WHAT IS YOUTH ETHNIC INTEGRATION PROJECT?

Inaugurated in April 2017, the Youth Ethnic Integration (YEI) project is a five-year USAID activity in partnership with U.S. European Command (EUCOM), implemented by the Macedonian Civic Education Center, to improve inter-ethnic integration and strengthen civic culture among youth in North Macedonia. The project collaborates with the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES), Bureau for Development of Education, Vocational Education and Training Center, State Education Inspectorate, all 450 primary and secondary schools and all 84 municipalities. Together, they enable positive interactions among ethnically diverse youth at the school and community level. The project is supporting the revision of the civic education curriculum, to improve civic skills, behaviors, and volunteerism among the country’s youth.

WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?

• The project has facilitated nearly 800 joint student activities with participation from over 4,000 students; students participated in 20 volunteering activities in nine municipalities.
• More than 900 School Integration Team representatives from all primary and secondary schools across the country have continued training refreshers, mentoring sessions and or meetings to further advance project goals.
• The Civic Education curricula for eighth and ninth grade primary education have been revised, as well as the curriculum for grade one for secondary vocational schools.
• More than 350 primary school teachers have been trained for the new Civic Education curriculum for eight grade, which is being implemented in the academic year 2018/2019.
• Twelve schools have been renovated with financial support by the U.S. European Command. The participation of the schools and municipalities in the costs for renovation is around 36%.
• The project established partnerships with 15 select municipalities to support local policies and mobilization of local resources for strengthening ethnic cohesion and youth engagement initiatives in communities.

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