Day Centre of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Radovis
The activities of the Day Centre of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Radovish are implemented in accordance with the foreseen programme for work. At the beginning of 2025 several activities were related to the New Year and Christmas holidays.
On the 10th of February, the users of the Day Centre were invited to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Nikolajcho Nikolov, the former Director of the Bucim Mine, who remained faithful to the tradition of celebrating his birthday with them every year. They celebrated at “Ambasador” restaurant, where the users had lunch and cake, and received financial means to buy something for themselves. The users gave him a small, but unique and modest present, and they were happy for not being forgotten. At the same time, they had the possibility to talk about their activities at the Day Centre and to rejoice at the words of praise from Mr. Nikolov. This year, the management team of the Bucim Mine decided to be present at the birthday celebrations of the users at the Day Centre. Therefore, on 24th of February, representatives of the management team attended the birthday celebration of one of the users and surprised them all with presents and a cake. This idea is very welcomed and is an example of how a socially responsible company finds ways to pay attention to a vulnerable group of citizens in the municipality so that they feel part of the community. On 28th of February, several users at the Day Centre, together with their parents, sold martinki at the primary school “Nikola Karev”. Martinki were also sold at the secondary school “Kosta Susinov”. The users were especially glad to take part in these school activities where they had the opportunity to present and value their work. The funds gathered from the sales will be used for working materials at the Day Centre.
The Director of the Bucim Mine, on 8th of March, surprised the girls and the mothers at the Day Centre with gifts and wishes for good health.
Day Centre of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Prilep
In addition to the regular activities implemented at the Day Centre, in cooperation with the teacher Vera Poposka, the users have creative workshops once a week, where they learn English words for objects and animals. Also, at the end of January, a student from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Skopje held a brief lecture and a creative workshop on the importance of caring for pets. The users visit the Hair Saloon at the Secondary school “Gjorche Petrov” once a month and have their haircuts by using different techniques.
Towards the end of February, the preparations for the upcoming holidays started. There was a workshop for knitting martinki, which the users later gave to their loved ones. Each of the users planted a potted flower and took care of it for a week before giving it to a loved one. This activity provided possibilities for developing a sense of responsibility among the users. The workshops for the 8th of March were held at the Day Centre in cooperation with Interakt Club where the participants made different figures in the shape of flowers, put them in decorative boxes, and together with the teacher Vera Poposka they all made greeting cards.
Day Centres of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Skopje
The end of the year is always intended to sublimate the work and the impressions of the outgoing year, but also to perceive the new opportunities that every beginning has to offer. Therefore, at the Day Centre in Aerodrom on 30th of December there was a New Year party for the users of both Day Centres. During the party, pupils from the private school “Yahya Kemal College” joined, who on their own initiative, allocated the funds which were gathered from the bazaar organized at their school and aimed for the needs of the users in the Day Centres of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Skopje. They donated two magnetic boards, two laminating machines, as well as the necessary equipment for their use. The users also celebrated Christmas and Vasilica with joint activities.
Representatives of the organisation HERA and their collaborators visited the Day Centre in Aerodrom, on 21st of January. The need to provide adequately adapted sexual education programmes for persons with intellectual disability was once again emphasised during this visit.
As a continuation of the already established cooperation with the primary school “Kiro Gligorov” in Municipality of Centre, on the occasion of 8th of March, workshops were held with pupils from grade 7 b at the Day Centre in Kapishtec. The first one was on 5th of March, when pupils, together with the psychologist Dijana and the teacher Katarina made cards, drew and knitted flowers. Similar workshop was held at the Day Centre in Aerodrom but with pupils from grade 9. They also took part in activities for planting different seeds and preparation of flower seedlings. The pupils showed special interest in the workshop for preparing jewellery. They all made earrings and bracelets from different types of beads. The sunny days in the past period were used to visit the plot in Zelena Arka “Bostanie” community garden. Also, the users independently sow seedlings at the Day Centres. These activities officially started the new gardening season.
As in 2024, the users from both Day Centres continued to recycle at the vending machines of Pakomak this year as well. Although the weather conditions were not favourable for carrying out more social activities outdoors, the users realised activities for implementing a daily routine for independent living.
The activities for extending the free annual tickets for public transport in Skopje for the members of PORAKA Skopje were implemented in the period from December 2024 till mid-January 2025 at the Day Centre in Aerodrom. This activity is implemented in cooperation with the Department for Child, Social and Health Protection of City of Skopje.
Day Centre of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Shtip
The activities at the Day Centre of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Shtip were realised in accordance with the foreseen programme activities. Besides the everyday activities, numerous creative workshops were held as well. Part of them were dedicated to themes referring to observing important religious and state holidays in our country. On 6th of January some of the users at the Day Centre took part in the eighth Christmas procession that heralds the birth of Christ. Representatives of the Evangelical Church in Shtip visited the Day Centre on 8th of January and presented the users with Christmas gifts made by children and young people from Germany. At the end of January, volunteers from the Youth Club of the Red Cross in Shtip, conducted a workshop where, through adapted presentation, they involved the users in exercises for assistance and self-help in case of injury.
During February, several creative workshops were held. One of the workshops was organised by the volunteers from the Youth Club of the Red Cross in Shtip and held at the Day Centre. The participants made martinki from twisted white and red threads and wool decorated with coloured beads. They also discussed about the symbolism and the tradition regarding the martinki. The users of the Day Centre also made martinki on the last day of February and gifted them among the citizens of Shtip at the City Bazaar.
Representatives of EUROART visited the users of the Day Centre this year as well, and brought hygiene products, and in addition, they held a short training on a famous Macedonian dance, The users of the Day Centre were offered a possibility to attend some of the courses and trainings offered by the academy in their free time.
Social Club of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Vinica
The Social Club of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Vinica continuously realises its foreseen cognitive, educational and practical activities as well as the activities with the families of persons with intellectual disability. During January the activities were more focused on the holidays in this period. There were discussions about New Year and Christmas holidays and their meaning and how they are celebrated. Each user had the opportunity to share moments that caused them a special feeling or a state. The users also shared bread with a coin in it, and this activity was used to discuss appropriate manners during meals, both at home and in restaurants. The activities continued with workshops on winter topics, where they made drawings and discussed adequate clothing during wintertime, as well as food.
The beginning of February was marked by activities related to holidays as well. There were discussions about grapes, pruning the vine and making wine to mark St. Trifun. Drawings and discussions regarding love were made to celebrate St. Valentine. Workshops were held for reusing garbage and making vases from waste materials. Also, workshops were held related the International Women’s Day. The users read and learned simple verses about mothers and made drawings. At the end of February, they also held a workshop where they made martinki.
Social Club of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Kavadarci
Different cognitive, educational, practical and recreational activities, as well as activities with the families of persons with intellectual disability were implemented in the past period. At the beginning of January, the activities were aimed at family and Christian holidays. Also, during January, sports and recreational activities began at the Sports Hall of the secondary agricultural and forestry school “Gjorce Petrov”, which are held twice a week. PORAKA Kavadarci provided transportation for the users of the Social Club to take part in these sports and recreational activities through the municipality. On 31st of January, there was a football competition between the users of the Social Club and members of an association in Negotino.
In February, the programme activities at the Social Club were continuously implemented as foreseen. Additionally, visits to the basketball game between Tikvesh Golden Eagle and Shkupi and the football game between Tikvesh and Pelister were organised.
Social Club of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Gevgelija
The activities at the Social Club of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Gevgelija were implemented as foreseen in the past period. During the New Year and Christmas holidays modest gifts were given to the users of the Social Club by local businesses. At one of the workshops, the users made Christmas tree branches out of oak wood and decorated them. These branches were then donated to the church to celebrate Christmas Eve. Some of the members and their parents took part in the Christmas procession on 6th of January. Traditionally there was a celebration for the Orthodox New Year. Representatives from different organization that support the work of the Social Club attended this event. As a token of appreciation, PORAKA gevgelija gave acknowledgements to: Foundation “Ice Begov”, Tocak Klub Gevgelija, Active of Women Pensioners in Gevgelija and Citizen Association ChangeMakers4All.
During the creative workshops, the users were learning independent living skills, for example: making coffee, tea, using cutlery, serving, washing dishes, maintaining hygiene. Two culinary workshops were held where the users of the Social Club prepared pudding and were serving fruits. During the last couple of workshops in February, the users started with making cards and other modest gifts made from different materials, which will be gifted at the International Women’s Day.
Additionally, throughout the activities in the Social Club, part of the time is intended for joint social games like darts, bowling, and finishing puzzles independently or with help, playing cards, etc.
At the beginning of January, a written statement was prepared and sent to Mrs. Angelina Petkova, Member of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, in accordance with the meeting held with members of PORAKA Gevgelija in the occasion of 3 December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Also, written requests were prepared and sent to the Mayor and the Council of Municipality of Gevgelija regarding provision of transportation for the users of the Social Club from Negorci. Furthermore, PORAKA Gevgelija requested solving the parking issues in front of the premises of the Social Club during the time when the workshops are held and providing two marked parking spaces in the city centre that would be used by the parents of the members of PORAKA Gevgelija.
Social Club of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Strumica
The Social Club of the Republic Centre - PORAKA in Strumica regularly implements its planned activities accompanied by numerous creative workshops. The beginning of January was marked by activities around the Christmas holidays. The users of the Social Club, together with their parents and several other organisations, were guests on a Christmas lunch at the restaurant “Kaj Viktor” on 9th of January. They all had the opportunity to socialize, have fun and enjoy Macedonian music. At the premises of the Social Club, PORAKA Strumica organised Christmas eve party for the users, their parents and the volunteers.
When the Christmas holiday finished, the users conducted activities for cleaning the premises. They removed the Christmas tree, gathered the decorations, sorted them by colour and put them in boxes. At the end of January, there was a meeting with the parents where the achieved results from past year were discussed. Also, there were discussions regarding new ideas, suggestions and notes, which could be considered in planning the Annual 2025 Programme for Work.
Apart the continuous activities, during February, several creative workshops were held. One of the workshops was held for making grapes from different materials to celebrate St. Trifun. There was also a workshop for celebrating St. Valentine, where the users made and decorated hearts from different materials. They also decorated glasses using love as a theme.
On 14th of February, the users of the Social Club visited the Municipality of Strumica, the mayor of Strumica, the Library “Blagoj Jankov – Mucheto”, the Private Health institute “Aleksandar”, NLB Tutunska Banka and gave gifts for celebrating St. Valentine. One of the workshops at the end of February was aimed for the Strumica Carnival and the users made different carnival masks.
At the beginning of March, the users made handicrafts and card for the International Women’s Day and gifted them at the Centre for Active Ageing in Turnovo, together with the organisation “Govor na srceto” from Bosilovo and at the Red Cross in Strumica.
Social Club of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Bitola
The Social Club of the Republic Centre – PORAKA in Bitola, in accordance with its programme for work, continuously implements its activities. During January, besides the activities for gaining cognitive, social and practical skills, there were activities for celebrating the New Year and Christmas holidays.
Some of the users attended the Christmas procession carrying their own Christmas Stars. After the Christmas procession, they visited the St. Dimitrija Church and listened to Christmas songs. Together with the professor Dragi Anastasovski and members from the humanitarian organisation “Uteshitel”, a workshop was held at the Social Club where they all talked about Christmas and its meaning. The users asked many questions and eagerly listened the answers.
On the occasion of Christmas, members of the Union of Women, Veterans and Youth in VMRO – DPMNE visited the Social Club and gifted the users. The all had great time discussing different activities and users had the opportunity to show the guests their handicrafts. Playing social games and maintaining hygiene at the premises of the Social Club were regular activities during this period.
Several creative workshops held in February were aimed at making handicrafts for 8th of March, for example, flower bouquets and cards, which the users then gave to some of the collaborators of PORAKA Bitola and the Social Club.
One of the workshops in March was aimed at planting spring flowers that will be kept at the Social Club and the future task of the users will be to take care of them.
