From evacuation after the earthquake happening in Skopje (1963) to providing hot meals for the homeless in Macedonia’s capital – Mladiinfo International documented different audio and video stories on solidarity, as part of the project Celebrating Solidarity, supported by the Europe for Citizens Programme and led by Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation. The recording session lasted for two days and the team interviewed seven people, who talked about different aspects of solidarity and humanity.
“Solidarity is love” stated Viktor Ivanov from Skopje, who was a teenager when the earthquake in Skopje happened and who shared his story about his trip to Slovenia, where he was evacuated together with his sisters. The shaking feeling of saving lives and taking people out from the ruins that terrible morning on 26th July, when the earthquake happened, was also discussed from the perspective of Angelko Matovski – a pensioner from Skopje.
In addition, Mersiha Smailovikj from Legis NGO was talking about her experience in helping the refugees transiting through Macedonia, whereas Ognen Janeski, a popular young TV personality from Prilep, discussed two humanitarian campaigns he initiated himself: Helping the little Tamara suffering from a severe disease and also providing assistance to the renowned singer of traditional Macedonian music, Vanja Lazarova, living in a home for elderly people, to get the pension she deserves.
Furthermore, different initiatives for helping young people in need were led by the youth activist and humanist Zlatka Ognjanovska. Then Marija Matovska told us something more about her experience with activities connected to helping people with Down syndrome, while Ana Golejshka shared her story behind the initiative “Retweet Meal”, where young people come together to cook and afterward deliver those meals to the homeless people living in Skopje, Macedonia.
All the materials gathered in Macedonia will be used to create a digital storytelling about the importance of solidarity and the values it brings. Recordings on people’s experiences with solidarity will also take place in Bulgaria, Hungary, Albania, Poland, and Serbia. All the stories will be published on the project web-site: http://museumofsolidarity.eu/.
Written by: Ana Alibegova
Edited by: Ema Jakimovska