“OPERATION DAGSVAERK”

Daily Fee for Organization Financing

The four representatives from the Danish High-school Organization in their week’s stay in Macedonia were given the opportunity to talk about the ways of financing their organization, about the beginnings of the Applied Education for Young Romas project, as well as to inform themselves on the implementation of that project in the past, the life of the Roma people in Macedonia, their approach towards the education system and Macedonia in general.

At the end of March this year, representatives from the Danish High-School Organization “Operation Dagswerk” visited the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC). The four members from the Danish non-governmental organization, Torsten Andersen, Inge Duus Hjortlund, Sine Shack Vestergaard and Ditte Bjerrgaard became familiar with the course of activities within the Applied Education fro Young Roma People project, realized by the MCIC. “Operation Dagsvaerk” is the main donator of the Program, which is implemented in eleven towns in Macedonia where a considerable number of Roma people live. From them we learnt about an interesting and creative way of financing one civic association

“Operation Dagsvaerk” was established in the beginning of the nineties, although it appeared with some projects several years before that. The motif for establishing this high-school association lies in the desire to offer help in the educational challenges and the attempts to improve the living conditions in the developing countries, that is assistance in the educational processes of children and young people who need it. The way in which this Danish organization financed is quite interesting. They have been present in Macedonia since 1999 when they decided to help the education of young Roma people in the country, During their week’s stay in the country, the guests from Denmark have visited several civic associations involved in the Program’s implementation, some of the primary schools that are part of the Applied Education Program, as well as some Roma local communities in Skopje, Veles, Gostivar, Kumanovo and Delcevo. Apart from that the Danish representatives were given a possibility to become immediately familiar with the Roma culture and the Roma way of living in the Republic of Macedonia.

“The Applied Education for Young Romas Program” started in 2001 and will last until 2004. Fifteen local NGOs and primary schools from the country are involved in its realization. The program includes young Romas between the age of 11 and 25.

D.Medaroski