In 2025, the Macedonia Schools Project (MSP) reached a historic high, awarding regular grants to 11 schools, and pilot project awards to 8 schools. All grants totaled $38,853. The schools were all primary schools, with students aged 6 to 15 in grades 1 through 9. In addition, MSP provided $1,400 for our summer teacher volunteers in Bitola and Struga. Our heart-felt thanks go out to our donors and volunteers.

On April 13, 2025, the MSP Executive Board met via Zoom to review and approve grant requests submitted by Macedonian Schools. Regular grants are limited to a maximum of $2,500. Pilot Project grants are limited to $1,000 and are intended to introduce schools and MSP to each other, with the primary goalbeing the identification of potential new partner schools for eligibility in the annual MSP Request for Proposals in the regular grant process.
The Macedonian government’s Ministry of Education has ordered that all schools be completely digitized, but unfortunately adequate funds for this conversion have not been provided. This is a major reason MSP grants are having a major beneficial impact on teachers and students.

The 2025 grants are summarized as follows:

VANCHO NIKOLESKI SCHOOL in LESKOEC. The Executive Board approved $2,500 for personal computers and a color printer for use in the IT (information technology) classroom.

BRAKA MILADINOVICI SCHOOL in STRUGA. This year’s grant request was innovative. “Our aim this year is to implement a new, modern, and sustainable optic internet network for all departments in the school.”
Impressed by this novel request, which may be ground-breaking, the Executive Board approved $2,490 to fund nine “Access Points.”

BRATSTVO EDINSTVO SCHOOL in OHRID. In 2025, the Executive Board approved $2,472 for white boards and refurbished computers for use in multi-user computer rooms.

ZHIVHO CHINGO SCHOOL in VELGOSHTI, OHRID REGION. The Executive Board approved $2,392 for additional computers, white boards, books for the school library, educational aids, and physical education equipment. Previous MSP grants have increased the digital capability of this school.

VANCO PRKE SCHOOL in STIP. Last year, MSP funds helped to modernize the English classroom with one 65-inch interactive TV and two 55-inch smart TVs. This year the school requested support for the installation of ductless heaters and air conditioners (powered by solar panels). This year the Executive Board approved $2,497 for seven ductless units.

DOBRE JOVANOSKI SCHOOL in PRILEP. The purpose of this year’s grant was to create a “media library.” There is a complete absence of books in grades, 4, 5, and 6. The Executive Board approved $2,500 for the installation of a bleacher-like structure in the media room and for desks and chairs. “The idea is to develop a work space, with digital access, that can be used for teacher-guided workshops, as well as for meetings with parents and counselors.”

KOLE KANINSKI SCHOOL in BITOLA. The teachers reported an “alarming” situation due to old chairs and desks. “Our idea is: the most visited and used classroom where English classes are held, to be equipped with new interior, which would be new table, desks, and chairs.” The Executive Board approved $2,521 for new table tops and chairs.

JOSIP BROZ TITO SCHOOL in STUGA. This school has a main campus and three village schools. Over many past years, MSP funds have helped the digitization process in all four sites. The Executive Board approved a grant of $2,418 for one new smart TV for the IT classroom in Struga, nine chalkboards in Struga and five chalkboards in Vranista.

KOCHO RACIN SCHOOL in PRILEP. Last year, a MSP grant equipped a “sensory room,” a room used daily by students with special needs. A grant was approved for $2,472 for a large smart board and equipment for physical education classes. A teacher wrote to MSP: “We do have financial hardships in providing teaching props and equipment regularly, but thanks to your donations, we manage to supplement them and contribute to better teaching and a better experience for the children in our school.”

GEORGI SUGAREV SCHOOL in BITOLA. The grant request reported that classroom desks are heavily worn, unstable, and unsafe. The Executive Board approved $2,500 for 22 new desks and a special grant of $1.045 for 44 chairs.

ALEKSANDAR MAKEDONSKI SCHOOL in SKOPJE. With the school’s first grant in 2023, MSP provided musical instruments which had a wonderful impact on the students. This year, the request presented a compelling argument for an outdoor classroom, which can be summarized in their words: “Expanding Learning Beyond Four Walls.” The Executive Board approved $2,500 for the building and instillation of a gazebo-type wooden structure, and a wooden desk, chairs, and a fence.

In 2025, the MSP Executive Board reviewed and approved funds for eight pilot project grant requests.

BRAKJA MILADINOVCI SCHOOL in DOBRUSHEVO. This school has one central location and four satellite schools. “The computers in the central school “have not changed for over a decade. There are no computers in the satellite schools.” The Executive Board approved a $1,000 grant for laptop computers.

DIMITAR VLAHOV SCHOOL in STIP. “All students use a computer lab, which has obsolete computers, and many are non-functional.” A grant for $992 was approved for three multi-user computers.

DIMKATA ANGELOV GAVEROT SCHOOL in VATASHA. “Our school has rather old, dilapidated school inventory, which really needs to be renewed.” The Executive Board approved a $976 grant for 32 new plastic chairs.

KOCHO RACIN SCHOOL in DOLNO LAKOCHEREJ. The school has an interactive white board provided by a Peace Corps grant. The Executive Board approved a $977 grant for 12 10-inch tablets to be shared by students and teachers.

EDINSTVO SCHOOL in OKTISI near STRUGA. This small school lacks digital equipment. A grant of $1,000 was approved for two smart TVs and a projector.

TODE HADZI TEFOV SCHOOL in KAVADARCI. The request was for four school lockers with multiple compartments. A grant of $998 was approved.

SVETI KLIMENT OHRIDSKI in DRASLAJCA near STRUGA. This school has a central location in the village of Draslajcak, and three satellite schools in the villages of Lozhani, Bidzevo, and Moroishta. The request for five smart TVs for $1,027 was approved.

TODOR ANGELEVSKI SCHOOL in GORNO ORIZARE near BITOLA. This school desperately needed to upgrade the furniture in classrooms. The request for $1,000 for 10 tables, 12 chairs, and a teacher’s desk was approved.

Our grants are relatively small, but it is heart-warming to read the reports from teachers, documenting the meaningful impact MSP is having on students and teachers in Macedonia. We believe that these reports give testimony for how small grants can be enormously effective.

2025 saw a significant increase in new schools requesting help from MSP. Within the educational community, the word is spreading that MSP is helping many schools throughout Macedonia. A segment about MSP aired on Macedonian television, and as a result, new schools are reaching out to us. There already are five new schools requesting pilot projects in 2026. We now have a new challenge: to reach out to donors to increase our budget, in order to help even more students and teachers in Macedonia.