Megjashi – North Macedonia
Children’s participation is the key principle and stands high in the Megjashi’s system of values. While it is a right in itself, it also leads to realization of other rights.
This principle was the key accomplishment throughout the second objective of the project and outcomes. As a follow up on the last year’s strengthening of child participation skills of involved children, early in 2020 they became an official body within the management structure by established Children’s Council, consisted of 21 children, as an advisory body to Megjashi’s General Assembly. Just few months later, in May-June, all Council’s members took part in the design of the survey on the child rights’ situation in our country and half of them decided to go further as authors of the Children’s Alternative Report on Child Rights Situation in Macedonia. The Report was submitted to the UN Child Rights Committee on 1 November 2020 for the 88th Pre-Session and in February, five of them, selected in a process completely lead by children themselves, will be presenting it to the Committee.
“I started to be a part of this experience way before we started to write the report, and back then I wasn’t that confident in myself and I was very shy at the meetings, I barely talked and was very quiet; but as we started working on the report my self-confidence was slowly growing and I was no longer afraid to say what I thought and what needed to change.” – Mia, 14 year old.
“This was a journey that introduced us to children’s rights, showed us what problems children face every day and not only at the day of Pre-Session, when I and four other girls will present the report.” – Edina, 12 year old.
“I am happy to be part of this project because I work with all the other kids and adults here, who are really wonderful… All this is worth and we will continue our work for even greater success.” – Antonija, 12 year old.