Last week we started implementing YODA project, which is funded by Civica Mobilitas. Trough this project, homeless people from Skopje region will get a possibility to learn about our Organization and its efforts, to be educated in biohumus production, and to take active participation in our future social entrepreneurship activities. The main goal of this project is to identify marginalized that want to challenge their current social and material status, and to increase their chances for sustainable reintegration in all spheres of social life.
This event was held at Civil Resource Center in Skopje. Executive Director of our Organization, Dejan Stojanovic, introduced project participants to Organization activities and aims of Yoda project.
First guest speaker at this event was Natalija Burgieva, owner od company Mama Organa and one of most successful social entrepreneurs in the country. Natalija talked about future of social entrepreneurship, sharing with project participants her own life and professional experiences.
Our second quest speaker at this event was doc. d-r Daniela Dimovska from Goce Delčev University, speaking about future of organic production. She shared with project participant part of her expertise, providing lot of useful advices which we will implement in our future production of biohumus.
Presentations of our guest speakers attracted attention of project participants, triggering their active participation.
On 30.07. In 2020 we held the first practical training for the homeless in the Skopje region. The training was held within the JODA project, which is funded by Civica Mobilitas. The project aims to increase the chances for sustainable reintegration of homeless people in the Skopje region, through their involvement in existing and new social entrepreneurial activities. The persons who were invited to participate in the project were proposed by the Red Cross point located in Momin Potok - Skopje.
Training was held in area of Jabolci village – Skopje area, where our Organization has cca 13,000m2. At the beginning of the training, the participants were introduced to recent Organizations activities and achievements in biohumus production, as well as plans for future period.
Together with project participants, we transferred all materials provided for new biohumus production plant on the location where it’s going to be formed.
Based on recommendations of the expert that we hired for this phase of the project, project participants were divided in two working groups, with certain objectives. First group worked on preparation of the base where our small biohumus production plant would be located.
Second group of project participants worked on protection of wooden boards that will be used in next stage of building plant production.
Before ending working day, all project participants helped to fill prepared ‘frame’ with rocks, finalizing the base for filling it with concrete.
At the end of the day, we took a joint photo as a small souvenir for the successfully started work activities.
On August 06. 2020, we held second theoretical training that is planed within activities of Yoda project, which is financed by Civica Mobilitas. As short reminder, this project is aiming to create adequate conditions for sustainable reintegration of homeless from Skopje region.
This event was (again) held in Civil Resource Center – Skopje, respecting all protocols prescribed by Government for organizing trainings and seminars.
Event was opened by our Managing Director, Dejan Stojanovic, with short retrospective of activities that were implements сso far within this project, but also sharing information about activity plan of our Organization that should be implemented in Skopje region.
This event was dedicated on increasing awareness among project participants on importance of maintenance and improving of their personal body and oral health, as base for their future qualitative inclusion in social entrepreneurship activities of our Organization, but also all other segments of social life.
Our guest-speakers on his event were dr. Elena Tasevska, ORL doctor currently specializing abdominal surgery, and dr. Biljana Donovska, dentist with master’s in health and pharmaceutical management. Our speakers shared with project participants recent efforts of our Organization in maintenance and improving health condition of our homeless friends. In same time, ‘our’ doctors put themselves on disposal of project participants for future advisory and practical support regarding health-related subjects.
As usual, with printed materials we created for this occasion, we are trying to make it easier to project participant follow up and acquisitions of new knowledges from this theoretical sessions.
On 15.06. we completed second practical educational session for homeless from Skopje region, trough which they are introduced in overall process of biohumus production. These activities are performed with execution of YODA project, which is funded by Civica Mobilitas.
On beginning of the day, we visited production facilities of ORGANIKA NOVA, located in area of Batinci village, Skopje region. This company is one beginners of biohumus production in our country. They have over 30 years of experience, and currently they are one of biggest local producers of solid and liquid biohumus. Owner of ORGANICA NOVA, Mr. Slobodan Vuksanovic introduced us to challenges he was faced with in his beginnings, current conditions on biohumus market, as well as possibilities that we have with this type of production.
After we came on the parcels where we are performing our practical educational sessions, we continued with completing base of our ‘facility’ where biohumus will be produced. In working process were included all project participants, aligning their contribution with their health and physical condition/capability.
After finalizing and fixing base construction on earlier positioned armatures, we placed nylon over overall construction. With this, we have completed forming of the base and we are fully prepared for next phase – adding cow manure and california worms in such prepared base.
Ending the day, project participants were greeted by one of local inhabitants of Jabolci village, Cazim Amzovski, which is our cooperant and supplier for cow manure. Cazim shared with project participants challenges which local population is faced with, but also possibilities for future introduction of social entrepreneurship initiatives in this part of Skopje surrounding.
As per agreed activities plan, on 20. 08. 2020 we held third theoretical educational session of YODA project, which is financed by Civica Mobilitas #CivicaMobilitas. Aim of this project is to recognize homeless from Skopje region that WANT to ‘challenge’ theirs current social and financial status, enabling them and giving them possibility to involve themselves in social-entrepreneurship initiatives of our Organization.
Event was held in Civil Resource Center in Skopje. As it was case with all previous gatherings within this project, response and presence of persons invited to participate in this session was great!!!
Our first guest-speaker on this event was Darko Petrovski, well known entrepreneur and consultant. Aside activities in his company ‘Step Up’, he is Chairman of Local Social-Economic Council at City of Skopje, and President of Macedonian Human Resources Association. On this occasion, Darko was talking to project participants about importance and beauty of working, supporting and motivating our project participants in their efforts for sustainable reintegration in society.
Our second guest-speaker was Lela Stavreva, family/system advisor and founder of HR Angels. In front of our homeless friends Lela was talking about addicts as one of biggest enemies of our predictable and dignified future.
During the event, presentations of our speakers were followed with adequate attention and participation by project participants, including focus exercises that were led by Lela.
This session was closed by our Managing Director, Dejan Stojanovic, sharing with project participants plan for theoretical and practical activities that will take place till completion of YODA project.
On August 29, 2020 we completed third practical educational session for biohumus production. Participants on this informal education is sessions are homeless persons from Skopje region, aiming to provide conditions for theirs sustainable reintegration. All these activities are preformed within YODA project, which is financed by Civica Mobilitas #CivicaMobilitas
On beginning of the session, we split in two teams. First team was responsible for taking over california worms that we purchased for this occasion. Second team was responsible for bringing on spot cow fertilizer that we will use later during the education session.
We ‘coated’ lower part of earlier prepared mold with pieces of cardboard, which was watered afterwards. In this way, we assured moisture for the manure and California worms in the lower part of the shed.
Next step was placement of manure in such prepared mold…
Finally, we came to moment when we put our new ‘workers’, our new California worms in the mold. After we placed them there, we again added water (assuring necessary moisture in upper layer), and we covered them with cardboard.
Before end of the “working day’, our guest expert Zvonko Rusovski (long-standing biohumus producer and cooperator of Organika Nova), was responding to questions of project participants regarding production process and future sales of our biohumus.
Fourth theoretical training within YODA project which is financed by Civica Mobilitas #CivicaMobilitas, was held on September 03, 2020in Civil Resource Center in Skopje. Aim of this project is to provide opportunity to homeless (actually to homeless that WANT to challenge their current social and financial status), to be involved in social entrepreneurship activities of our Organization - as first step toward their sustainable reintegration in all spheres on social life.
Event was opened by Managing Director of our Organization, with short overview of our recent activities within this project, but he also talked about plans for future. Ending his speech, he invited project participants to join our Organization and to take active participation in our future activities.
Our first guest-speaker on this event was Dragana Kostevska, PhD of Security sciences (Victimization of old persons). Subject Dragana talked about is Social Intelligence, supporting project participants in strengthening their social capacities.
Our second guest-speaker is PhD od Social work and one of specialist related to situation with homeless in our country. Both presentations of our guest-speakers attracted participants attention, but it also triggered their active participation and in discussions and exercises.
Before the end of the event, all our homeless friends participating this program filled offered applications, and, in future they will take active participation in our Organization actions.
On September 10, 2020 we completed fourth (and final) practical educational session for biohumus production. Participants on this informal education is sessions are homeless persons from Skopje region, aiming to provide conditions for their sustainable reintegration. All these activities are preformed within YODA project, which is financed by Civica Mobilitas #CivicaMobilitas
Before we started with our activities, with our friend and collaborator Zvonko Rusovski (over 10 years on experience in biohumus production) we defined schedule of our activities. In order participant to be introduced with final phase of production process, we started with biohumus sieving.
The humus which we sieved was measured and packed in biodegradable bags – 2 kilos each…
We assembled carton boxes that were purchased earlier, and we glued stickers with ‘logo’ of our biohumus on them. Such prepared boxes will be given as present to participants of closing event for this project, which will be held on Civil Resource Center in Skopje on September 17th, 2020.
Before end of our ‘final working day’ of this training, we delivered written confirmations to all project participants. In same time, we pronounced best participants and we assigned them to be YODAs. This position is held by member of our Organization that is helping other persons in need, supporting them as roll model to endure in efforts for reintegration. As YODA’s were assigned Sašo Spasovski and Bobek Dinevski.
On September 17th, 2020 we have completed implementation of YODA project that was financed by Civica Mobilitas #CivicaMobilitas. Aim of this project was to recognize homeless persons from Skopje region that want to ‘challenge’ their current social and financial status, enabling them and giving them chance to get involved in social entrepreneurship activities of our organization.
To commemorate completion of this project, we have prepared finale event. In order to introduce project results in front of all friend and supporters of our Organization, in front of all current and future collaborators (but also to implement all protocols for organization of this kind of events) in Civil Resource Center in Skopje were organized two separate presentations.
On first presentation were invited IN VIVO founders, speakers that actively participated in project execution, representatives of NGO’s with which we are currently cooperating or we have plans for future cooperation (Cultural Echoes, Svetulka Nora, Kindness/Ljubeznost, Public, Паблик, Macedonian Young Lawyers Association), representatives of City of Skopje, Aerodrom municipality, Kisela Voda Municipality, Gazi Baba municipality, Butel Municipality, humanitarian organizations (Caritas), as well as representatives of socially responsible business associations and companies (SIDIS, Veze Sharri, Happiness marketing).
Presentation was completed in great atmosphere; project accomplishments were sincerely greeted by event participants and we already have first initiatives for future cooperation from Local Government and business representatives.
Second presentation was moderate by one of social entrepreneurs in our Organization Dragana Kostevska PhD, and our guest were representatives of civil sector (MCMS/Civica Mobilitas program, Red Cross Organization of Skopje city, Chamber of Organic Producers, Rural Development Network, ARNO Center for Social Innovations, SE Observatory, HOPS Options for Healthy Life, Food Bank, NGO Info Center), representatives of Governmental Institutions and Agencies (Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Center for Social Work, Agency for Support of Entrepreneurship), representatives of USAID CEP и UNDP.
Event was opened by Kristina Kolozova, National Program Officer at Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation officer (SDC), talking about Civica Mobilitas Programme.
Our second speaker was Irena Ivanova, Programme Manager at EU Delegation, and she referred to support of Civil Society Center toward grass-root organizations and, actual situation related to social entrepreneurship.
Our third speaker was Gjorgji Kushevski, CEED Hub Director, which talked about support toward in incubation period of young organizations and recent development and growth of IN VIVO.
Dejan Stojanovic, Managing Director of IN VIVO talked on activities performed trough YODA project and achieved results. He also introduced project participants which so far have shown best results in their reintegration.
Our YODAs Saše Spasovski and Bobek Dinevski, greeted our guests on this event, expresing their own experiences with YODA project, and their personal hopes for uninterrupted support till sustainable reintegration in society.
Their speech was supported by whole audience and it triggered strong emotional reaction among all participants...
Our last speaker was Barbara Sadowska, Bord Chairman of Barka Foundation (Poland), which presented her view on future of Social Entrepreneurship, but she also announced project that will be implemented in our country in next two years and will support SE processes and initiatives.
Before we closed this event, our guest spoked on current challenges but also advantages that social entrepreneurship might bring to our society and homeless persons. One of speakers was Dragan Cvetković (Chairman of Chamber of Organic Producers) which offered infrastructure for replication of YODA project in Kumanovo. His offer was warmlz greeted by all event participants.
