particularly happy to share that they have been largely fulfilled, i.e. we offered program activities covering all fields of youth development. Providing a space for young people to express themselves, organizing the free time of young people, developing the competencies of young people, encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit, promoting healthy lifestyle habits as well as raising environmental awareness, informing young people about opportunities for non-formal education, strengthening the active citizenship and promoting volunteering. By numbers it would look like this: The most visited program activities were: digital education, environment, mental health, youth participation and youth policies, as well as entertainment/social activities such as intercultural dinners, cooking days, learning foreign languages, etc. Our contribution to the activities of the youth center was mainly through two projects that we implemented during the year: Last year was proof of the youth center’s commitment to the development of young people in Bitola. The implementation of activities across all specific objectives demonstrates the commitment to fostering a dynamic, responsible and inclusive environment for young people. The vision of the Youth Center is a future with encouraged, creative and responsible young people who actively contribute to general progress, and represent a lively, informed and active youth community in Bitola. The full annual report of the youth center in the Macedonian language is available on the Youth Center website.
Opening of a Youth Center in Bitola
We are pleased to announce the grand opening of our brand new Youth Center, a vibrant, creative, educational space designed to nurture and empower the young minds of our community. This occasion marks a significant achievement in our commitment to provide an environment for our youth to explore their interests, connect with others and unlock their full potential. The youth center is an encouraging environment, a place where there will be realized many opportunities and potential. It is a place where young people can gather, learn and grow in an atmosphere of creativity, support, and inclusiveness. Our goal is to foster an environment that inspires and uplifts, fostering a sense of belonging in every young person who walks through our doors. Within these walls, our youth will discover a myriad of opportunities to explore their interests, expand their horizons, and develop valuable skills. From workshops, seminars to exciting recreational activities and leadership, and environmental programs, we have carefully curated a diverse range of programs to cater to our young community members’ diverse interests and talents. Whether it’s art, music, sports, or entrepreneurship, we aim to provide space for every passion to flourish. Additionally, the Youth Center will serve as a hub for making and nurturing meaningful connections and building lasting friendships. We recognize the power of the community and the young people in our community. From joint projects and group activities to volunteering opportunities and community initiatives, our aim is to encourage a sense of social responsibility and instil in young people a sense of belonging to this community. Behind the work of our Youth Center is a team of dedicated youth workers who are committed to guiding and supporting our youth on their journey toward self-discovery and progress. These knowledge-carrying youth workers are excited to share it, inspire new perspectives, and foster personal growth in every young person they meet. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all the individuals, supporters, and partners (Municipality of Bitola, YMCA.mk Youth Cultural Center, Sfera, Union for Youth Work, Mladi Hub) who have committed to making this goal a reality. Their support and commitment to investing in our youth have been key to bringing this Youth Center to life. We are grateful for their shared vision for a brighter future for our community, where every young person’s potential is realized and celebrated. Our goal is to support the personal and social development of young people in Bitola and their active involvement in the life of the community through the following activities: – Sports and recreational activities– Activities to mark significant holidays and international dates– Art workshops (drawing, music)– Workshops/discussions to improve your knowledge about yourself with advice from experts in the field of career counselling, psychologists, or professors from vocational schools, as well as for the development of entrepreneurship– Workshops with advice, education, and actions for the preservation of ecological life in Bitola– Volunteer actions, motivated to organize volunteering campaigns in Bitola.– Educational workshops for different areas – Other activities that include socializing and socializing.
Youth Center in every Municipality
Opening of the youth center in Bitola is ongoing work in progress. In the meantime, the Union for Youth Work held press release with the status of the youth centers across the country that you can see it here. In the winter of 2020/2021 the first educational program for recognition of youth work on a state level was held. This program also provides means for formal recognition of youth workers who are working with youth for many years informally. YMCA was part of this process, and it is now among the first organizations in our country that has state recognized youth workers among it’s staff. Since 2019 YMCA is in collaboration with several local youth NGOs in order to foster establishing youth center in the city. The process for recognition of the youth work in Macedonia is lead by the Union for Youth Work, which is a network of organizations that promote youth work in which YMCA is one of the co-founding member associations.
