Welcome to the tenth issue of the Macedonia Schools Project (MSP) Newsletter, which highlights the impact of MSP grants on students and teachers. Our President, Blazo Mitasev, reports about what he learned when he visited Macedonian schools. We share some voices of Macedonian teachers, expressing their thanks and gratitude for the results of MSP grants. We believe that these voices give testimony for the large impact made by our relatively small grants. Hearing from Macedonia boosts our desire to increase the magnitude of MSP efforts to improve the educational experience in Macedonian schools.
MSP EXPANDS TO MORE SCHOOLS IN 2025
by BLAZO MITASEV, MSP PRESIDENT
This year we have seen a significant increase in new schools requesting help from MSP. Within the educational community the word is spreading that our organization is helping many schools throughout Macedonia. A segment about MSP aired on Macedonian television, and as a result, schools are now reaching out to us! With your generous support we were able to fund eight new pilot programs, two in the villages of Dobrushevo and Gorno Orizari near Bitola, two in the villages of Oktisi and Draslajca near Struga, one in the village of Lakocherej near Ohrid, one in the village of Mogila near Kavadarci, one in Kavadarci and one in Stip.
What is obvious from meeting with representatives of the schools that are receiving grants from MSP is the impact that we are having. This help produces immediate results, be that new desks and chairs to replace the 40–50-year-old ones, new white and black boards, heating and cooling units, technology items such as touch screen interactive boards, computers, tablets and WIFI equipment. These purchases improve and enhance the learning environment for the recipient schools in the year of the grant. In many cases these improvements would not be possible within existing school budgets since funds are usually exhausted by non-discretionary school expenses such as maintenance of facilities and staff salaries.
I had the honor of visiting many of the schools and/or teacher liaisons (18 out of the 19) on my most recent trip to Macedonia last April–May. We worked closely to maximize the impact of the donated funds by eliminating expensive transaction fees and negotiating discounts with suppliers. The teachers, directors, and most importantly the children in these schools have all expressed their deep gratitude. Here is an example from a new pilot school teacher liaison: “I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your incredible support and commitment throughout this entire process. This donation means the world to me and even more to our students.”
Mare Stojmenovska Micevska Blazo Mitasev Dijana Hristovska
The liaison teacher and the director of Kole Kalinski Bitola School
presenting a certificate and painting as tokens of their appreciation.
It is of enormous satisfaction to know that our joint work has a direct and positive impact for many children and teachers, precisely our goal as an organization! Please know that your donations are making a difference, and that we at MSP strive to be good stewards of our resources and your trust.
PRIMARY SCHOOL “VANCHO NIKOLESKI”
by VESNA TERZIOSKA, COUNSELOR
The Primary School “Vancho Nikoleski” is located in Leskoec, a village near Ohrid, and there are 255 students from 6 to 14 years old, who are divided into 9 grades. We have two district schools in villages Kosel and Kuratica. We study according to the stated programs of the Ministry of Education Development Bureau. Our total staff is 55: 40 teachers, one principal, one pedagogue (counselor), one psychologist, one librarian, one secretary, and 10 technical staff.
Our school was built in 1964 and became independent in 1995. Our school’s mission is to provide modern and quality education to all of our students and to prepare students for their successful further education and integration into life in general. Accordingly, the school strives to be a safe place for teaching and learning, a place for coexistence and organizing joint activities in the educational process of all ethnic communities in the community.
All of our students are Macedonians; we do not have students from other ethnic groups in our school, but we are involved in a project for interethnic integration and skills in sports, ecology, art and culture, communication, democracy, intercultural education, learning social dialogue, and care of the environment.
We have experience with Erasmus+ projects, as well as many local or national projects, and we are confident that we can integrate our knowledge in many more international projects. We are motivated by our everyday work with students who are very creative and curious to be active and to get new skills and knowledge. We expect to improve new skills and knowledge, to exchange experience with other schools, to develop our knowledge and skills, and to add something new with our school and with our students.
The cooperation with MSP has been ongoing since its inception in 2008, when MSP as an organization did not yet exist, but there was an idea and vision to support the school in order to improve the conditions for students. For 18 years, our school has been cooperating and receiving great support from MSP, and the following were purchased: blackboards, LCD projectors, laptop computers, computer equipment, televisions, equipment for the teaching of mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and much more equipment. Every year we perform an analysis of priorities, and based on that analysis, we prepare an application for MSP. With the help of MSP, we also built a classroom in nature, thus providing for outdoor teaching for the students of our school. All these donations have helped to improve the working and learning conditions in our school, as well as improving the quality of teaching. Students and staff feel the benefits of these donations and apply them in everyday life at the school, striving to achieve better results.
Our experience with the Macedonia Schools Project has been extensive so far, spanning many years, and we have successfully implemented all of the jointly planned activities together. Today MSP is a serious partner of Macedonian schools, providing better conditions for students and better-quality teaching. I think that MSP has left a mark on Macedonian education, and with its humane
and selfless mission, it is a positive example that should be followed. We are very grateful for our cooperation with MSP, and we hope that it will continue in the future.
We are proud to share our progress with you and look forward to continued partnership in building a brighter future for our students.
THE ALEKSANDAR MAKEDONSKI PRIMARY SCHOOL IN
SKOPJE
by SANJA ATANASOVA AND TANJA IVANOVSKA, TEACHERS
We are excited to announce another important step forward in improving the learning conditions at our school. A new outdoor classroom has been constructed, providing students with a pleasant and functional environment for learning, working, collaboration, and progress.
There are many benefits of our outdoor classroom. A modern and inviting space has been created that encourages focus and interest in learning. There is an improved atmosphere for interactive and group-based teaching. Greater flexibility has been achieved for various educational and creative activities. Greater student engagement and participation are promoted, and new teaching methods and approaches can be implemented.
This project was made possible by the generous support of the Macedonia Schools Project (MSP), to whom we extend our heartfelt gratitude. The project is not just about creating a physical space; it’s an investment in the quality of education and the well-being of our students. Thank you, MSP, for being part of our mission to provide better education.
THE VANCO PRKE PRIMARY SCHOOL IN STIP
by STOJAN KOCEV
Stojan Kocev received his Master’s degree in 2004 in Sofia and his PhD in 2016 in Belgrade. He is now retired, but for more than 30 years he worked at Makedonski Telekom in Stip, as the director of the Regional Center for Access Networks for the eastern part of Macedonia. He and MSP president, Blazo Mitasev, were classmates in primary and secondary schools, as well as colleagues in electrical engineering. His friendship with Blazo stimulated Stojan to become involved with the Macedonia Schools Project (MSP), specifically to support MSP funded projects at Vanco Prke Primary School, where he has two granddaughters who are students. Stojan is proud of Stip, especially the recent opening of Goce Delcev University. He has observed an increasing number of young people in Stip, attracted by a growing number of industrial factories and notable enhancements, such as solar power electricity and improvements in the water supply, which is no longer dependent upon electricity.
Stip
Previous MSP grants to the Vanco Prke Primary School, a large school with 1,219 students, have funded smart boards, sports equipment, aids for mathematics, and cooling/heating units. One of the recent MSP grants helped a school located in the village of Lakavica to acquire three units that function as heaters. Previously the heat for school rooms depended on wood stoves. This year, the MSP grant funded seven cooling/heating units for the main school, which are powered by solar panels on the roof. Both teachers and students are very grateful for better working conditions, with noticeable improvements in morale, work, and efficiency.
DONATIONS& MEMBERSHIPS
Please become a member of the Macedonia Schools Project by making a
donation to help the youth of Macedonia. Your tax-deductible contribution will
enhance the growth and impact of our program. Check out our website, send us
an email, or join us on social media for more information.
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